The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-01-29


tArSnGAeut the Des Meines valley. HsrtA
1lssourf, ana Western Illinois,.
z-----------------
Realizing Percentage en- Taxes.
There is proposition before our Legis-
lature to remit all interest and penalties
above ten per cent, en- taxes levied prior to
1861.
An immense sum is due the State of
Iowa for delinquent taxes. For years
past large property holders. many non
residents and majority of the specu-
lators of the State have neglected to pay
their taxes. They have neglected to do
20, not because they we're unable to pay
them, but simply because they thought it
would be profitable to use the means that
should have been placed in the State and
County Treasures in private speculations
Of their own.
And they did not count without their
host. They knew that tax sales were un.
popular, for they had helped 70 make them
90. They knew that tax titles would not
stand, for the Courts had been hnmbug-
ged into a systematic notification of the
purpose and object of the law for collec
ton Of taxes BY the sale Of property.
And, moreover, they knew that our
kind hearted Legislators would be readily
induced after few years accumulation Of
delinquent taxes, to remit the penalties
therefor to all who proved utterly incorri-
gible. A great many honest men, in
the ordinary eallings of life, have paid
their "taxes levied prior to 1861 in &C.
oordance with law with or without penal
ties attached. And now, in 1862. comes
the Legislature to the aid of the. laqgard
non-taxpaysrs, RENTS the penalty, and
thereby invites all classes of the people Of
the State henceforsh to neglect and delay
payment Of taxes, with the assurance that
a tender hearted Legislature in 1866, or
some subsequent year will remit all penal
ties on taxes in arrears down to that date.
That is one side Of the question. The
other side. sweeping away all humbuc
and claptrap about hard times, hardship
and all that kind Of thinking, is just this !:
BY renting the penalty on condition
that the taxes are paid within certain
short and definite period. our exhausted
treasury will be repenished.
This consideration has great weight,
more weight with some than all argu.
ments based upon justice, equality and a
wise and overlooking expediency. And
even We, with all our repngnance to the
system Of pandering to whining laggords
and Boosting spectators, are disposed
just for this once to remit penalties in con-
sideration Of prompt payment, provided
this is accompanied with an efficient strin-
gent tax law, which shall not be enacted
in the interests of the non-taxpayer, but
shall secure the object at which it profess
es to aim. And we insist, by all means,
that one section Of the statute shall pro.
vide that the judges, if not the LAWYERS,
who construe the statute with the special
end and design of defeating its object,
shall be sent to Fort Lafayette.
1t is the duty Of oil men to pay their
taxes No man has any business to own
so much property that NE cannot pay taxes
on it. II is the interest Of all honest tax.
payers. that all property holders pay their
taxes promptly. Let public sentiment de.
mand efficient laws 10 secure the collec.
ton Of the taxes levied Andlet the pub.
lie sympathies no longer side with those
who seek to evads the payment Of their
taxes, and thereby defaud the Govern.
nnent that furnishes them protection. and
SHIFT their own burdens on to honest men 8
shoulders. Honesty. patriotism, self-in.
terest, demand that Z new leaf be turned
over IN Iowa upon this subject; let it b
done at once. Square up the old books
by remitting penalties for former delin.
quencies If need be, but let new book. be
opened with clear understanding tina,
no remission or abatement, even TO the
tenth part OF a mill shall be made here.
after.
BrfAge.Burners Csnaemnes =.
6hot.
The Commission which has been in Sea
sion in st. Louis for sometime, engaged il
the trial of prisoners charoed ,r;.h L.