The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-07-28
T. CHICAGO
CAN BECOME
2ND CLASS
Inland Steel Company In
creased $4,000, 900 Is Re-
port of State Boards
Action at Indianapolis
Today.

That the tax board of Indianap-
oils had raised the taxable valua-
tons of East Chicago a total of
100000 was the information
conveyed by special wire to THE
TIMES from the capitol city this
morning.
These figures are given as the
result of an appeal to the state tax
board from the county board OF
review taken by committee from
the chamber of commerce. repre-
sentative of the Home Owners Pro-
tective Association and by city Of
ficials and involved practically
every industry in both ends OF the
city.
The telegram states that the Inland
Steel company is raised 100000; the
Grasselli Chemical Co. $4,000; the
East Chicago and Indiana Harbor Wa
ter Co., $4,000; and others in similar
proportions.
RESULT OF HEARING.
The hearing was held in Indianapolis
ON July l9 and 30 and about thirty In
dustries, large and small. appeared in
answer to a summons from the state
board The examinations were conduct
ed ~by Attorneys Glazebrook and Parks
with the cooperation of Attorney Wills
E. Roe, W. o. Harmon. city treasurer,
and F. L. Evans. secretary of the cham
ber. In the main, the representatives OF
the factories laid their cards on the
table face up, giving actual values on
real estate improvements and personal
property. Real estate values could not
be touched because this is not the year
designated by statute to take UP real
estate assessments.
Question Of Finance.
For wears back East Chicago has been
running behind in its finances. the muni-
cipal city and the school city have been
Handicapped because they were not per-
mitted by statute to bond for any pur-
pose for more than two per cent of the
valuations. but apparently no one en-
phasized the need until the present city
treasurer, W. o. Harmon. went before
the general meeting of the chamber of
commerce on December 4. 1916.
The telegram which was received this
morning reads as follows:
TIMES BUREAU
AT STATE CAPITAL.
INDIANAPOLIS. July 28.--It is
reported here that the state board
of tax commissioners has given the
corporations of East Chicago and
Indiana Harbor a boost of nearly
$4,000. 600. an increase to a total val
uation OF s20,000,000 for the Twin
Cities. The Inland Steel Company
is hit a. hard blow being raised it is
said S3,000,000 above its former
amount. nearly trebling its taxes.
The Grasselli Chemical Co. last
year paid taxes on $175.000. 1t has
been raised to nearly s350,0o0. 1t
is said that the taxes OF fully thirty
corporations will be raised and def
mite announcement of the boards
complete action will be made public
next week.
While the citizens and officials of
East Chicago expected some increase in
valuations. yet the figures given in the
above telegram are somewhat stag
gering. Three to FIVE millions of in
crease has been the normal expectation.
If the city valuations have been in
creased to $4,000 900. it will afford that
municipality an opportunity to become
directly a second class city. The stat
ute provides that any city having over
$1,000 population may become a second
class city provided its valuations reach
a total of s20.O0OO0O. and provided fur
ther, that the people in an election cast
a majority vote in favor OF the propo-
sition.
w. o. Harmon. city treasurer, says
that If the report is true. it will cut
down the tax levy to about s1.35.