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1, IMFTTn'a ImF2October il, 1934 CANDIDATES AND TAXES Editor, WiLMmem LinE: Obscurity as thick as a proverbial London fog settled down over tbe guests of the Wilmette Chamber of Commerce at tbe Wilrnette Village hall Monday nigbt wbo bad corne to be enligbtened on 'tbe tax rnuddle by the four candidates for the, Illinois state legislature from tbis district. And the fog did not ligbten, notwith- standing that the audience repeatedly tried to steer the candidates to- pro- dlaim a definite tax program if, as and wben tbey sbould go to Spring- field. Tbe youngest of the candidates was cbary about tax limitations, but was sure bie wanted a revenue law whicb would exempt everyone frorn personal property tax up to $1,000. Wben asked who would provide the revenue lost by sucb exemptions he had not the vaguest idea. Knows Money Troubles The wornan candidate was reason- ably sure of her self ini that she would not be bound to ideas eitber of centralizing governrncnt or of deter- mining in advance wbere limitations of taxes sbould be placed. Having served in a north shore village couni- cil sbe knew what were the troubles witb running government witbout ,money. The present incumbent in the legis-. lature was quite practical in that he reflected the pulling and hauling of political influence in tbe chamber wbeil laws are being enacted. The candidate f rom Big Boss Bill Busses bailiwick knew just what he wanted but did not know how to get it. .Being a self-confessed real-estater of tbe good old wboopee days of inflation and speculation in subdivis- ions wbicb now are back in farm lands. bie wanted real estate tobear otly 25 per cent of the cost of gov- etnrnent, but be recognized that there would bave to he a constitutional con- vention in order to get it. M.Noreover,. he opined we should have to have an income tax, ilew sales tax, head tax. or some other tax before real estate could bc relieved. But asked the question of whether tbey believed in home rule ini taxa- tion, not one candidate knew what it was ail about. Here are the current facts : Some Current Facts Roughly 66 cents of everv tax dol- lar levied bhere goes for scfiools, fire an d police protection, healtb and sew- er ;service and tbe like. Iivery taxing board bas been trying to guage wbat tax payers want in respect- to such services. For instance one ex-presi- _dent of tbe Minmette Chamber of Commerce complained this week to the writer most bitterly over tbe lack 1of local funds to provide adequate >police protection in Wilmette and the 1need to organize local vigilantes. The writer, baviïng seen the machine gun- ner racketeers descend on tbe village recently, agrees. -It, is a common knowledge tbat wben the street lights were turned off in Mimette a couplej of Years back for, lack of .mioney. burglaries at once ensued. Tbe writ- er's home, was bÙrglarized; result, wve bought a watcb-dog and rented at a cost of $6 the street light nearest Our bouse for adequate protection. Total cost much more than an increase in taxes for similar service.. This is just one« example of cause and effeoct in thse muddle that was flot brought up- on the local taxing governumts eitber by tbemselves or by local citi- zens. It came from state and county 1political control of taxing machinery. Loue Local Control Two of tbe candidates Monday nigbt seerned to think it was good, business to have a sales tax or gas,@ tax or income tax to make up tbe deficit that- would be the result of reduced realty or personal property tax. They could not see, however, that sucb procedure meant giving up borne rule in local, affairs. Let us take one example in the matter of the schools. At present there is a definite diver- >sion of the state gas tax to distribute to the grade and bigh scbools of this township. This was secured by the strenuous carnpaigning of the teach- ers' union of Cbicago. Tbey control a lot of votes and the legislators listen to tbem. This tax helps out the local scbools and, so long as other schools are getting it, the, local officiais are nothing loath to accept it. But they. in principle, do not want it and should not bave it for one good reason. Just to the degree tbat the state supplfes money for local needs. the control of that source of noney is lost locally, Now, if" for instance real estate taxes or personalty taxes are lowered five, ten or fteen per cent, there are only two reasonable alternatives: eitber school facilities will be cut, the neigliborbood get a poor school repu- tation, real estate he less desirable, and decline, etc., or the deficiency will bave to be made up through a state controlled tax. Then 'our local citizenry must go bat in' band to Springfield to add ano ther room or two to a congested school building. or what not. In a word, just ini the degree that locally-controlled tax levies disappear, another, more insidi- ous tax takes its place. And the farther the source of autlioritv is from tbe local citizôflry, tlie more sure v'ou can be tbat i-ou either will flot have1 service or you will pay twice the price. And whv this latter? Eacb, locali service is. met -by a strictlv limited local tax, wbereas, state or_ coufty- controlled tax levies, covering as. tbey do the bost of ýnon-local taxes for state, county.- forest preserve,, sani- taryý district, etc., are not applied on a closely, discrirninating basis to local needs alone. latereet Eats Savang In 'tbis connection, there are many people *who tbink tbey bave benefited or will do so frorn the notoriously political reduction of .flfteen per cent (so called) on bornes and small apart- ment buildings. The confusion and delay in tax collections caused by tbis action have alr eady resulted in tbe necessity of rnost. taxing boards borrowing so mucb additional 'monev to continue adequate services that the supposed saving will be eaten up with additional interest charges for a long tirne to corne. You can't eat your cake and keep it. Tbe great rank and file of honest. loyal, tax-paying citizens of tbe north sbore carne away frorn sucb congest- cd areas as Wilson avenue to live in homes. to bave good scbools. do a bit of 'gardening,. enjoy comniunity fel- lowsbip witb decent neighbors and to pay for it. For a considerable pcriod this writer paid a dollar and a haîf a day taxes for this privilege. Through reductions of th 'e expenses of local government be now pays less than a dollar a day, and tbinks the commun- May one--commend to the candi- dates for the législature a definite study of tbe implications of the proh- lern of horne-rule in local govern. ment? Tbey will necd it for the sake of tbis communitY if they go to Springfield. -Home Owiner ENTERTAINS CLUB Mrs. Russell Gray of the Georgia-n botel, formerly of Highland Park, en- tertained her nortb shore bridge club) last Monday for luncheon. Amo' ng tbe members are Mrs. Baker William--. Mrs. Corliss Nugent of Wilrnette, Mrs. Edward Geitber of Kenilwortb. Mrs. Homer Goodbue of Winnetka, Mrs. C. C. Bradbury of Glencoe. Mrs. S. B Fleager of Higbland Park. and Mrs. Albert McCaleb of Evanston. Franklin Wanner, Jr., 128 Robsart road, Kenilworth, wbo spent two, years at Lakke Forest college, bas en-! rolled at the University of Illinois! for bis junior year. Expert Will Conduct, Cooking Demonstration Mrs. Julia J. Goddard,, proýmient, home economist will give a cooking d emonstration at the Wilmette Ma-. sonic temple Wednesday, October 17. Mrs. Goddard cornes to Wilmette, as. the field represenitative of Mary Dunbar, nationally known . home economiics expert and director of the Jewel Homemakers' Institute. She is a graduate of Simmons iFol ege, Bos- ton, carrying a bachelor of science, degree. In addition) to Mrs. Goddard's scientific tra-.ning, ber background of experience equips bier to bring some- thing of real value to bier audiences. Sbe bas been the American Home chairman of bier bomne town woman's club, advertising manager of a news- paper, owned and operated bier own tea room. and, for tbe past four years, and bas traveled extensively conduct- ing cooking schools for tbe Jewel Homemakers Institute. During the summer months, Mrs. Goddard is directly associated witb tbe institute where she belps conduct the many tests which are applied to grocery items in tbe poes of selecting the Jewel line of mrcandise. Mrs. Catherine Hoffman, 76, Is Claimed by Death Mrs. Catherine Einhorn Hoffman, a resident of Wilmette for the past ten years, died at bier borne, 127 Maple avenue, last, Friday morning at tbe age of 76 years. Mrs. Hoffman was born and raised in Cbicago. Sbe was tbe widow of Francis Hoffman, wbo died more tban tbirty years ago. Sur- viving bier are three sons, Frank and Edwardl of Cbicago and George of Fort Wayne, Ind., tbree daughters. Josephine, Alice and Clara, ail of Wilrnette,. and a sister, Mrs. Rose Rurnely of Cbicago. Tbe funeral services were held Monday morning from tbe residence to St. Francis ,Xavier cburcb. Burial took place at St. Boniface cernetery, Chicago. A CORRECTION WiLME'rEzLivE stated last weekthat James Dlonabue, 907 Elmwood avenue, was pledged to Pbi Epsilon fraternity at the University of Illinois. The fraternity sbould bave been Psi Up- sillon. IBENEFIT DANCE TO AID ST. JSP' SCHOOL Mathe w Francia PhotoS. Tihe Young People's club of St. Josef>h's church :is lanning to hold a bene it dance on Fridoy nmght, October 19, in. the auditorium of tise nezu St. Josephis scisool building, on Lake avenue a short distance east of Ridge road., Adam Bouer (right) is chairmant of the committee in charge of arrangements for thse dance, and he is being assisted by Tom Hopkùuni(Jeft) and Helen Hermes (center). Mel Borchardt and his orchestra wil furiih the music. October It - 1934 WilL.MF-TTIE LIFÉ