People ex rel. Smith v. Cincinnati, Indianapolis & Western Railroad

Mr. ChiEE Justice Duncan delivered the opinion of the court: The county collector of Piatt county applied to the county court of that county at its June term, 1924, for a judgment against real estate upon which taxes were delinquent. The Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Western Railroad Company filed objections to certain county taxes, amounting to $830.52. Its objections were overruled and judgment was rendered against its property for said amount, and it has prosecuted this appeal. The sixth objection of appellant is that the report of the finance committee recommending the appropriations and levy was not adopted by the county board at its September meeting by an aye and nay vote, as required by section 54 of the County act as amended June 24, 1921, and that the county tax levied and assessed against the property of appellant is illegal and void. The evidence in this record is substantially the same as that in People v. Wabash Railway Co. 314 Ill. 386. The record of the board of supervisors shows that at its September meeting, 1923, a resolution was adopted by the board that there be levied upon all taxable property of the county the sum of $74,660, consisting of various items. On cross-examination the county clerk testified, over the objections of appellant, that all the members of the board were present at the meeting; that when the resolution was offered the chairman said, “All in favor of the motion say yeathat they all voted yea, and the chairman declared the motion carried. Waiving all question as to the admissibility of the county clerk’s testimony, the evidence shows simply that the resolution was adopted by a viva voce vote, which is not in compliance with the statute, as we held in the case above cited and also in People v. Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railway Co. 314 Ill. 352, where the question is fully discussed. The judgment of the county court is reversed. Judgment reversed.