Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-02-01

the general transcripts Of all the lands
which are now held by individuals, ell
Their by complete payment, or by future
credit, as authorized ~ the act of Con.
sress. These transcripts the Auditor
has, or will receive in short time, from
the Registers Of the different land Offices.
1t is fact well known, by mos, of your
body, that, under the present system,
that many individuals pay no tax on land
owing, no doubt, to the loose. and ncor-
rect manner Of taking in the list oftaxa-
BILE property. Whereas the mannelbe-
fore suggested, would bring to vhw
every solitary tract claimed within the
State, which must be accounted Tor in
some way ; and such as did not pay and
could moi he found, would be returned
as delinquent non-residents, and their
lands accordingly sold for the taxes.
Or if deemed more advisable, to say
that the Auditor should be vested with
power to value the landed estate, and
levy srch a per centum as would meet
the current expenses of the year, and
all contingencies, taking into view tho
probable loss of debts, and to leave a
small surplus in the Treasury.
1t will doubtless be observed, that no
law has been in force since the existence
OF the state government, competing the
county Treasurcrs, or any other person,
10 furnish this department wifi tran
scripts of their tax lists, whereby
charge could be raised against Ihe She
riffs. Such lists, however, have been
generally furnished at the Request Of the
Auditor; but in most cases have been
very imperfect, and consequently has
produced mitch trouble and difficulty in
Ibis department This omission will, it
is presumed, be rcmedicd in that way
deemed most to the interest of the re-
venue, and convenience Of The people.
! be act which passed in January,
1921, gave until the i,t day Of January,
1922, to redeem all lands and other
property stricken off to the State for the
non-payment otthe taxes Undsr that
law many tracts have been redeemed !;
and there YET stands an the books of this
department considerable number un-
redeemed. Some difficulty may pre-
sent itself in The disposition of those par
ticular cases, which may perhaps be
disposed of "a the in,eres, Of The Urea
sury, by en- extension OF time 10 redeem
the property from such sales. Il may
further be remarked. thai many Of those
tracts which have been stricken off &C
the State, together with many other up
IA which taxes were due aud unpaid
have been rclinqaished 10 the United
states, ana i, tnis situation stana Oh the
books OF gne Author. the peculial
situation oi these lands would seem to
call the attention Oh The Legislature
and that some mode be pointed out b,
law how they stall be disposed Of.
IN conformity to the provisions o. the
act confirming the proceedings of the
VandaAa commissioners, and for Other
purposes" they have assigned to TIKI
! Autilor tire notes taken by them for lots
except such as had been paid TO sait
| commissioners, aud those IN the hands
of attorneys Tor collection, In most ca
ses the notes have been renewed, &C.
cordlng 10 my construction otthc statute
! In those instances were doubls were Ell
| eftained as to the solveDcy Of me draw
US, the Auditor has instituted suits
! Since Ihe NaadAlia BUSINESS had beel
transferred to THIS department, the sun
of $3.50 IS has been paid into the
Treasury. This sum, and the amount
paid in by the commissioners, deducteo
| from the sales, leaves balance dus
| from this source unpaid, OF S25,575 IS
| the whole OF which falls due On the 2SlI
instant; upon which sum considerable
interest has and will accrue. The fiji,
lots granted to The corporation, (for i'm
provemcnt) have been selected by tho
Trustees, in conjunction with The Au
ditor.
| BY reference to the law regulating
the Ohio Saline, it will be Ecu that i
thas raised no check in this department,
NOR indeed any where, upon the manage
mcnl and collection OF that source Of oui
revenuc here all transactions and a.
counts relating thereto should be liqui
dated, that the government should at al
times know its precise situation. This
it is presumed, will in due time be at
tended to by the Legislature. All tba
can be shown from this departments
the amounts reported by the Treasure
to have been paid; together with th'
amount of warrants issued to carry init
effect the objects Of the law, touching
the interests of the Saline.
The subjec, Of our currency will ne
doubt occupy part of your dellbera
tons, and that you will in your wisdom