Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-06-18
ADVERTISEMENT OF TAX
LISTS.

-teuew lax bill reported by II. L. Palmer,
r,.sd the Assembly by large majority and
t,.,a into the Senate, where its fate is
5.al
NJ know but little of the bill, except that
..eof is provisions does away with all ad-
rs,dsins of lands sold by the Treasurer, or
ietIel by the Clerk. 1t does not lessen the
!. .zrense, but Divers it into new channel. and
By doing away with the advertising of a des-
caption of the lands-to Be Sold it takes away
,ereat convenience and light from the people,
and gives a death blow to the greater part of
lie local press.
The present system does no injustice to any
one. The interest Of the whole. demands
hat taxes be promptly paid, and he who pays
lis taxes at the proper time, hes no advertising
,.-ts 70 pay. It is erroneous to suppose that
4eouuty pays the printer for this. 1t is all a
Il shavre against the lands advertised.
We cannot better explain this matter than
.r copyiug the following from the Milwaukee
i Daily Wars -
i There Is one provision in this bill howev-
- which seems not TO have been called for.
nd which viii be likely TO please no great
d potion OF the people. Heretofore brief dcs-
g.,t0us Of lands sold for non-pavment of
81 axes. and also descriptions of lands sold for
vach deeds were about TO be given. have been
= si-s.t.spd for the benefit of both owners and
Iav.asegS. The arrangement was beneficial
% j. taxpayers, because owners Of land
nee thereby Informed without troublesome
Ill. - -.
was about 10 be scld for taxes. by mistake or
otherwise. 1t was also beneficial 10 counties,
because IL tnads public the descriptions of
i lands 10 be sold, and was a convenience to
81 Purchasers 10 n0n-rcsidents especially, and
'a others owning property the payment of
s. .aLes oH which IL entrusted to agents, lessees.
3 a.Acrs. Tie publication of delinquent lists
s ESPECIALLY desirable.
Tie pending bill does away With all this,
81 ~ 'e'mits ltnds to be sold and deeds given
stl7rt any publication whatever, beyond
.rIe lotice of the day of sale. Should this
lL pass in its present shape. all parties inter-
S-l IN he sale of lands for delinquent taxes
.lairer must rush 10 the county seat, hunt
ii the proper county officer, and examine a
:. posted ON the office wall. This i the man
e. in which II IS proposed TO dispose OF pro-
~riy III many single instances worth many
aousands of dollars. Tbs is, the manner in
yhich il Is proposed 70 inform people whether
not their hom,stcals are about 10 be bid OFF
The corner Of some court house, bv the Co
aaSarer. or be decided away by some other
MY ctticcr. This IS the manner in which
=r.lassrs are to ascertain what property they
'Aa .,i on At the annual sales.
"eTsi as 10 newspapers. They derive
II a. 1osl1l support from the publication of
' Lar Isis. With fair minded and enlight-
5-.. hrH. Tins IS certainly 10 objection to the
.---taton Of these lists The State pays an
.iA1as sum uf money annually Tor COM
-ai school education. 1t contributes to the
'3PlJTt Of state historical society, and to
SIe5ltgral associations 1t squanders thou
"a -aS o. dollars annually, stolen from the
81 amp land fund, Ostensibiy for the support
normal schools. The press of the state
tributes more TO the object of popular in
-c,lon than all these institutions together
8 not only the source of daily and weekly
IS OF the medium of political squabbles.
IA al lis faults, its general tendency is TO
ate instruct and elevate the mass of the
lRe. It is the guide which leads popular
on the sentinel which guards the treas
Of the people from plumber the censor
lose criticism no dishonest politician can es-
re. tie guardian of public liberty where
frce Newspapers may be improved
1t is not the true policy of the State to
sourage their publication by unwhelesome
gislation. And the legislator who thinks
At TO be any pant OF his business, has quite
3 staken the nature Of his duties
We do not intend 10 intimate that any nor
a Of the present Legislature are unfriendly
Inc press of the State, or that the provisions
he tax bill we have discussed were dicta-
eay any Unfriendly motives. But we trust
issembled wisdom of the State viii per-
.Fe What while the provisions of the tax bill
winch We have alluded Tust result in di-
g i,l,lnry to the newspaper interest, they are
IaIed Tor by any portion of community,
are hkely 10 prove fruitful of general in
M Il hot OF actual and serious dan
When private individual or 4 Sheriff
'ertlses lands for sale-we mean to no nos;.
~ sold as treasuTers are required tn sell a
sIptiOn of each tract or parcel Is uniform~
gwen. and we would like to have some one
lam why in the case of a sale for taxes
should be dispensed with. If a sale Of
Us Is 10 take place, the public should be no.
-el not only of the fact of the sale but of
Tracts to be sold"