Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1916-09-29
ITALIANS PERMIT
ESCAPE OF WEALTH
Secretary Of State and Attorney
General Issue Official State
ment as to Proposed Change.
NEEDED REVISION POSSIBLE.


Escape"
There IL no good reason why any
person-even although he IL not gen.
orally student OF such matters
should not fully understand the pend
ing tnx amendment to the Illinois con-
stitution. 1t IL simple and. In fact, In
teresting and worthy Of study.
Tho amendment is printed below. In
fun. As VIII Be seen 1, docs not IN
sert Into the constitution anything un-
usual or revolutionary. 1t merely
tnkes out of the constitution the re-
guirement that the general assem-
bly, shall observe the rule Of uniformity
Ia taxation. That Is to say. the lcgis-
lature cannot classify the different
kinds OF property according TO kind
and put different rate on each class.
The pending amendment simply re-
moves this restriction from the cor.
stitution. but only rs TO personal prop
erty. It does not affect real estate.
The amendment follows:
Text 81 the Amendment
Article TX. Sec. 14.-From and after
the date when this section shall DO IA
force the powers OF the general as.
seinhly over the subject matter of the
taxation OF personal property shall be
as complete and unrestricted as they
would be " sections one. three. nine
and ten OF this article OF the cors,iiu.
ton did not exist: provided however.
that any ta- levied upon personal
property must be uniform a. 10 per.
sons and property OF the same class
within the Jurisdiction Of tho body I'm.
posing tho same. and all exemptions
from taxation shall be By general law.
and shall be revocabls By the general
assembly at any time.
Tbs secretary OF state, In compil.
ance with law. has sent to county
clerks throughout tho state = state
ment-spproved by ATTORNEY General
Lueey--for use In election notices. ex.
planning the amendment After quot.
Ing the sections OF the constitution to
be affected the statement says:
! The only basis upon which taxes
may DO levied 10 that OF the valuation
Of property. II the proposed amend.
inent should be adopted. said section
OF article 0 would 10 changed by th.
amendment 20 "a 10 permit the lez.s.
lature to enact laws which would sub
stitute different and suitable rates and
methods for the Just and sure taxation
OF each OF the various classes OF per.
sonai property. insieaf OF the present
so-called uniform" method, which re-
suits In the escape Of millions from
taxation.
Improved Tax System Possible.
| laws passed pursuant to said
amendment mny provide for TIE as
sessment OF intangible property AT q
lower rate than other forms Of prop.
erty. II being matter OF common
knowledge TINT q comparatively large
part OF the intangible property Of this
state escapes taxation. Therefore. TAI
gibie property. such as real estate and
various forms OF personal properly
must bear d.sproportionate burdens.
| TIE proposed amendment would AZ
feet section 3. 10 the extent that laws
may 10 passed by the legislature.
classifying the personal property which
may or may not be exempted by the
general assembly. provided that nm ex
emption made must DO by general aud
not special law, and shah not he con-
tractusi but revocable at any time.
Under the proposed amendment sec.
tons o and 10. would be affected By
the amendment 10 the extent that laws
may be passed by the general assem-
bly, permitting municipal corporations
70 levy taxes on personal property ac-
cording TO classes. in such manner as
the general assembly may provide By
law rs II may elect.
THE general assembly may provide
By law a different rate of tar on dif-
| ferent classes Of personal property
which the general assembly. as II sees
ft, shall provide for by law. but tho
tax rate shall be uniform a. to all
property In each class"
Practically there II no opposition 10
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. none that Il
likely 10 be actively effective. But. in
this there IN danger. for the reason
that the amendment may be beaten.
even though 1t have more votes cast
/ for IL than are cast against H. This Is
because the constitution provides that
the amendment must receive a major.
ity OF tho votes Of all the electors vot.
ing at the election at which the amend
ment is submitted.
The Illinois Constitution says: The
General Assembly shall have no power
to propose amendments to tho
same article oftener than once IL four
years" The pending amendment to ar
ticle rx-Revenue. whether adopted or
rejected, prevents the submission OF
any other tax amendment until 1920
II IL recognized In Illinois. az In other
states, that needed tax reforms rela q
almost, IL not. entirely to personal
property. tax rates and methods OF
assessment. The amendment entrusts
tho work OF renodcling our personal
property tax system to the General
Assembly. and, 10 whom else can It DO
q