The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-02-09


now why the State should not require this
penalty. 1t was not right to enforce the
payment 10y this means, from those who can
not pay.
Mr.. Hammer said individuals had been
ruined by the hard times, but the State was
i'm position to borrow money if necessary,
for The relief of the people. They had better
do this than Cypress the tax payers at this
time. So far as he knew, it was invariably
the case that those who coul lpay their taxes,
did so. 1t was our own citizens who were
behind in their taxes.
Mr. Drummond was surprised to hear the
gentleman from Clayton, Democrat as he
was, advocating such policy, when the Re-
pu5licans had been charged with running the
State in debt He read from the Burling-
ton Eatck Eye, an advertisement of a tax
sale in which the names of James w. Grimes.
Henry w. Starr, and other leading citizens
of Burlington occurred as dclinquents.. He
thought this showed conclusively that it was
not the poor men only who neglected to pay
their taxes. ,......
Mr. Coolbaugh, explained that the adyer
tisemcnt IN the Burlington paper was for
city tax, which some thought had been lille
gally levied, and determined to contest. But
| Grimes, through him as his friend and agent,
had rendered to the city treasury, the whole
amount of his tax with 10 per cent interest
| in specie. He thought those who could pay
their taxes had already paid, and it was the
other class who needed relief. The passage
of this bill would be of great advantage to
the financial interests of the State
Mr.. Davis, of Polk. sad if he believed that
| haI 10 70
| t .ev were able to do so, he weuld oppose
this bill, but he knew that in his own coun-
! tv, it was the industrious, honest working
men who were delinquent in their taxes, be-
cause they had been unfortunate by failure
ofwork and crops. He desired that this class
might have relief extended to them.
Mr.. Hagans, said if he believed the other
parts of the State were in the same position
as the people in his county, he would oppose
this bill. His constituents had paid their
taxes, and desired no such measure Of relief.
Ifhe could believe that this measure would
afford the relief Senators said it would, he
would vote for it, inasmuch as it was but
temporary He thought, however. that the
% per cent. was not the cause of delinquent
taxes. 1t was because the taxes were too
high in many ofthe counties. Let the cause
U.
Mr.. English thouget there should be some
thing to prompt men to action. He thought
% per cent not enough in many counties,
for money is worth more thln that amount
1t was unjust to discriminate between those
who had paid and those who had not. He
was in favor of reducing the rate of tax, but
not ofreducinc the penalty.
Mr.. Hastings said that as he was interest
] oil IN hn nE hi ha 4
he would not have the privilege of voting
upon it. The principle of this bill was wrong,
although it might put few dollars in his
pocket. The class who would be relieved
by this bill was class of men who were
not the hard working and Industrious. In
his district those who were engaged in pro
ductive industry had made provision fer the
payment of their taxes. 1t had been said
that the reduction of the rate of interest
would facilitate the payment of taxes. 1t is
true it would facilitate the payment of -
per cent Of it at least, and the whole tax
could be easily disposed of in the same way.
He was in favor Of the law as it now is.
Mr.. Scott was opposed to the bill. 1t
might afford ralief to the class to which him
self and tive Sen. from Buchanan belonged
those who owed more debts than they could
pay, and had more property than they could
pay tax on, but the people generally did not
require this relief He ventured to say that
if the gentleman from Polk would examine
the tax duplicate in his county, he would
find that those who were delinquent i'm their
taxes, were hopeleSsly inSolvent
Mr.. Angle would vote for the bill, as amen
del because many of his constituents were
oil birds who had anticipated this measure,
I. l.. a. Al Al.
should have paid taxes with, at 3 per cent a
month, knowing that the penalty would be
reduced He thought it was IuSt to them
that he should legislate for their interests
Nrnetr-ninc hundredths Of his constih ents
who work for living had paid their taxes,
and needed no such measure of relief The
bill was n miserable abortion.
AmendmcnC lost.
Mr. Davis, of Clinton moved to FIX the
time on the 18th of May, instead ofJuly.
Rule suspended, and bill passed. Yeas 26
navS IA.
Adjourned.
SENATE, Wednesday, Feb. l.
REPORTS or COMMITTEES.
Mr. Saunders, WAYS and Means. reported
back Senate fi,e No 5, to amend the revenue
laws. with commentator that it be in
definitely pc ,tDoned. Adopted.
Mr.. Udell. Select Committee. reported "a
hill to autho"iza the county Judge of Appa-
moose county, to appropriate portion of the
Swamp Lar Fund for the erection ola court
house in sa Il county, which was referred to
the committee on Judiciary.
Mr.. Mcpherson. presented the petition of
citizens of Affair Co., praying for the abo-
siton of Co. Judge. Referred to committee
on County and Township Organization.
Mr.. Mcpherson, Railroads, reported back
Senate File No 81, relating to the Keokuk
DeS Moines and Minnesota r. r., with a
recommendation that the same be passed
The bill was amended and ordered to be
engrossed
Mr. Bowen, Schools and University, re
ported back a substitute for the bill relatia Q
to the School and Saline Fund Substitute
adopted and the bill ordered to be engrosscd
4 Mr.. Wilson, of Jefferson. Judiciary, re
ported back the hin to amend chapter l07 o.
the laws of the 9Th General Assembly, with
, amendment, which was adopted Rule sus
, pended, and bill passed.
Mr.. Wilson of Dubuque. Judiciary, repor.
ted back the bill relating to apprentices, with
a recommendation that ii be passed. Ruiz
, suspended and bill passed
Nr Wilson of Jefferson, judiciary, re
, ported back an act to punish the makers o
f chatte mortgages in certain eases.
f Mr.. Thompson moved to, amend the bill