Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-05-09
STATE TAX REFORMS
SEEN IN LOWDEN'S
PET REVENUE BILL .
WILL ABOLISH BOARD OF EQUAL.
lZATIoN FOR A COMMISSION or
THREE TO SUPERVISE ASSESS
MENTS.

Springfield Ill.,. May . Much ln-
ierest is being manifested in the Sc.
called state administration reform
revenue bill which eliminates the
state board OF equalization. uuV before
the general ASSEMBLY This is one at
the reforms to which Governor Low
den is committed and he is using
/ his influence to have the bill passed
/ The bin IS nov before the revenue
I committee
As the bill now stands it abCdsles
the state board Or equalization, but
does not abolish any other OF the local
or county taxing officials They viii
he left intact to perform their usaat
functions
The bill creates a commission Of
three members to be appointed by tha
governor and confirmed by the senate.
who are TO direct and supervise tia
assessment of taxation OF ali real and
personal property in the state to the
end that all assessment of property
shall be made relatively JUS. aud
equal; assess all railroad property /
capital stock, equaliAe the ,aluati0n
aud assessment OF property through |
out the state in the different counties
and fix the aggregate amounts OF the |
assessment Tor each county upon
which taxation snail be extended |
In relation TO local assessment Of. |
iicers, the commissioners viii simply /
confer With. advise and assist them |
from time TO time The commission I
win also have authority when, in its
Judgment il is desirable or necessary, e
10 order re.asseasment made by the 4
local assessors OF all real and pc.
.cnal property IN amy county OF in 4
4ay assess ment district thereof and 4
cause same to be substituted for the A
original assessment. The bin also
provides that any person feeling AK
srieYed by an assessment made by the
AK commission may appeal to the Cir 4
,uit Court Of the county in which the
property is located for the purpose
If having the lawfulness of such as
5essment inquired into aud deter
mined.
The commission will also act as an 4
'qualiZing authority in all tax matters
If the state While Illinois ranks II
among the most progressive and for
ward going state of the nation, ii is /.
aggard in the matter of revenue re-
.orm. Thirty-five of the forty eight
.tates in the Union now have state
ak departments composed Of from \
me to five commissioners. In twenty II
light Of these states the tax commits
toner's are appointed by the govern 1
r. All of the states comparable TO
illinois. in that they have large agri- /
utural activity or large industrial
or both. leave the appoint
tent of the commission solely in the
ands Of the governor. Twenty-Five
{ the thirty-fiye states having tax
apartment have three commission
RS; eight have only one commits n
Toner; one has two commissioner 4
nd one has five commissioners.
Friends of the proposed reform 4
oint to the advantage OF the small
TX commission over the present state Il
GARD OF equalization composed OF \
twenty-five members. elected every 4
BUR years. in that the small tax com
lission with length and stability Of T.
enure OF office and compensation 5uf-
eient to attract nigh grade men Of
ocular qualifications and ability for
he work, to give all their time 10 it,
Y being in session throughout the X
ear, with the requisite expert assist
nee, it can do the work which the b
resent state board in its brief few 3
eeks OF activity perforce must slight, 4
nd perform its functions systematic
ly and with far less inequities than
70 now inevitable.
The general feeling among those =
no are urging the passage Of this y,
W is that once the people become a.
miHiar with and thoroughly under TIA
and the new system they will most 81
Enthusiastically favor its adoption he