Vicksburg weekly herald., 1878-01-25
and DeIInquenIs.

ators, we would like to see a few others
adopted also. When the bill was first
introduced Il was as follows:
"SEcTIoN |. Bo II enacted by the
Legislature Of the State Of Mississippi,
That all lands held or claimed by said
State by virtue Of purchase at sales for
taxes other than levee taxes, be and the
same are hereby Withdrawn from sale
or purchase until the lst day Of April,
1878, and that in the meantime the
original owners OF said lands may re-
deem the same upon the payment OF
the taxes for which they were sold, and
the costs OF such sale.
Sec. 2. Be 1t further enacted, That
this Act take effect and be In force
from and after its passage"
Although the above wipes out all
damages for the nOn-pay OF taxes,
aud places dellnquents on an equal
footing with those who have always
promptly paid their taxes, without ex-
acting any interest whatever from said
dglinquents, the Act was thought 10 be
a little too oppressive, and 1t was
amended SO as TO grant a full
release to those who will pay
taxes they have owed since 1874. In
other words, if they owe for ten years
prior to that time the State, counties,
and municipalities must give clear
receipt on the payment Of taxes and
costs due since 1874 No damages, no
interest on The money that should have
been paid. This, in effect, means that
the law.givers Of Mississippi deem it
wisdom to legislate 10 favor
Of those who have not paid their taxes,
At the expense ot those ,0hO hare paid
their tareS. II this Is the best they
can do, every man who pays his taxes
will wish they had stuck 10 the discus
sion Of he'll and other questions in
which they are personally interested.
II will be observed that the bill first
provided that delinquents should have
until the first Of April, but
tLis was not deemed sufficient,
and December was inserted in the
place of April. If the bill! becomes a
law II will give ell this year in which
delinQgsnts may pay their back taxes
without interest or damages. That ia
to say, while those who have paid
promptly have been out OF the use OF
the money they paid for years, the law
does not propose to regard that as q
matter OF any consequence, and does
not propose TO exact any in
lerest from those who refused
to pay. Divested of all its cum
ming, the law IL simply an Act in
favor of those who have failed to pay
their taxes. These dellDquents have en-
jlyed the benefits Of government, the
protection Of lille aud property, aud
those who paid taxes have had 10 pay
increased amounts on that account and
for their benefit. Now these delin-
Quents want the clouds lifted of their
titles, and this Is the way some Of our
legislators propose to do It. We say
no. On the contrary We hope the Leg
islaturo will perfect law that will force
all to bear the burdens Of government
alike, aud legisIale IN future ia favor oil
those who do pay taxes. In our ODin'
ion, the rights OF the prompt Taxpayers
are the ones that should be consulted
aud not those Of people who have in
some cases absolutely reduced uon-tax
pay ing 10 q science.
Buff the Legislature is determined Ia
enact snch Iu urjust law, we earnestly
trust that the one at present discussed
will b. be still further amended. We
suggest that each delinquent be offered
in addition to an abatement Of all dam
ages and interest, a beautiful chrome
if he will walk up and settle what hC
ought to have settled years ago. Ant
we further suggest that the law shsl
APPLY to the future as we'll az the past
so that ali may have chance. Thi'
could be accomplished by passing al
amendment to the effect that any ont
who is rascaIIy and sharp enough L
avoid the payment of taxes for three
successive year., shall be allowed an!
time thereafter 10 pay thcm wilhuu
interest or damages.
- -
PEMBFGrOS, MI eminent Judge IN he,
reign of Charles II rose to legal emf
uence IN curious way. 4 rake Gn,