Red Wing sentinel. [volume] (Red Wing, M.T. [i.e. Minn.]) 1855-1861, 1860-03-21


tics, al We want is independent, honest
capable men TO compose that Board. .
THE TAXPAYERS MOVEMENT.
Since our last issue. we have noticed q
most singular opposition from certain Dem
ocrats. to the proposition We made Of elect
ing County Commissioners irrespective Of
political proclivities. We believe that the
best interests Of the county, and Of every
taxpayer in the county, would be promoted
BY merging all political considerations at
this election in the higher and more impor.
tant interests which taxpayers have in an
economical administration of our county
affairs. This seems to be most clear but
those Democrats to whom We have alluded,
Say to Us the Republicans have the MAORI
~. lot them elect an entire party ticket and
take tho whole rssponsibility-that the
more the Republicans mismanage, the better
It will b for the Democrats.
We have also been told that our article
exposing tho scheme Of plumber on the
Psrt q the nepuUucan Treasurer and Reg.
lister Of Deeds, was prcmature-that our
duty to the Democratic party was to have
let them incurred the additional expense Of
$1,000 or 81, 500 and then have shown the
snatter up, and forced the Republicans to
shoulder the responsibility. - ai
To both these objections to our course,
We have tho same reply. It is this: That
our duty to .he people Of tho county is su-
pesios to mere psrty considerations-tha
all schemes Of plumber ought to be checked
at once-that it is no use to lock the barn
after the horse is stolen-and that it affords
little consolation to taxpayers. to be told
utter an unnecessary expense is incurred,
how it might have been avoided and pre-
vented. IL is the plainest Of al duties to
protect the treasury, - fAr IS we can, by a
timely exposure. Our Democratic friends
should recollect. that in keeping down taxa.
ton, their pockets are interested. and that
The people Of the county will have no con.
'adsocs in the Democratic party unless they
'sse u honorable means to prevent and ex-
pose schemes Of plumber, and not wait until
tho mischief is done. Upon this principle
~ think orr course is justified by every
eonsidsratienSof party policy. 4r ~
II is true, our exposure prevented the tax
sale expense, and il is far more gratifying
to MS to know5we prevented it, and that our
citizens are not compelled TO pay it, than to
pay it and tiisn find fault with it.
I. We didn expose the half Of the wrong
intended: We call the intelligent citizens
ofour county 10 examine few provisions
Of the law which these official eormoranta
have each Year disregarded, and tho wanton
and fragrant disregard Of which has caused
IN annual expense Of not less than $1,000
Sec. IA, Of the Compiled Statutes. page
202, provides that the several collector.
shalt make return Of the delinquent list OF
The 18th day Of February, Of each year. nnt
some time alter this is given to make sucl
return. Byisection SO, Comp. Stat. pas,
239, tits provided that when the taxes ant
charges on land shall remain unpaid, 0,
.""tas Fri day Of February met, after II
,esara t'erset," then the same shall be sub
j:atto sale as provided by law.
Thus We sec that the delinquent tax list
isreturncta on the 18th Of February Of each
ysa-, that such delinquent tax-list remain.
with the County treasurer, in payment
anta the first Of February following
nearlya y ar-and then, such land IS tn
taxes are not Paid upon, shall be advertise,
and sold Is provided by law. What has
leon the practice in this county? 1t ha.
Sesn to make the sale the same yssr, which
p raainly in violation Of law, and henc,
llsgst. Every tax sale in Goodhue county
has IN consequences ben illegal, and tn
e1penses q such sales, wantonly incurred,
in violation Of law arc not collectable. ia
edAgAin. sec. II. page,2 $50 Of Comp. Stat
provides that mo land bid of for the county
Sballbe offered for sale, for any taxes leviee
ttsteon, so that the lands bid of 70: ill.,
county one year, are not 70 be advertise.
the,next. All know that this class Of lands
comprise the larger proportion Of the ia,
list but year after year they have been ad
verified and sold and expenses have beer
illegally incurred, Which can never be col
lseted from such delinquent tax payers.
First then. every tax sale in this county
has been illegal and the s6,tN or 5000
paid therefor lost to the county, s;I,i.a II.
se &eond; eli; they had been advertised Al
tho proper time and legal, still list five
times Is large - necessary has been adver
tissd,at heavy expense. which cannot be col
1ectld hack, because the county had the
previous year became the purchaser. ~
Why, then, the people q the county may
reasonably ask, were oil these Illegal and