Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force Jan.[January] 16th, 1837

AN ACT to amend an act entitled “An act concerning the towns of Pittsfield and Chester.”
1

President and trustees of Chester may increase ad valorem tax on town lots not exceeding three per centum

Proviso

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That the President and Board of Trustees of the town of Chester in the county of Randolph be and they are hereby authorized and empowered to increase the annual ad valorem tax on town lots to any rate not exceeding three per centum, that they may at any time think necessary for carrying on public improvements within the limits of said town: Provided always, That the consent of at least three-fourths of the resident owners of a lot or lots in said town shall be first had and obtained.

Duty of cler
Notice and meetings

Sec. 2. The Clerk of the Board of Trustees shall give at lease five days public notice of any meeting to be held for the purpose aforesaid, by posting up written or printed notices in three of the most public places in said town, and the said clerk shall act as clerk or secretary of said meeting or meetings, and copy the proceedings thereof in the record book of the corporation of said town.2

This act to take effect from its passage.

Approved January 16th, 1837.

1On December 16, 1836, Richard B. Servant presented to the Senate a petition from citizens of Chester, requesting authority to increase the taxes in the town. The Senate referred the petition to the Committee on Petitions. On December 22, John D. Whiteside of the Committee on Petitions reported SB 17 in the Senate. The Senate passed the bill without amendment on December 24. The House of Representatives passed the bill without amendment on January 9, 1837. On January 16, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 120, 135, 164, 220, 252, 255; Illinois Senate Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 65, 89, 98, 106, 180, 205, 211, 238.

2The original act incorporating Pittsfield and Chester directed that the towns would have the rights, privileges, and powers granted in the 1831 general incorporation act. That act allowed the president and trustees of incorporated towns to levy a tax of one-half of one percent on the value of real estate within the town.
“An Act concerning the Towns of Pittsfield and Chester,” 7 January 1835, Laws of the State of Illinois (1835), 150; Sec. 5 of “An Act to Incorporate the Inhabitants of Such Towns as May Wish to be Incorporated,” 1 March 1831, Laws of Illinois (1831), 82-87.