The Grange advance., 1874-05-20
Tax Law.
FAR1BAULT, May II, 1874.

Editor Grange Advance:
DEAR SIR When met you at our
railroad meeting at Zumbrota l believe
l promised to write you occasionally, or
whenever I thought I had something to
say that might be of use or interest to
your readers. have something to say
now, and whether or not that something
comes under either Of the above men,
toned heads you shall decide. 1 want
to say word or two in behalf OF
very unpopular subject-our new tax
law.
While there arc several Objectionable
(because unnecessarily harsh aud Sc
vere), sections in the law, still the prin-
ciple must be admitted to be correct;
that principle which recognizes the
right Of every one to be heard in court
in his own defence before his possession
can be taken from him by summary pro-
ceedings. If the tree is sound in root
and heart, would it not be better to i'm
prove its fruit by proper pruning and
grating, than to uproot it entirely and
throw it away? I make this suggestion
because I see that some of the Oranges
of this State are advocating its imme-
date and unconditional repeal. Every
county in the State must necessarily he
at considerable expense in providing the
books and blanks required by the new
law, which will be money entirely
thrown away if another and different
system is adopted. I know this would
be no argument worth listening to if the
law was radically wrong in principle,
which MAINTAIN it isnot. After a care
full study of the law have come to the
conclusion that the following are the
only Objectionable features-or the only
ones to which serious objections can be
made:
1st. The ten per cent. penalty which
attaches on the 1st day of June. The
interest at two per cent. per month
would be sufficient inducement for
every one to pay their taxes as soon as
possible. while the additional penalty
increases the liability Of those to pay
who were unable to raise the money
when their taxes became due.
End. The leasing provision by which
any one bidding in the premises at a
tax-sale for term Of years may take
immediate possession. The objections
to such an arbitrary proceeding are so
plain as to need no mention. And last
ly, compelling minors, insane persons,
and others to obtain court process to re-
store their property which has been sold
for taxes during their disability, instead
Of the simple and inexpensive proceed.
ings required by the old statute.
think these are all the very objec.
tionable features in the law. IF they
are is it worth while to get excited
about it when the defect can be so soon
and so easily remedied? Perhaps the
time for redemption should be extended
and made five years instead Of two, but
I have always believed that it should be
so fixed that it would be we'll understood
that at some time a tax title might be-
come as good title as any; indeed a
modification Of our laws looking to that
end had become a necessity when our
present law was passed, for many of the
wealthier class, having no fear of tax
sales, purposely let their taxes become
delinquent, hoping to defeat their col.
lection entirely, while others-good law.
abiding citizens their taxes
promptly, and thus not only bore their
own burdens but were heavily weighted
in addition by reason Of other delin-
quencies.
As I have had occasion to remark
before, when writing upon this subject,
any Legislation which should so modify