Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-08-12

y - An = 4D11I>13IIuN0 I'LL
HfATR AMI es0U1rH TAX.
MnasRs. EDrTogB:- The subject Of
tuxatl6n, the mode Of ossessing, col
Beeting, ETC., has been ably discussed
In the Tobacco Leaf. But having
bpth collected and afsossed the taxa
BILE property Of 4 part Of the county,
several years ago, think the law,
In the assessing and collecting the
tax, can be altered greatly TO the adj
vantage Of both the tax payer and
the State. Under the present law
the magistrates OF the county ara the
officers, or rather they are appointed
by the County Court, to take : list Of
the taxable property In their respect
i've districts, which, as q general rule,
is done in this way: They 60 to the
clerk Of the County court, and get the
tax list Of the previous year; this
they copy; In most cases, which ID
duplicated, running on from one year
to another, without cUrretflng the
various changes which occurs, both
In the value and ownership OF real
estate, would It not be better 10 have
q revenue Assessor for the whole
county, which IL the law OF Ken.
lucky. Would we not have more
uniform valuation Of our taxable ef,
fects, and give more satisfaction "a
the people. Let this officer be ap-
pointed by the County court---make
It his duty to ace every man In the
county, and take from him y sworn
statement Of his taxable effects, then
value 1t Mt q fair cash valuation, ID
the payment Of a just debt. Thi,
would cost the county no more thar
the present mode. ~. tN'i
But the greatest evil Is In col,
lecting the revenue our tax collect
ors advertise for the people to rneel
them at tile various precincts IN tht
county, but how few comply will
the law and meet them; and wller
/ they go TO see them at their house,
| the larger number Of them haven
the money; the result Is the take
are not collected, and, after 3 while
you will see . broad side OF our cit,
papers covered with land for sale 70
taxes. This IL unavoidable, unles
you change the mode Of collecting
the tax.
But make the constables of eacl
district, In the county, the collector
he knows every man In the district
and OF course he can collect closer
the tax, In his own district than an,
one man can In the whole county
Make him give . separate bond, Will
good security for the faithful dis
charge of the duties Of his olIlce.--
j There IL . class Of citisens who pa,
no tax, and yet they enjoy all tn
benefit that the tax payer does, IN
der the law, and n this mode Of col
llecting the revenue II adopted, ia TIL
county, alone at least q, 900 can b
collected In this way. The constabI
will apply to the laborer for his tax
of course he has no money, but woul'
be willing for his employer TO pay II
and take it out of his wages, for Il
doing this he can get to vote, and til
last one Of these employers will b
! willing to make this advance, for
lifts little Of the tax off of himself
There should be q Limitation to TIL
tax law; make the collector resp0n
sible for the tax after two years lie
the tax list be an execution IN hi
hands, and II the taxes are not pal
In stipulated time, let him levy an
sell, just as he would under an execu
: tlon issued from a Justice OF tn
Peace; make 1t his duty to first eS
haust the goods and chattles befor
he levies upon real estate, for clerk
and printers fees, with the the poo
man, or small tax payer, when 20
advertise his land for his taxes, con
stitute the larger part of his debt.
! I hope our able Representative
from this district, will look into thi
important question, and make sue
alteration as their wisdom may d.
rect. TAX PAYER.