Case Name: The People of the State of Illinois v. The Big Muddy Iron Company
Court: Illinois Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Illinois
Decision Date: 1878-06
Citations: 89 Ill. 116
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of Illinois v. The Big Muddy Iron Company.
Judges: 
Reporter: Illinois Reports
Volume: 89
Pages: 116–117

Head Matter:
The People of the State of Illinois v. The Big Muddy Iron Company.
Taxes—courts cannot reduce assessment. On application for judgment against delinquent lands for taxes, the court has no power to hear evidence and reduce the assessment for over valuation. If property is assessed too high, the owner should, under the 86th or 97th section of the Revenue Act, apply to have the assessment corrected.
Writ of Error to the County Court of Jackson county; the Hon. Charles H. Layman, Judge, presiding.
Messrs. Duff, Barr & Lemma, for the People.
Messrs. Smith & Stephens, and Messrs. Albright & White, for the defendant in error.

Opinion:
Mr. Justice Walker
delivered the opinion of the Court:
This was an application by the collector of Jackson county to the county court, for judgment against lands for delinquent taxes for the year 1874. Defendant in error appeared, and as a defense, insisted its property claimed to be delinquent had been overvalued, and the court heard evidence, reduced the valuation, and rendered judgment on the reduced valuation in proportion to the amount originally assessed. The People bring the case to this court on error, and ask a reversal.
In the case of the Republic Life Insurance Company v. Pollock, 75 Ill. 294, and Spencer v. The People, 68 id. 510, it was held, that when the assessor and board of equalization had acted, their valuation could not be reviewed; that it was conclusive; that the courts were powerless to hear evidence to alter or in anywise change the valuation. These cases are conclusive of this, and render any discussion of the question unnecessary.
If defendant in error felt that its property was assessed too high, it should, under either the 86th or 97th section of the Revenue Law, have applied to have the assessment corrected. Having failed to do so, there is no other remedy, even if the property was valued too high. The courts are powerless to relieve.
For the error indicated, the judgment of the court below must be reversed and the cause remanded.
Judgment reversed.