The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1875-02-16
roRFEITED LANDS. = WHAT
hh ,,rI Re DONE WITH THEM.
Reply to "Deltn.''


~ CrAR1oN.-In your issue of the
met I find an article signed Delta,
svidentIy emanating from one experienced
tbe working of the present system of
- enacted from time to time for the
,oo Districts. While Delta presents
l. orormitv of the frauds that may
j neruetrated under the laws as they
Dou stand he points to no remedy for the
fnture. To cure this evil and provide
ao-roction is what we all desire, but
b. mode of accomplishing this result is
! vexatious question. The conflict of
s+Ias in the alluvial Districts are more
,r,orous than the subdivisions of the
brds In some instances there are four
ooimants for each, with titles dating from
1858 to 1874. In the suspension of
state Taxes on lands held by the Levee
poards is the "chief source of fraud, I"
nd for the wisdom of this legislation,
he Levee Districts alone are responsible.
Most all the acts of the Legislature have
been passed in Difference to the wishes
and representations of the members from
those Districts, believing that their
knowledge of what was best to secure
heir country from inundation shsuld be
considered and yielded to. The error OF
The legislation is now so obvious, every
one who has any knowledge of It's evils is
astounded, and Delta comes to the front
to speak out against that which should
haye long since had the correction ap-
ped. Having for sometime past given
bis matter some study, [ desire to pre-
@nt few facts and figures for the con-
liberation of Delta, and all concerned,
md ask that they join Auditor Gibbs in
his plan Of solving this question and ter
ninating this evil, or to suggest some
better plan.
"Overpayments" frequently occur in
Sheriff settlements and are not confined
b the counties in the Levee Districts
fpr instance in 1871, the Sheriff of Clarke
county was refunded 81, 129 81; Copiah,
Sl,9O2 56 Grenada, So, ,961 45 Kinds,
$,9O7 "A, and Tishomingo, s1,069 AZ.
his IN itself argues no fraud, and results
ROm various causes not necessary to dis
elSS here and from examination we fine
Rat these overpayments have occurred
RFOugh all the years, in some of the
emtles. In 1867, for instance, Bolivar
punty with real estate tax of So, 1876 81
Ferpaid s1,524 So, with suspended
lFt of sl,655 81 while in 1878, with
~ assessment of S17,959 Oh, the over
sy was 81 ,29O %, with a suspended lis
4 1rZ4o 70. why was it then when th,
ualtors Reports for 1870 and 1877:
III full OF figures showing this error il
sslauon that this matter of suspended
~AeS was not remedied +? In Tunic;
pun.y IN 1869, the whole amount paiC
a0S Sl,V40 80, and there was drawn ou
! OVerpaid $1,000 Is; and BOLIVIA
Iun'y IN 1871 paid in s5,737 Sc, anc
Nv Cat upon final settlement 81, ,S6'
ana IaIlahatchie county for the sam
"a 1et pald IN S4,511 81, and drew ou
E ,iGl %. Had Delta, or some one a
anlllar IL with these matters, then spokel
~ thousands of dollars could have beer
'eu 'he State. [ am glad to know tina
suggestions of Auditor Gibbs ha
b;H %Nened an interest in the matter
anol nion may result in some good, and
COileS The Legislature of the State nov
IT, ocSslo1 to take this matter earnestly i
no nu ana pass some measure that will a
os. ~ correct the evil and provide
hmU hnUugn and complete system for tn
epor" vii give a few figures to show th
IT, Eous d; increase of suspended take
provol olscuss the remedy my judgment al
STATE TAX SUSPENDED
IS7S' IbS6S' 1867, 1868, 1859 1912 {
IN 1879 ''''..'..... ........ 22,291
1873 ''''>'.... ----'.'. tetga
nnd OF this enormous sum there is M
W1l uned to the State one dollar j
Iteen' Hn Perhaps the Levee treasure
vi h. ;oTmmlssioners could explain thi
knJ ,S law suspending the State tax Q
raS aSs neld by the Levee Boards
tbbually tbu absorbing the entire resources