The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-02-28

Il. LAuBE
Be it ordained by the Council of the city of Ric
mond, That the Sd section of chapter XIV OF Il
ordinance concerning the sale of land for taxes b
and the same 10 hereby, amended and modified, /
that said section shall hereafter read as follows g
To the list and copy published and posted he sha
supJoln notice that each lot or part of lot therei
mentioned or SO much thereof as shall be sufliciep
viii be sold at public auction between the hours ,
IL noon AID in the afternoon at the City Hail. O
the hrst day of the said February term of the coui
OF Hustngs, unless there be previously paid tn
taxes on the same, and also all necessary costs an
charges incurred in and about such publication
postage and sale of such real estate.''
This amended ordinance shall commence and be 4
force from the passage thereof
Mr.. PREsIDENr-whle do not desire to trespa.
on your valuable time, yet wish to call attentio
to simple facts:
In regard to the Sd section of the ordinance cor
cerning the sale of land for taxes" (page 94) al
of the opinion that said secton as it now reads fail
to confer upon the city collector power to add 20 be
made of the land in default, although such additio
has been repeatedly made by the collector since tn
hIst publication by him during the present year.
now reads As to the injustice of the law to prov
this fact, will be very brief:
1t is well known that when note is protested a
bank, the face OF such note is not thereby changed
except only that it becomes Liable to the costs an
charges of notariatprotest. No per centum $ mad
thereto.
Now, the city is party to an obligation on on
side, the taxpayer O party on the other This obi
CATION is to be redeemed O speci cd time yet til
city undertakes to change the face of such obligs
tion, without consulting and seemingly regardles
OF, the interest benefit of the x-payer at it
leisure
L consider this twenty per centum addition oc
pressive and unequitable, bestowing an sdvantag
on the man of property and means, who can when
ever it suits his convenience either before or at tn
Time specif1ad for payment discharge his bill 70
taxes and receive reduction of ten per centum fa
prompt payment. To this however, do rot sljeci
although consider it unjust.
On the other hand the laboripg man, the dray
man, mechanic, porter clerk, cannot do this
They are dependent upon their daily labor-ar
sometimes out OF employment for menths Som
few OF this class may own the house which shelter
themselves and families; but then their wages ma
be withheld BY their employers as suits their whl
or fancy Is il strange, then thai this class cann
meet their obligations at the stated timer YET, fo
such failure, an addition Of twenty per centum j
made to the amount Of their tax bills clearly siyins
to the man OF means an advantage of thirty pei
centun. Surely this is neither fair nor just
L have no wish to cast any reflection upon thu
Trainers Of this ordinance but it was a great over
sight in my opinion, to make such distinction be
tween one taxpayer and another.
1t is evident that the laboring man can be NOR
easily made to pay moderate sum than exorbi
tsnt one for taxes.
The laboring - the mechanic-compose tL
bone and sincw of the land aud, in my humbt,
Judgment, entitled to all the favor and indulgenc
which can consistently be accorded.
Tin order that the Council might have al
opportunity to act upon the proposed amend
ment to the ordinance, | offered a resolution a
the meeting referred to, adjourning the Coun
Gil to Thursday, the 23d instant, which wa
voted down, and as the sale takes place OF
Monday next, of course no action looking IL
relief can be had-F IIAURE1