The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-03-17

I Agent to investigate Frauds and Collect
e Revenues due the State, Counties and the
Eeyee Boards of the State
SECTION l. Be it enacted by the Legislature
of the State of Mississippi That there shall
+ be appointed by the Governor with the advice
J and consent of the Senate, Revenue Agent,
l of the State Of Mississippi who shall continue
IN ofice Tor the term of four years, unless
removed by the Governor, (who is hereby au-
tho1iZed TO remove said revenue agent at any
5 time, and appoint his successor, subject TO the
approval or rejection OF the Senate, at its first
session thereafterl; said revenue agent shall
have authority to collect and receipt for all
amounts due the state, county or levee boards
/ of the State, in the following cases, viz: In
all eases where any funds have been collected
by any officers and retained by them, and the
E books of the state, county or levee boards de-
not show by open account return of suck
otbcers that the same has been collected and
paid over to the proper oflcer; in ali cases
where officers have collected money or other
FUNDS, AID have not accounted for the same
IN all eases where tax-cOllectors have collected
taxes of any kind, and have made no report
OF the amount colIected in all cases where
tax collectors have collected taxes on lands
and have sold the same for the taxes due for
the fiscal year for which the taxes were aid;
in all cases where taX-cOilectors have collected
taxes upon lands held by the State for non
payment of taxes, and have not paid the same
over TO the State, county or levee board officers,
entitled to receive the same; in all cases where
officers have collected taxes Illegally. and have
| not reported and paid the same over to the
/ proper OIlcefS: IL All cases where taX-cOlleC-
| Tors or their agents or deputies have collected
| personal and reported the taxpayer on
! the Delinquent list; IN all cases where delin-
guent taxes have been collected and have not
| been reported and paid over to the proper Off
GERS; in all cases where taX-collectors have
collected and have not been reported and paid
! over to the proper officers in all cases where
tax-coilectors and other officers have collected
taxes from persons who were not assessed
and have not made the proper additional assess
ments, and reported and paid the same over
to the proper officers; in all cases where tax
collectors and other officers have claimed and
received improper credits in all cases where
fines and forfeitures. licenses and privilege
taxes have been collected, and have not been
reported, ana paid over to the proper officers.
SEC. ,. Be it further enacted That the
enue agent shall have authority to examine all
books and papers belonging to the officers of
the State, county, district leyee boards of
the State, and compel by proper legal pro-
ceedings all such officers to file their accounts
and make settlements, they may be re-
quired by law to do.
SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That said
revenue agent is hereby authorized to sue, or
cause suit 10 be brought in the name of the
State of Mississippi, or of any county or board
OF levee commissioners, for all amounts due
the State. such county levee boards, and
receive and receipt for the same; and all actions
brought under this Act shall have precedence
over all other pending suits, and shall be tried
at the return term of the writ, unless good
cause be shown TO the contrary, or the parties
otherwise agree, and no security for costs shall
be exacted or required in any such suit, nor
shall the State, IN any event, be chargeabIe
Herewith; Provided, That the said revenue
agent shall not be entitled TO receive any COM
pensation in cases where the State, county or
levee board have already instituted legal pro-
ceedings to recover any moneys due from any
of the officers of such county levee board
nor in any county where the Governor has
employed some other person TO perform the
duties herein required of said revenue agent.
SEC. f. Be it further enacted, That said rev.
enue agent shall be allowed as compensation
for mis- services, the sum of twenty-five per
cent. of all amounts collected by him under
the provisions of this Act; and he is hereby
authorized to deduct the same fl ON the amounts
when he pays the same to the proper
and he shall pay all attorneys fees
out of the twenty-five per cent herein allowed
him.
SEC s. Be it further enacted, That said rev.
enue agent shall execute bond with security,
for the sum of twenty thousand dollars, con-
ditioned that he will pay over to the proper
officers all moneys and other funds received
by him under the provisions of this Act, and
file the same with the Auditor of Public Ac-
counts, who shall approve the said bond and
the sureties said bond shall make oath as
in cases of the bonds of the other State officers.
SEC. g. Be il further enacted, That when
ever said revenue agent shall discover that
any public officer has failed to pay over or
properly account for any public moneys col
1ected by him or by authority of his office, the
said agent shall report the same to the Dis
trict Attorney of the proper district, and cause
an Indictment to be found against such delin-
be the duty of said revenue agent to attend
the trial of such case. aud furnish all the testi
mony within his knowledge, for the prosecu-
tiUIs o. 20 same.
SEC. :. &c it further enacted, That the said
revenue agent shall make an annual report of
his transactions and proceedings under the
provisions of this Act to the Auditor of Public
Accounts, who shall include such report in his
report to the Legislature.
SEC 8. Be it further enacted, That the said
agent is hereby required to make monthly
Qpttl re will he re 9lF n q
moneys collected by him, which settlement
contains full and complete statement of all
moneys during the preceding month:
SEC. 9. Be 1t further enacted, That the
Governor is hereby authorized to employ any
District Attorney any other reliable and
responsible attorney-at-law firm of attorneys
residents in any county of this State to per-
form the duties in this Act authorized to be
performed by said revenue agent; Provided,
Such duties are to be performed in such coun-
tv .; Provided, further. The said agent shall
fail and refuse TO discharge his duty as such
in each county. and shall receive the same
compensation for the performance of such
duties is herein provided for said revenue
agent, and the Governor may discharge such
attorneys from such employment at any time.
SEC. TO- Be it further enacted That before
any settlement or compromise shall become
final and binding on the State or any of the
counties or levee boards, the officer making
such comprpmise or settlement shall transmit
a copy OF dc same to the Auditor of Public
Accounts, who shall submit the same to the
Governor for his approval. and when the same
shall be approved by the Governor, it shall be
binding upon all parties.
SEC. H. BE it further enacted, That said rev.
enue agent be and is hereby req ired to turn
over, to his successor in Office all the books,
papers and documents of every description
which may have come into his possession dur.
ing his term of office pertaining to the BUSH
duties OF his office, ard upon his fail
ure or refusal to account and turn to his
successor any of such papers er documents,
he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor in each
case and punished accordingly; but nothing
in this act contained shall abate any suit COM
menced by any revenue agent, or impair his
right to his commissions where suit has been
commenced, on any claim hereinbefore mem
toned.
SEC. r. Be it further enacted, That upon
the failure of the said revenue agent to COM
ply with the provisions and requirements of
sections seven and eight of this act he shall
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