davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1916-10-28
UnWorkdbIe Tax Laws Of Illinois
Enable Holders Of Aeeumu-
lated Wealth to Escape
Taxes Which Others
Must Pay.
TAX AMENDMENT IS NEEDED
Other Great States Have Changed
From the Old Systems To Plans
Which the Pending Amendment
Will Make Possible In ulinois-


1t is generally felt that the proposed
Tax Amendment law that the people
Of Illinois will vote on at the Novem-
Der election will be passed with the
unanimous expression of the voters Of
the state, says the Waukegan Sun. It
Is a known fact that the tax laws Of
Illinois have long been obsolete. This
state has stood back while other states
have forged to the front in the matter
OF revising their arrangements on tax
ing property, personal and real es-
tate. To date the real estate OF IL
linois has gone to the front of taxation.
Personal property has escaped in a
manner which Is shameful and which
has forced the burden of taxation on
the common people. Under the pro-
posed tax amendment the laws will
be so changed that the taxing bodies
will be placed in position to go after
the personal property of wealthy resi-
dents Of the state and they will be
made to share the burden Of taxation.
AS it now Is, fortune upon fortune has
escaped any taxation whatever, while
the visible property, the real estate, Is
forced to carry the heavy expenses Of
the state. The injustice of such q tax
alton should have appealed to the peo-
pie Of Illinois long ago, and therefore
voters seize the opportunity by which
they will be able to equalize the bur-
den Of taxation. Several neighboring
states long ago have adopted a change
IN taxation by which burden has been
equalized and as a result nobody has
suffered. Under the proposed change
IN Illinois, only the rich will be hit
and In a way the burden which has
been carried on by real estate holdings
will be alleviated to a great extent.
This paper is most heartily in favor
Of the proposed tax amendment law
and from what we have been able to
learn, 1t will in no way be a burden
on the ordinary people, but will be .
step toward making the rich come to
and pay their just share of running
Illinois.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1916-10-28
ILLINOIS PRESS COMMENT

Mt Sterling Democrat Messenger
Old tax methods must go.
Chicago Post: The absurdity of
leVying the same proportional tax on
land, banks, savings, bonds, house
hold furniture and mortgages needs
no argument.
Quincy Herald: Modern laws re-
gard mortgages and kindred values
as differing in character from other
property and tax them according to
ability to bear the tax.
Tiskilwa Chief: Taxation affects
every citizen directly or indirectly.
Our present system penalties thrift
and industry and taxes the necessities
OF life, increasing their cost.
Rushville Herald: The ratification
Of the amendment is making the
start. So impress on your mind now
to vote Eyes" on 1t when you are
marking your ballot November Z.
Mansfield Express: The State
Farmers Institute and many of the
farmer county Institutes throughout
the state have gone on record as IA
voring reforms in taxation, and the
question is one that can no longer be
evaded.
Champaign Gazette: All elements
In the voting population of the state
home owners, manufacturers, wage
workers and business men-ought to
Join in securing the adoption of the
much needed tax amendment to the
constitution.
Jacksonville Journal: II endorse
ments from party leaders and candi-
dates for Office give influence, the
pending tax amendment to the state
constitution should receive favorable
consideration at the general election,
November z.
st. Louis Globe Democrat: The
only thing that can defeat the pro-
posed amendment to the Illinois con-
stitution will be the indifference Of
the voters. The real danger is that
too many voters may fail to express
themselves on the question.
Springfield News-Record: The tax
system established IN the days Of the
OK cart is not suited to the age Of the
steam engine and electric car. The
amendment will need active support,
for it requires a majority of all votes
cast at the election to be adopted.
Freeport Standard: 1t need not be
feared that the legislature will aban-
don any source of revenue open to 1t
by making unjust and sweeping ex-
emptions Of personal property from
taxation, for the very substantial rea-
son that the state needs and will al
ways need the money.
Edwardsville Intelligencer: Voters
of Illinois will be asked at the No
vember election to pass judgment on
an important proposed tax amend
ment to the state constitution. II
the amendment passes it will be pos
sible for the general assembly to pro-
vide for special taxes on intangible
property such as are now successfully
used in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
The amendment will affect only per-
sonal, not real property.
Decatur Herald: Farmers are Just
as much victims as are other classes
of property owners to the vicious sys-
tenn Of double taxation which the
present law promotes. They, too,
take notes for payment in property
and pay taxes upon the
note, although the original property
may have been taxed. Indeed, so
many farms are being bought on the
part payment plan nowadays that
double taxation is especially felt by
farmers.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1916-10-28

Chicago Tribune: In 1918, when
the present unfair system was
adopted, scarcely any of the intan-
gible property which now escapes the
assessor existed. This property, con-
sisting OF mortgages, stocks and
bonds, Is hardest to find and assess.
In the aggregate it amounts to mil
lions. II adopted, the amendment
will permit the classifications of such
holdings, rating them as to income
and their ability to pay.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1916-10-28

THE most deplorable consequence Of
our present tax law is the demoraliz-
ing influence Of the hiatus between the
written words Of the law and its actual
administration, which is we'll known
and recognized both by public officials
and our most highly respected citizena
This situation inevitably leads to dis
respect Of the law In other fields. and
calls for far-reaching changes in the
present system OF taxation Illinois
Special Tax Commission.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1916-10-28

Illinois - Chicago is becoming q
great money and financial center. Soon,
II not already, the intangible wealth Of
the state will be greater than the tan
gible. 1t should bear taxes sure to be
collected-and at rates that will not
drive It into other states where taxes
on intangibles are reasonable. Our
tax laws should help. not mar, the
economic growth of the state.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1916-10-28

OF the few who oppose the pending
Tax Amendment some say, Let the
present law be enforced" This would
mean that every savings bank depos-
itor would have to pay about one-half
Of his three per cent interest to the tax
collector.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1916-10-28
ILLINOIS PRESS COMMENT

Moline Despatch, Tax reform Il
necessary.
Lewistown News: There can be NO
greater Injustice in our revenue laws
than tax upon debts.
Eningham Review: Tax conditions
In Illinois are becoming intolerable.
' No improvement can be made
unless the amendment is adopted.
GalVa News: There are many and
devious ways Of hiding taxable prop
erty from the assessor, but they are
all closed to the poor man, principally
because he hasn't anything to hide.
kewanee Star Courier: The farmer
VINO has experienced the evils of
double taxation will vote for
the pending tax amendment next fall
and urge his neighbors to do like
wise.
Rockford Star: An amendment to
the constitution which will permit the
class11cation Of personal property
Will be decided step in advance, In
the direction of greater justice In
taxation.
Chicago News: The Illinois tax
amendment to be voted on November
is expected to receive stimulus at
the Tenth Annual Convention Of the
National Tax association, to be held
at Indianapolis.
Chicago Examiner: We are to
vote next November on the tax re-
form amendment to the constitution
and attempt to bring Illinois into
the ranks Of progressive states that
has modern tax laws.
Morris Herald: If the voters of
Illinois vote to amend and revise the
revenue article Of the constitution
next November, they will not be
changing the present law; but they
will make 1t possible for a change
In the method Of making assessments.
Freeport Standard: Other states,
modern and scientific methods, have
made tax lodging a rare offense in
stead Of common habit, and have
devised means for taxing effectively
and Justly those classes of property
which largely escape in Illinois.
Peoria Journal: If the amendment
passes it will be possible for the gen.
eral assembly to provide for special
taxes on intangible property such as
now are successfully used in Penn
sylvania and Maryland; or to estab-
lish special recording tax on mort
cages such as now is in force in New
York and Minnesota.
Moline Dispatch: The old general
property tax is impossible of admins
tration. A classified system opens
the door for real reform in tax mat
tiers in this state, and the proposed
constitutional change which provides
for this should receive the over
whelming support of the electorate
on November z.
Edwardsville Republican: Under
the general property tax law, the as
SCISSORS in theory are required to levy
taxes uniformly on all classes Of
In practice this has been
found utterly impracticable, nor
would it be just and equitable even
were it practicable, for all classes of
property cannot stand the same rate
of taxation. The result is that we
have developed a most unjust and in
equitable system of taxation, under
which real property, and especially
real estate, is required to carry more
than it's share of expense of govern
ment, while intangible personal prop
erty, in the shape of stocks, bonds,
money credits and all
kinds Of income-producing property,
which can be concealed, escapes taxa
ton almost entirely.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1916-10-28

Chicago Herald: The Republican
state platform declares for the adop-
ton Of the tax amendment and for
legislation to bring about real tax
reform" In case the amendment o.
adopted.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1916-10-28

AS q result Of the present situation,
there IL Q notorious evasion Of the
terms Of the revenue law, which are
unjust In principle and unenforceabls
In practice."-Illinois Special Tar Com
mission.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1916-10-28

Quincy Journal: Equal and rea-
sonable taxation of modern forms of
wealth which escape today, will be
made impossible if the tax amend
ment to the constitution is adopted
November z.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1916-10-28

II the present law is enforced as 70
the tax on mortgages, It will mean Q
higher rate OF interest when you rensv
your mortgage.
The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-07-01
BUTCHERS MAKE
MORE DEMANDS

Joseph Ryan, President of the Gin
cinnati Abattoir Company, said last Mon
day if the strike of butcher workmen
continues he believes there would be a
shortage of meat and rise in prices.
He said he did not believe enough
meat could be shipped from other cities
to supply wants.
About 400 men were on strike at the
Abattoir last Monday.
Michael Schuld, Business Agent of
the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and
Butcher Workmen Local Union No
232, said cutters employed by the Kroger
Grocery & Baking Company would ask
the company late Monday for nine
hour day and union recognition.
Officials of the Kroger Company said
they had heard nothing of the proposed
meeting
Strikers attended the funeral, last
Tuesday, of John Byerle, union butcher,
who died last Saturday of cuts received
in fight. The union voted last Monday
to donate 81 900 to aid Byerle's widow.
The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-07-01
REAL PREPAREDNESS.

San Francisco.-"The average worker
IN New York's great cloak and suit in
dustry is out of work for more than
half the year" says The Bulletin, in an
editorial entitled "'The Enemy Within
the Gates"
For the fifty-two weeks of the year
during which he must live, whether he
can get work or not, his average income
is S11. The women workers must live
on about So a week, if they are to bal
ance their accounts. Government inves-
tgators found health standards very low
among these workers. Only 2 per cent
surely small percentage in city
where is ccntcred the medical knowledge
of the United States-were free from
physical defects or diseases Tubercll-
losis was more familiar than good
health and the worst-paid workers suf-
iercd most often from this disease The
homes of the garment workers were
dark, unSanitary rooms, with as many as
seven people in each one although the
rent paid by many families was as high
as would be charged in our part Of the
world for a comfortable suburban bun
galow The garment workers have a
union; the employers are now trying to
destroy it, so closing that means of ap-
proach toward better working condi-
tons ~
at is significant that the New York
linanciers should be so noisily in favor
of military and naval preparedness, and
not worry at all, as far as anyone can
tell, over this appalling illustration of
the fatal unpreparedness of low wages,
slums and disease"
The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-07-01
INJUNCTION DISSOLNED.

Cincinnati, - The Court of Appeals
has dissolved permanent injunction
against Butchers Union No 232 and
placed the costs against the II. II. Meyer
Packing Company.
Judge Nippcrt, of the Common Pleas
Court, issued the injunction The order
restrained strikers from carrying ban
ncrs which announced that the Meyer
Company was non-union. Judge Nip
pert said that labor has the right to
organize "to further the interests of the
laboring classes" and then enjoincd the
striking butchers from asking Sympa-
thizers to aid them.
W. +. Fox, attorney for the unionistS,
commenting on the decision, said that
it does not afiirmatively fix the limits
to which labor organizations may go,
but it does hold that upon the statement
Of facts in the petition these facts alone
will not warrant an injunction.
The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-07-01
PERILS OF PARTISANSHIP.

Milwaukee.-The perls of PARTISAN
ship were referred to in an address by
Daniel H. Grady at the commencement
exercises of Marquette University.
"In Washington's farewell address he
admonished the American people against
the danger of blindly following the party
organization declared the speaker,
THE admonition has remained unheed-
ed for more than century, but today
we realize that the best citizen is he who
exercises his own judgment and acts in
accordance to the dictates oi his own
conscience, who strives to Secure the
greatest good for the greatest number
without regard to the name of the po-
litical party which declares in favor OF
or in opposition to what he believes to
be beneficial policy"
The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-07-01
Painters Trial Delayed
OWing to Illness of Judge Fricke-But Our Prehensile
Prosecutor Will Try Them in August

to kill Clarence Kroeger, non-union
painter, and of Edward Perry, for as
sault to kill Hendrickson another non
union painter, also went over until after
the other trials. The men are all out
on bond. .I.
Court of Appeals handed down a de-
cision last Wednesday affirming the con-
viction of Vincent Doty, on a charge of
shooting to kill Fred J. Miller, business
agent of the Painters Union, in Richie
lieu Hall, January 25, 1915 Doty was
tried twice, the first jury failing to
agree. Doty is out on bond upon this
case, as well as upon the first degree
indictment Unless his case is carried
to Supreme Court, Vincent Doty will be
taken at once to the penitentiary to
serve an indeterminate sentence under
this charge. IN this case it is not likely
that the murder indictment will be
nolled
The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-07-01
LABOR LAW A SUCCESS.

Harrisburg, Pa. -l If business during
the remainder of the year is as brisk as
it was during the first four months, the
State Insurance Fund will be able to
declare a dividend, according to officials
of the State Workmen's Insurance
Board When the State fund began
business, 5019 employers, with total of
57,l0O workers on their payrolls, had ac-
ccpted the State Insurance plan. This
business was almost doubled by April
30, when the books showed that l2,O32
employers had insured l17,100 employees
in the State fund. 1t is stated that the
demand for State fund insurance is in
creasing and that the number OF policies
being written average from % to 30 a
daV.
The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-07-01
STOCK HELD BY BROKERS.

New York. 1t is stated in Wall
Street that from April /, 1915, to April
1, 1916, the number of United States
Steel Corporation common stockholders
of record dropped from 56,S25 to 41,olo,
or over 20 per cent. This is the smallest
number of common shareholders in
many years,
This information does not sustain the
claim that the Steel Trusts stock is be-
ing purchased by its employees, thereby
settling" the differences between capi-
taliSts and laborcrs,
1t is also claimed that 80 per cent of
steel common is now held by brokerage
houses. The trust would create the inn
preston that this stock ncstlcs in the
humble homes of laborers, working
eleven, twelve and thirteen hours day,
and who are partners in this great CON
Germ.
The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-07-01

The trial of Emory Teeters on a sec
ond-degree murder charge in connection
with the killing of James Shall, non
union painter, by Gabriel Sullivan, in
Christ Hospital annex, December fast,
did not come up before Judge Caldwell
i'll Criminal Division last Wednesday.
Former Municipal Judge A. C. Fricke,
of counsel for the defense, is suffering
from tonsilitis and an operation may be
necessary. Accordingly, Court set the
case for hearing on August 21. The
men were indicted for first degree muir
der, but the first degree count was
nolled after the acquittal of Herbert
Doty.
1t also was decided that the case of
Vincent Doty and Edward Perry, jointly
indicted with Teeters and Sullivan, will
go over to that date.
The trials OF Herbert Doty, for assault
The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-07-01
LOW WAGES A BARRIER
TO PERFECT HEALTH

Detroit Mich.-At the annual meeting
OF the American Medical Association,
Surgeon General Blue, United States
Public Health Service, said that the
lower-pald workmen were not receiving
sufficient wage to permit the necessarily
higher plane Of living and surroundings
demanded for perfect health and hye
gienic conditions. He declared that the
losses OF the economic world through
disease were being recognized more and
more, and that the physician found pov-
erty, ignorance, intemperance and greed
his greatest enemies. Medical education
of the public is beginning to have its
effect, but great struggle is still ahead
before the public generally would ac-
cept all that was required he said.
Government establishment Of model
counties and the upbuilding OF sanitary
towns, in which hygiene should rule SUI
prcme and form model for other com
munities when the good results Of public
health became apparent, was advocated
by Assistant Surgeon General Ruckcr,
OF the Public Health Service.
Speaking on insanity, DIR. Richard II.
Hutchins, OF Ogdensburg, Superintend-
ent OF the New York State Hospital
saidtthe reports of the great increase il,
insanity, due to the "high tension" OF
American life Of today, was a myth. He
said that twenty-five years of observa-
ton had convinced him that "if there
is any increase in insanity among Amer
leans it is very small, and that the
greater proportion of insanity is found
among forcgn-born residents" The
speaker declared that insanity is not
hereditary i'll the true sense of the word
as has long been the belief, and that il
IS subject to prcvcntation measures, just
as tuberculosis is.
Dr. Helen Sumner, of the Children
Bureau, Federal Department of Labor
urged that physicians demand scientific
data on child labor.
I'VE talk OF preparedness" she said
but the greatest preparedness will be tc
see to it that we raise healthy, norma
citizens generation after generation
who will be able to pass the army cX.
animation il needed by their country"
The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-07-01
THREATEN TO LEAVE CITY.

New Nork.-Failing in every effort to
induce their locked-out ladies' garment
workers 10 reject unlonsm and return
TO work as individuals the employers
now announce they will leave New
York City.
Trade unionists are Interested in
knowing what section OF the world these
manufacturers believe workers will re-
fuse to unite.
President Schlcsngcr OF the Inter
national Ladies Garment Workers
union says the employers are bufiing
and that they could not be driven
away from New York City's ever
crowded labor market
The Morning World makes this com
ment on the employers threat:
"The associated cloak and suit man
uiacturcrs are threatening to leave
the city for localities roundabout
which promise them greater freedom
in sweating their labor.
These are the persons who entered
into contract with their workers
for two years and then broke it after
one year Tor no reason except to sneak
an advantage over the workers in ne
gOtlatng new terms These are the
persons who were asked by Mayor
Mitchell 70 a peace conference and who
insolently refused These again ar,
the persons whose faithlcss conduct
with their employees fell under the sharI
condemnation Of group OF eminent
economists who had impartially made
a study OF the situation
These persons chose the dull season
to break with the workers, and as tn,
busy season comes on without success
in starving the latter into submission
they are vexed to the extreme. Hcnc,
the threat to move out with their annua
business Of some 100000 600"
The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-07-01
INSIST ON EIGHT HOURS.

Wilkes-Barre, Pa.-The anthracite
mine concliation board has handed down
its first award under the new eight
hour agreement between the operators
and the Mine Workers union.
Day laborcrs employed by coal com
pany charged that they were paid Z
per cent increase for 10 hours instead
OF per cent increase for an eight
hour day The board sustained the work
ers, and ordered the company to com
ply with the agreement.