The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-03-20
Tax Liquidation.

We commend the following remarks mn, A..
subject, from correspondent in the d..
Tribune, TO the attention of our readers.
The main defect in our legislation hither,o
this subject, think, lies in want az ss
elimination between the classes 10 be 49,,
by it. These classes may be designated ,Sns
!. Those rt2 do rot intend 10 pdv an. 80,
on thar lanGs-who have abandoned ,ba,.
are willing that tax purchasers shouls ~
them for Il series OF years, and then by ,,L;.
advantage of the diSirgst OF tax titles. "s,>
late" cut of the purchasers who have in 90.
been performing their duties 10 the S,s,s
Those who do intend TO pay, but from want =,
information, or the uniaiEhtulness, or careles.'
ness OF agents, 90 not IN fact pay. And 5. Tho.
who pay their taxes from year TO wear, as "a.
suppose. regularly, but by some accideu, /.
making out receipt or the fraud OF the ca
lecsor, their lands are returned and sold. vbs.
thew have in tact done their whole duty
Now, a system which shall provide ",Ao-
thrift" for the first Of these classes would NM
doubtedly be very generally approved: and II.
TO this class towards which the >trngency Of am.
recent legislation has been directed. Bu, -.
misfortune Is, that the same provisions Of \,
which reach them viii reach also the third a
these classes, towards whom every possible a.
cility should be extended of relieving themselx..
from the danger 10 which they are exposed b,
the carclessness or corruption f public otscer:
The State is pursuing the hrst class, and The
Courts are aiming 10 protect the third-bo,h Ar
right in their PURPOSES; aud between the tvo
We have an ineNtucable suarl, If not an "re.
pressibe conflict.
Now. what is the remedy: Can nothing 4.
settled until il has passed into judgmen; ss
or against tax tide? Ii this be the concls.
sion, il IS obvious that our government mu,t
DO supported by resident taxpayers, who's
! personal property is within reach of the Col.
iector, for no one will buy the non resident.
lands unless the State can make a surer tile
than it has been able to do thus far The ac
cumulation of what are called State Tan
/ Lands proves thi-.
! Short statutes of limitation" have been
usually rcsortel to; first rs against the holde,
ot the taX-tilc, and now 10y the recent act q
against the holder of the original title The
first OF these made taN-titles comparatively
yalucess except in places where tie land would
paw for present occupancy without the expense
of clearing. The last las or viii forfeit The
title To some OF the best farms in the State, the
owners of hich have been in no respect delin.
quent. Against such result as this, the pop.
ular cutlery cannot but be that Of indignation
Nor viii a long statute Of limitation, f." five wears
after the taX-dccd has boon recorded" a propo-
sed by Mr. ltrkcs in his communication TO the
! -IdrsTttser,) afford any adequate protection
against such a misfortune. Those who pay their
taxes every wear ought not 10 have their title
depend upon searching the records every i've
years, il any other mode can be devised, by
. which the public right may be secured as well
has 81 ,l.;r -
they know it-auG II never occurs 10 them TO
suspect that their farms are in any danger; nor
: ought they to be, ,rith0Ht a distinct notice 70
, then, 6efoTe tie toys'tnre Is complete.
Now | think an adequate remedy for the evil
to which the finances OF the State are exposed
bv the neglect of landowners 10 pay their taxes
= and the dangers To which those who have paid
theirs are exposed by the Illegal return Of their
lands, may bc devised upon the bass Of a notice
10 the party irLose property Is in danger b.fcn
: The forfeiture Is complete.
I.t a tax sale De no more in,umbercd with
forms ssssat,ai 20 lis validity or the complete
ness oi the tile which it conveys, than an al.
miaistra;or. sale. les tbo purchasers be NJ
qGircd IN addition 10 li'c actual notice 10 the
onvels of the land, as appears from the sssess.
Eeut roN, 70 IL bc resident land, and i
S mon resident by mali. or 10 an agent, or by
posting notices iu some j. -igaa;ed public Office
. or In one OF many other WAYS, which might be
suggested If this were the place 20 adjust the
details Of such q law; and then unless the taxes,
interest aud an oLiDdufis cOmpeEsating rate
{ per cent. as penalty he hot paid within Il,
months, of the date oi the notice, let the title
become absolute. oi course, in cases where the
tax Lad been already paid provision would be
made for roiuUdirg To the purchaser hs money,
sul iast too. w- BE a.l tie Circumstances were
Vt fresh d. tie minds Of the persons Interested
, such system oi giving notice wia provide Q
prompt protection against that species OF . land
shark who, conscious that some mistake has
} been committed, buys his neighbours house and
lot or farm and then lies IN wait for the day
! of redemption 20 expire TO come down with
II his terms of compromise. Ii would give val
ne Ia lands that have long siuce been absn-
doned by their original owners, until the ias
q purchasers have paid more than government
price" for them. and vet 10 not feel safe in i'm
proving them ms their own. IL would take away
from the spectators in Original titles" which
have been abandoned tor "a consideration merely
nominal, tie weapons they are now welding
against those who have honestly bought the
lands at tax sales, of deuunciatlOns as land
sharks !" and relieve the purchaser Of lands al
the tax sales from any discreditable imputation,
because no sccrs, advantage could possibly be
taken Aud the result Of the whole, by giving
tax sales a value without any violation OF, or IN.
novation upon well settled rules Of law, would
be to promote, in a most essential degree the
collection Of the revenues of the State, this,
certainly, j. an object which all good citizens
should desire. T.