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

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transferred by the soldier; and many Of
these transfers are kept oHt OF view, but
are daily entering on the Auditors books.
| Il il those lands, however, even in the
hands OF the soldier, are subject to taxa
ton for 1922. Nor can the exact amount
which may be due for this year be cor
rectly set forth, until a sale shall take
place; because the owners have the
privilege Of listing their lands in the LIST,
ID, or Sd class. II is, however, thought
TO be far estimate, to say they will
amount to S28,785 90, for 1899; and
perhaps the same amount for 1921, and
all back years. And of this sum, there
has been paid at the Treasury, for 1921
and -, and back taxes, the amount of
S56,56Q oS; leaving probable balance
due from the military lands ofS ,209 81.
The amount of tax due on the lands Of
non-residents, not lying in the military
tract, cannot be correctly ascertained I'M
til the delinquent list shall be made out
from the transcripts received from the
different land-olfices, the last Of which
has been received but few days since.
Many of those lands have been relin-
quishcd to the United States and there
by entirely deranges the tax book. On
these lands the sum of S2,O77 70 has
been paid into the Treasury for 1872 and
"a; two-lhirds of which is claimed by
he different counties, and leaves for the
use Of the State only the sum of 1902 ST,
OF the tax received from this source.
The law of lS2O-'2l, directed the
Auditor TO sell the lands Of all non-resi-
dent delinqucnts. This has not been
done; because the Auditor, with an eye
to the interest Of the State, did not be-
l!cva that sale made under that law
would be valid and from the ambiguity
OF the act authorizing the sale, the great
CT part of the land must have been strick-
en- Off 10 the State, as no individual would
have been disposed to purchase, the le-
gality Of which sale would, at least, be
nsidered doubtful, ard hence the State
would have bcea al considerable ex-
pensc for advertising those lands, and
they thrown off the tax list. Agrceab!Y
TO one provision III the law, the Auditor
did advertise in few words, tina, sale Of
all delinquents' lands would take place in
May, 1929; which, il is believed,
brought into the Treasury considerable
sum that might not otherwise have been
paid during that year.
| The Auditor respectfully recon-
Dends the passage oil law authorizing
sale as soon as practicable, Of all the
lands, bank stock, sc. OF non-resa!eats
who have failed to pay the tax due there
on. And to enable the state with more
certainty, TO carry into effect all sales
mads Tor taxes, let the taS ti,.c be posi-
tive evidence Of the purchasers right.
and under 40 circumstance whatever,
should The sale be set aside, unless it be
first shewn that the taXfs have been paid
10 the legal officer. This would lalucc
| he owners to pay their taxes promptly
and enable the State to calculate with
certainty on the quantity OF land from
| which an annual revenue might DC rais
ed. It's thought that any longer procrasii-
nation in the discharge Of taxos, win add
nothing 70 the interest OF the Treasury,
or to the convenience OF the Delinquent,
Many persons are waiting for the sale Of
ldelinquents' lands; not only those who
buy for speculation, bat many who have
doubtful titles, and wish to Strengthen
them by purchase for the taxes; and
still, greater proportion who are not
disposed to pay until compelled.
1t is thought that the present system CT
taxation bears upon the citizen and nom
resident with as much equality, as any
other mode which may for the present
be adopted. For it may be remarked,
that the complicated concerns of Finance
can receive but little advancement, or
convenience to the people, from too fire.
quent changes in the plan Of supporting
the revenue. 1t is policy we'll esta-
iblished, that government should at no
time impair her credit, by too great re-
duction of her revenue; but should at
all times be able 10 draw from her Irea-
sury sufIiciency to meet her demands =;
and consequently she pays less for every
contract or service performed for her
benefit.
But should the Legislature, in their
deliberations, deem it good policy to
change, in some measure, the system Of
taxation, the Auditor would suggest that
all the tax to be derived from lands be
applied, exclusively, towards the sup
port Of the state government, and to pay
such officers as are entitled by law TO
draw pay from the counties; to erect
such public buildings, and make such
internal improvements as the General
Assembly may think best for the interes,