Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-05-13

also have errors, ETC., s7l03 90, which
have not been credited, from the iact
suppose, that the County Court Cleri
has not certified here. On the account
of 1870 you have no credit for releases
for the reason. | suppose, as above Sc
forth. When your credits are all IN,
have no doubt we can close your &C
counts. except the difference in 1869, as
above set forth. Respectfully yours, etc
L r. PENNEBAKER, Comptroller.
Per HIDE, Clerk.
A word or two OF explanation is only
required. The errors and lnsolvencies
of 1869, amounting TO ~, lO3 9S, are
made UP Of uncollected taxes on per
sonal property and polls, reductions
ordered by the County Court, etc.
THIS REPORT
was presented to the County Court at
its January term, 1872, and at the April
term, 1872, was referred back to me for
closer collections. This was right and
proper. and | am now reducing the
amount hy collections on distress war
rants. Until the court allows the errors
and insolvencies. and the clerk of the
court certi6es the fact to the Comp
troller. this amount of uncolleeted taxes
Tor 1869, stands to my debit, not as hav-
ing been collected by me and not paid
over, but as being uncollected, The
same remarks apply to uneolleeted taxes
for 1870.
The discrepancy Of 1874, alluded to by
the Comptroller, arises in this manner.
The number of lots and tracts OF land
sold to the State for that year was 1908.
Ny fee is one dollar on each lot, making
$500. The Comptroller refuses, to pay
on 1914 lots, and reduces it to 27O9, be-
cause in numerous instances several
lots were condemned and sold in one
item. All have to say is this, That tor
all years previous to 1869, and for the
wear 1870, the Comptroller has settled
according to the principle contend for.
On this point, refer to NJ. d. l.. Stew
art as clerk, and to A. j. Kellar as prin-
ter, for the year named, who are interest
ed in these seven hundred and ninety
four lots to a greater extent than am.
1t is only an honest difference of opinion
as to what we are entitled to under the
law. Having
REPLIED TO THE CHARGES MADE BY GRAND
JURY
as to State matters, / might content
myself with using the idea Of the Grand
Jury, and ask, if the Grand Jury have
been so woefully wrong in their report
as to State matters, what is the natural
inference as to their insinuations as to
the county revenue? But | will not
content myself with this. In regard to
county revenue, l anu required to settle
monthly with the County Trustee. l
have done so, and as soon after the day
required (the first Monday as my state
ment of collections could be made
ready. | am still collecting taxes for
1869 and 1870, and as soon as the
County Court acts upon and allows the
errors and insolvencies for those years,
full and final settlement can be made.
The one for 1876 will De again presented
to the court in July next, and that for
1870 at the October term, and that for
1871 at the same term if possible. The
law has heretofore required the tax
books to be delivered to the Tax-Col-
lectors in May each year. The books
for 1869 were not placed in my hands
until January, 1870, some nine months
after they were due, and the books for
1870 were not placed in my hands until
October of the same year, some five
months after they were due, and yet
the Grand Jury would enforce the pro-
visions of law requiring the collector to
pass his accounts before the chairman of
the court on or before the thirty-frst of
December each year.
What have said covers more space
than | intended, and in conclusion will
say that am satisfied that the Grand
Jury intended no wrong to me, but were
simply misled by the information given
hem. WIN. MCLEAN,
Tax Collector of Shelby county.