The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-02-25

THURSDAY Rorning. EehrnIaarY rs, 1875
Anothcs Land Comiaissioner. !,

>~~~~f~S<S
another Land oonsaissio1,er. (, r
We had supposed that South Caro-.
lima had had, enough Of Laud5 Com
missioners aud Advisory Boards. Blu.
here isa yoluminous bill Of thirteen
sections to provide for the appoint:
ment ora. .Commissioner rof forfeited
Lands. Firss. he is to be appointed
by the Governor and hold his office
two years. The Auditors are to fur
nish tsm with list OF all the lands in
theirr sspeotiye Counties forfeited to
the State Tor the non payment Of taxes
and from want of buyers q: the sale,
with . statemen. Of the amount OF
taxes. costs and penalties due on them.
He is to have access to the books OF
the County Auditors and Treasurers,
with right to report to the Comp
troller-G General any omissions or ir.
Irregularities concerning forfeited lands
which may appear therein. It says:
"Thes the said Commissioner, i'm.
mediately after receiving such lists, is
to publish a,notiae in each newspaper
published in the State, addressed to
the former owners Of snoh forfeited
lands, {thSif heirs. .of. legal representa-.
tlvegs ore tors, aud, Others interested
theFeinaratatihg iAubatantialfy the. con-
ditieps ab totimeJ place os.terms under
which, Che. same may be redeemed, and
shss., astes She expiration OF such time,
all such forfeited lands, not redeemed,
will be sold on account OF the State;
and shall cause one or more notices to
the Same effect to be posted at tho
County Court House in each County,
on the frst sale.day and on the first
day Of the Comfy COURT next there
AFTER, i.ea ~ t%'f
He is also, between LIST June and Let
December Of each year, to attend at
the County Court House in each
County. to exhibit to such former
owners of forfeited lands. their heirs
or legal representatives. creditors. and
others Interested therein, as may de.
sire the same, statement of the taxes,
costs and penalties due thereon. with
lawfea interest from the time they be.
came due. In the sixth section it is
provided that in case any forfeited
dands h shall not be redeemed within the
time provided by law, the Oommis.
uioner shall prepare an account OF the
taxes. 66Ssa' and penalties due, With
interest, and place She same in the
hsndsof' the' Sheriff 81 the County,
and pressed to judgment. After ad-
vertisement, the tracts Of land for
which taxes are due. anu on which
judgments have been obtained, are
to be exposed at public sale
to the highest and best bidder
for cash. He is 20 turn his cash
over to the State Treasurer at stated
times, and make his report to the
Comptroller General. The Commits
eioner shall have his principal office in
Columbia. and the power to appoint
one or more deputies in Che Counties.
He is to give: bond. The cream OF the
matter 'oem es !ast. The said Forfeited
Lands Commissioner. in lien of all
salary and fees from the State, shall
receive q commission of 331a per cent.
um onjall moneys received by him on
account of the State, according to the
provibions of this Act.
as we have said. the Act is long and
elaborate. and we have been compelled
to omit several of it's sections. and to
give only an abstract of the others. It
will be o fat Office for the Commits
aioner and his assistants, and another
fountain Of corruption, mismanage-
ment and, oppression. It is very poor
scheme to enable the State TO get
judgment against its own citizens, and
sell them out Of houee and home. and
drive them from the State. In the
discussion which, the bill underwent.
We noticed that several Senator'S treat,
cd the deinquent landowners as il
they deliberately, allowed their lands to
be forfeited in order to avoid paving
taxes's They 'epoke with resentmeus
against,thsm Tor the imputed avotl.
ance of'a public duty. We believe no