The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1875-02-16

revenue from these lands. How are
these and other lands to be restored to
the tax rolls and made available for the
purpose of revenue, SO that all lands
liable to taxation shall have like, pro-
portion. This is the question to be solved
and in which every citizen is interested.
When we consider that of the 3O,000,-
900 acres of land in the State only
II, 100000 pay taxes. While the
State and Levee Boards hold 1000, 900
acres by worthless tax titles, and 4,OOO,-
900 more owned by the State or indi-
viduals escaping assessment entirely,
we may we'll wonder what our. law
makers have been doing all these years,
and demand of them some relief.
take the ground that the tax titles
are entirely worthless, and in the Levee
Districts there are such conflicts in sales
and titles thatno one would ever be fool
ish enough to invest his money in a tax
title; and if he were willing to do so
and take the chances, by the time he was
through paying the 10 cents board, the
liquidating board, the State, county and
shool taxes, it would amount to more
than the land is worth. The owner, on
the other hand, won't, or can't redeem
his land, and prefers the State or Leyee
Board 20 hold it. Why? Because he
has no confidence that any adverse claim
will stand, if any one should buy, unless
could buy the same character of
lands, upon which the taxes have been
regularly paid. Many of these lands
are held by the State since 1858, large
majority by titles of 1862, 1868, 1864,
and by all the Levee Boards. The Cor
dian knot must be cut, as the only solu-
ton; abate the taxes, say, to the 1st of
January, 1874, and allow the owners to
redeem within given length of time
and should they fail, then let the State
sell the lands for the taxes of 1874, to
any purchaser, and provide that all
transfers of realty upon which the taxes
are not paid hereafter, shall be held null
and void. Thus restore the lands to
your tax rolls, and secure the payment
of the tax for the future.
The hundreds of thousands of acres
now forfeited would become tax-paying
property, and the percentage Of State
levy so greatly reduced as to render less
oppressive the burden of taxation.
"But," says Delta, release not, buturge
the Legislature to unearth this fraud. J"
Why not release? To allow these frauds"
to continue from year to year, by not
changing the law What has these
frauds" to do with the release of the
lands from this miserable fiction of tax
titles? If John Brown, or any other
Sheriff, collected taxes upon lands held
by the State or the Levee Boards, he is
responsible to the taxpayer. For while
the State or Levee Board hold lands,
taxes cannot be. paid on them unless re-
deemed or purchased. The taxpayer
may pay in his own money, but the officer
receives, as the law requires, credit for
all lands SO held, and were the tax col
lector to tender the money so collected to
either the Auditor or Levee Treasurer,
neither could receive it. 1t is the tax
payers money, not the States or the
Levee Boards no one can pay taxes on
State property. Then, if the taxes prior
to 1874 be released, and the taxpayer
finds that he has paid wrongfully, his re-
course is against the sheriff, just the same
as it is now, and will be it the taxes are
released.
Releasing the taxes has no connection
with the frauds complained of, nor does
it in any way initiate against the claim
of any taxpayer who has paid his money
upon lands held to the sheriff. His re-
course is against the sheriff who received
his money, and will be the same were the
taxes abated. Had John Brown been q
more experienced sheriff, or had the final
settlement been made by any one else,
the resslt must have been the same.
There is no difference between his report
ing and drawing out, and his holding out
and not reporting; and year by year, just
+ what Delta complains of, must recur, un
less the law is changed. How the ides
can find place in the mind of Delta, that
remitting the tax on lands to the owners
is remitting 'large sums to the Sheriffs
| cannot understand. The State RENTS
nothing to the sheriffs; she claims to own
: the land by purchase at tax sale, anc
holds it until redeemed by owners or pur
chasers. No individual is allowed by
8 law to pay on lands thus held, and if ht
5 does, it is matter between him and tht
Q sheriff, to which the State is not party
The people will be greatly relieved by th'
t adoption of the measure proposed, the rev
n enue of the State restored, the land-holdel
S not injured, Levee scrip enhanced il
\ q. i