The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-02-20
Du Buqnc Finance.


The forthcoming annual report of the County
Commissioners of Dubuque is looked for with
much interest by the tax payers of the commu-
nifty, as in it they expect to find an Ineligible
statement Of the financial affairs of this county
We have confidence in the ability, integrity and
willingness of Mr.. O Brien, the Clerk, to make
this exhibit, and we feel sure that so far as he
is concerned satisfactory statement will be
made. We shall expect to find in that report
a statement showing the number of town lots
and other real estate sold far taxes for several
years past, together with the amount Of money
paid into the county treasury both on account
ofthe delinquency and also on account of such
sales. ms An
tits a notorious fact that numbers of town lots
have been sold for taxes during many years past,
but what has become of the proceeds of these
sales is lefet to wide and vague conjecture. If
we are rightly informed, there is nothing on the
record to show that either the State or county
taxes have ever been paid over by the treasurer
TO the State or county, neither does the record
show that the gross proceeds of the sales have
been accounted for. A vast amount of culpa-
bility rests somewhere and it must be exposed
and punished. The County Commissioners
ought to have required the collecting and receiv-
ing officers at stated times, to make full and sat-
isfactory reports of their proceedings, and no
delinquency on the part Of these officers ought
to have been permitted. Whether they have
done so their report will show. There is anoth-
Al e IL.
revenue which demands thorough investiga-
ton. The revenue law Of this State makes it
the duty of the collector, who is treasurer ex-of.
fcio, to assess all such property as may be left
unassessed by the proper officer. Under this
provision of law, probably one fifth if not one
fourth of the property of Dubuque county has
been assessed by the collector and the taxes on
such assessments have been paid over to him as
other taxes have been. Now, by what means
do the County Commissioners ascertain the a.
mount of property thus assessed? By what
means have they computed the indebtedness of
the treasurer for county taxes on this delinquent
list Their report must exhibit statistics which
to be satisfactory on this point, must be complete
Complete in detail, complete in showing the
number Of town lots sold for the taxes, the a.
mount of such tax as also the amount of pro-
ceeds ofsaies. Complete in showing the amount
Of property assessed, whether by the collector
or assessor and also the amount of taxes recev.
ed on account Of each Complete in showing
the amount of taxes received from the delinquent
lists of former years as also the amount vet due
IN such del;nnuanc;as
A considerable amounnt of money must have
been received into the county treasury Oh &C
count of lost goods and estrays. Weexpcct the
Commissioners report to inform us whether this
or any part of it has been paid oyer ard if not,
why so? This latter item, however, goes, we
believe to the school fund, but it is nevertheless
the duty of the Commissioners to know that it
has been accounted for.
If the County Commissioners report gives us
ineligible information these subjects, it will
realize the anticpations of the community If
it does not, then, will it become the right and
privilege of each and every citizen to ascertain
the facts and pass sentence on the delinquents.
UHon. GEO. w. JONES will please accept
our thanks for copy of the Patent Office Re-