Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-04-17
L0WDEN DENIES He
PLANS DISPOSAL OF
THE TAX ASSESSORS
TAXING MACHINERY WILL NOT
BE WRECKED HE ANNOUNCES
IN STATEMENT, BRANDING RE.
PORT AS FALSE.

Springfield, H., April l7.-Goyernor
I.owden last night in a statement is
sued to the press branded as wholly
false" recent alleged propaganda OF
the members of the state board Of
equalization intended to defeat the
governors revenue bill, which aboi-
ishes the board. The statement is as
follows;
my attention was called today to a
letter recently written by member
of the state board of equalization to a
member of one of the boards OF re-
view OF the state. This letter states
that it is proposed to abolish not onIl
the state beard of equalization DAT
also township assessors, boards OF as
SCISSORS, boards of review and county
treasurers as supervisors OF assess
ments and all taxing bodies in the
state.
Calls Statement False.
1T is apparent that this letter Is
being generally sent out by member
or members of the state board oil
eauaIizatiou The statements II con
tains are wholly false The legisla'
ton / propose does abolish the state
board Of equalization, but does not
abolish any Of the other bodies named
They will be left intact to perform
their usual functions.
This method which the state boafa
of equalization Is employing TO defeat
this bill is on a par with the other
methods some members have used
from time to time since this legisla-
ton was first proposed
THE commission | propose TO take
the place Of the state board of equal
ization will consist OF three members,
Illinois is the last state | know OF TO
retain its state board of equalization"
and those states which have abolished
it have generally substituted com
mission such as propose.
Present System Unfair
In no instance, so far as can
learn. has a commission failed to I'M
prove the condition. Everyone recos
nizes the necessity OF so reyampins
our taxing machinery as to produce
greater equality in taxation. Mos
men are willing to pay their fair snare
of taxes, but object to paying more
than others relatively pay.
These men, who constitute TN
vast majority of our population, car
have no objection to the proposed bill
Only those who have thus far ESCAPED
their fair share can have any reason
To oppose this legislation
The letter referred to by the gov
ernor urges all assessors and members
OF boards of review 70 go TO spring
field and insist that their representa-
tives vote against the bills, anC
adds: IF We get busy altogether We
can beat the bills, and unless we al
help the governor will put then
through"
May Act on Bill Today.
On the heels of the governors state
ment, administration leaders prepared
to report the bill in question out o
committee at the earliest possible mo
ment. 1t is possible that the senate
committee will act today. Admins
tration leaders expect hard tight, bu
there is every reason 10 beheye The
bill viii pass
The tax situation is creating iaucl
concern among administration lead
ers. Discovery Of the Hicks subcom
mttee, as outlined in these dispatches
this morning, that the tax dodger
is to blame for bankrupt municipal
ties rather than too low tax rates
promises to revise the whole legls'a
tive plan for relief.
Administration leaders conferred q
plans for threshing out the request
of Chicago and other municipalities