Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-01-27

COJSTy A.rAIHs - DEFECTIVE Asstss-
xExrs AT the recent session cf the Board
Of Supervisors, it vas shown that the un-
collected taxes for the year 1885 amounted TO
80, ,G60.75, aud for 1865 /, nearly IN equal
sum- beiag a total of more than 81 geo lost
from the estimated county revenues c'
those two years. 1t 10 scarcely syear since
the uucoilectabls taxes from 1868 to lss4,-
amounting to sbou, t2o, 900, we're wiped
off, the Treasuref's books as bad debts
Il b thus shown thst, ia sddtton 70 the
actual and unavoidable expenses Of the va'
ri.us dsparaments fos whose support these
tsxss sfs levied. the ss1-psysrs Who do paw
are obliged = bear The lees incurred through
those who DO Nos pay. That these defsult-
ere cannot be made to pay arises chiefly
fs ,m the neglect or nsfiicisncy Of the assoc
sors of the respective tcwnships. A defsc-
tive description Of real estate in the assoc
sors books. is generally Of greater impor-
tancs than it's entire omission would be. A
description which is not sufficiently accu-
rate to satisfy the purchaser at . regular
private sale, is generally' not sufficient y
enable the County Treasures 70 comply
With the Law requiring the sale Of real estate
on which the taxes have become delinquent.
Another cause Of much loss in the tax col.
lecsions arises through The defective points
in the laws respecting the collections Of
taxes on personsl property. Il is believed
that oil these defects admit.of easy and e.
fsstual remedy. Our State Legislature now
In session should provide specifically that
property imperisctly described by the asses
sors, and on which the taxes cannot, for
that reason, DO collected, should be regard
Cd ss not having been assessed, and remain
ng liable TO correct assessment within eth
er ofths two subsequ uent years, - is pro-
vidcd in the case of property escaping orig
inal assessment
The people, throughout the various town
ships, should also lsasn 70 spprsciats the
great importance Of selecting assessors With
special reference to their ability to properly
perform their duties. It is dus to the citi-
zens Of Pleasant Valley township, Butler
township and: davenport city. rsspsetivp!v,
to state that they have uniformly selected
men Of eminent qualifications for assessors,
and % result, the tax collections in those
districts exhibit little or no arrearages.
Buffalo township has, during the past few
years. been the worst assessed township in
the county, and the Incompetence Of the as
SCISSOR there hss caused . material part ol
the above loss. The loss also falls heavily
on tbs townships. as the ignorance Of the
ASSESSORS causes the loss Of = very large pro-
portion Of the District school taxes, and
thus increases the taxes Of those who do not
escape.
The subject is Of great importance aud il
is time the people learned that bunglDg
assessor is often the chief cause Of the high
taxes that everybody grumbles at An an
nusl loss Of $s 500 is too great . leakage to
bs allowed to pass unnoticed. The remedy
lies with the people, and more careful 80
lection CT assessors will cure the chief de.
fec..
Literary Notices.
TRs AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ras MEDICAL