Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-05
Assessing and Collecting National
taxes.


The newly appointed Tax Collectors and As
for this city will meet during the present
week, and confer relative to the regulation of de-
tails for the uniform and harmonious discharge of
their duties The tax law is voluminOuS, and
was intended to leave very little unsaid, but
there are some points which il does not touch
upon. These are left to the discretion and ex-
perience of the officials One point which will
undoubtedly be agreed upon by all concerned,
will be the establishment of an Office in the cen
trail portion of each district to be occupied jointly
by the Collector and Assessor, and their respect
i've stats. To bring the two departments of the
business thus together, although not required by
the law, would be decided convenience to the
public.
With regard to the appointment of deputies, it
is plainly the policy Of both the Collectors and
Assessors to take none but skiilfu, practical
countants, men OF temperate habits, sterling
honesty and pleasant address. The temptations
for making false assessments will be great; and
it will be impossible, in many cases to detect the
fraud. An inscriptions Assessor acting in col
fusion with INSCRIPTIONS property owners, could
keep millions of dollars worth OF taxable articles
Oft the books, and nobody else would be the
wiser. There is a small fine for the non-perlorm-
ance of the duties enjoined upon Assessors; but
no special punishment, either by fine or imprison-
ment, for malleasance in office. The law does
not even require bonds of Assessors or their
sstants Everything is lett their honor while all
sorts of penalties are judicously contrived to
force assessed parties to tell the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth 1t is, therefore,
important that none but men of immaculate,
proved integrity, should be placed in these re
sponsbe positions. Collectors are authorized to
require bonds, ii they choose, from their depu
ties; and both Collectors and deputies may be
punished for extortion or wilful oppression, by "A
fine not exceeding twice the amount OF damages
accrung To the party injured, on the suit OF that
party, and dismissed from office. 1t is under
stood that the Collectors bonds have been fixed
at $500 ,000-subect to increase at the direction
of the Secretary of the Treasury. Five approved
sureiies are required
The compensation to collectors is quite liberal.
They receive, for themselves and deputies, four
per cent on the first 800 900, and two per cent
on all above that sum-provided that. in no case
shall The commissions exceed $1,000, except in
collection districts embracing more than one Con
eressional District. Necessary and reasonable"
charges are allowed for stationery and blank
books The Collector can appoint any number
of deputies, none at all, as he thinks proper
thus regulating the amount OF his personal com
missions.
Assessors receive three dollars DAY, and FIVE
dollars for every day employed in hearing APP
peals revising valuations and making out lists,
and one dollar for every hundred taxable persons
contained in the tax list as delivered by him to
tue Collectors The Assistant Assessors ieceive
the same, with the exception OF the 50 per day
for hearing appeals, &c. Both are allowed
necessary and reasonable charges for stationery
and blank books Where the collection district
embraces more than one Congressional District.
the Secretary OF the Treasury may grant the As
SCISSOR such compensation as he may deem neces-
sary.-N y. Jour. of Com