The broad ax., 1916-09-30
CITIZENS CHANCE
! TO END TAX EVILS
End Tax Conditions In Illinois Due
to Constitutional Uniform
Tax Requirements-To
Be Voted On.
MUST HAVE MAJORITY NOV. 7

Escape of Intangible Property Values
From Taxation and Increased Tax
Burden on Real Estate Caused by
the Uniformity Rule.
Citizens of Illinois will have the op-
portunity at thi NdYember election to
change the basis of the present tax
system and make possible modern and
Just tax laws.
The last general assembly In re-
Spouse to widespread popular demand
submitted an amendment to the reve-
nue. article of the constitution and
thus put responsibility for tax reform
sQuarely up to the voters.
Taxpayers in Illinois have long been
aware that the Illinois system was
imperfect. They have known that it
was not a good revenue producer. At
the same time, in too many instances,
they have realized that it is unfair
resulting in injustice-and the spec
tacle of laws defied. Very often, In
fact, generally. our laws are just and
practical, and when not enforced the
failure arises from official neglect. But
our tax laws are not Of the enforceable
class This is due to the fact that
since they were enacted the property
conditions they were intended to act
upon have been transformed by eco
nomic changes.
In 1910 the total full value OF all
kinds Of property in the state was less
than S6O,OOO.OO0. The state tax rate
was 20 cents OH each 500 valuation.
At the present time the full valuation
of all kinds of property in the state is
about $S.OOO.OOOOOO. The increase has
been more than a hundred times. And
the tax rate is two or three times as
great as it was in 1910. The total re-
ceipts Of the state treasury for 1910
was a little more than 100000. Now
they are nearly one hundred times as
much.
1916 Taxes on 1918 Basis.
The constitutional requirements In
relation to the assessment and taxa
ton Of property now are the same as
they were in 1910. In fact, they are
the same as they were in 1918. when
the total revenues of the state were
only about $4,000 year.
When our taxation system was
adopted there was little or nothing In
the state except lands and the visible
personal property of the agriculturist-
The constitution and laws were built
upon the SuppOsition that all property
was visible and that 1t would remain
So In fact, our constitution is tangi-
BILE property tax constitution-and the
courts in interpreting it have tended
to make it even more so.
In the economic development Of ILL.,
nois new forms Of property have
arisen. These are known as intangible
values. They are made up Of sec
ondary forms of value There are mort
cages, money and credits. bonds, stocks
of out-of-state corporations. notes and
other evidences of interest or debts.
Practically none of these is taxed.
And as a class they constitute the in
tangible values which have developed
as the state has grown from about a
quarter of a million of taxable values
in the SOS to nearly eight billions.
Intangible Property Hard to Tax.
The law makes it the duty of the as
SCISSOR to discover and assess these
values. The very fact that they cam
not be seen-like lands. railroads. fac
tories-makes it impossible to discover
and assess them by the same clerical
methods. Drastic inquisitorial methods
would have TO he employed All citi-
1ens would have to he hailed before
the assessor and made TO tell every
thing-as persons OF taxable incomes
now have to submit to QuestiOnary by
federal inspectors. And if this were
done what would he the result? More
taxes? BY no means. The person as
sessed once on his intangibleS would
simply move them To another state
where taxes on them would not he
confiScatory of third or more of the
income. as they are in Illinois.
The pending amendment will make
1t possible for the legislature TO enact
laws providing assessing and taxing
methods for intangiblcs that will be
as reasonable as other states have
adopted. BY this means intangible
values will he retained I'm the state.
will he induced to present themselves
for taxation. the revenue will he in
creased and the assessing and taxing
machinery made simple and workable.
Necessity of voting for the amend
ment. because il must have a majority
Of all the votes cast November Z. IS
urged.
/ Tax Amendment Committee.
A complete organization for cduca.
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