The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-13
TAX COLLECTIONS AND SETTLE
MENTS.

TAX COLLECTIONS AND SETTLE
MENTS.
In our article In yesterdays DEMOCRAT
relative to the financial affairs Of the State
we stated that from an inspection Of the set
Elements made by tax collectors and OF the
Auditors report, we had found that the taxes
accounted for during the first quarter OF 1878
amounted already to the sum OF S7539O5 53.
We understand that many persons have ques-
toned the accuracy of this statement, and
that they refer, In support of their views.
TO the Auditors quarterly report published
In the DEMOCRAT OF the ninth instant.
IL is o. singular fact that in this community,
where the burden Of taxation and the pecuniary
stlfferngs OF the people have been go great that
every taxpayer would naturally be supposed
TO take the deepest interest In the fiscal CON
Germs OF the government, not one man in a
hundred has clear conception Of the manner
In which the public accounts are kept and
tax settlements are made. Indeed, we may
20 further and say that probably not one tax
payer In hundred has read and digested
the provisions of the assessment and oolleo-
ton laws passed at the last session
of the Legislature, or knew, before we called
attention to the fact, that the law now
permits the delinquent taxpayer to avoid the
penalty OF per cent per month imposed for
delinquency after the first Of December by
enabling him to borrow the amount Of his
taxes at cheap rates through the subroga-
ton Of the lender to the rights and privileges
vi the State.
The error of the persons who have ques-
toned the accuracy Of our statement arises
from this fact: The first quarterly report Of
the Auditor embraces the collections account
cd for to him up to the thirty-first Of March.
These collections, as reported by Mr.. Jumel,
amounted to $3.50 1oS 80. But the tax collec-
tors Of the country parishes are allowed a
delay of some ten days after the
end Of each quarter for making their
quarterly settlements, and the tax collectors
of the city districts a similar delay after each
month for the completion of their monthly
settlements, and these delays are Of course
almost universally awaited Of. Thus practi-
cally, any given quarterly report OF the Audi
tor embraces, not the total amount Of the col
Iections for that quarter, but the collections
of the city collectors for two months
Of that quarter, and for the last month
OF the previous quarter, and the col
lections for the previous quarter OF the col
lectors of the country parishes. For instance,
Mr.. Jumels last report, which we published
ON the ninth instant, embraces only the col
lections made by the city collectors during
the months Of January and February, 1873,
and such back taxes of former years as had
not been paid up to the thirty first Of Deem
Der. 1877, the date of his annual report
to the Legislature. By far the GREATER
part of the $753,905 53 paid into the
treasury since the beginning Of this
year was collected during the month Of
March, for the reason, as we stated yesterday,
that the revenue and assessment and collec-
ton laws were not passed until the extra ses-
sion Of the Legislature, and that many tax
payers delayed their payments in anticipation
Of a reduction In the rate Of taxation. These
collections were not settled for with the Audi
tor until week or more after his report of
the thirty-first Of March, and consequently
could not be embraced in it.
The figures we presented yesterday are en-
tirely correct. The collections embraced in
the report of the thirty-first Of March amount
to $685., 10S 90. The collections accounted for
since that date, according to the latest inform
alton we have obtained, for thirty-eight par
ishes have already reached the sum OF
$521, 1876 49, This gives q total Of sT53,905 So
collected in thirty eight parishes There re-
main yet twenty parishes to be heard from,
and 1t Is estimated by competent persons that
the collections already made in these parishes
will swell the aggregate to fully 5000 900 for the
first quarter of the year This must be ad
mitted by even the most incorrigible croaker
TO present q very satisfactory showing, and
to indicate that the fiscal interests Of the State
are well managed and rest upon sound and
healthy basis.
The provision of law allowing discount tc
the prompt taxpayer and imposing heavy
penalty upon delinquents, is very wise one
nc insures the collection of enough money
during the first half of the year to meet all
demands upon the State treasury and renders
almost certain the full payment by delin
uuents, before the end OF the year. Of the taxes
due by them, in order to escape the heavy
penalty Of per cent per month which at
taches after the first Of December
We and the great mass of the people founc
more to cond. mn than to commend In the
cours Sc Of the last Legislature. but no one car
deny that it did everything in It's power te
insure the full and prompt payment OF taxes
It failed to relieve the people OF many