Daily Republican., 1882-03-11

raiujy be liable to many errors easily
made, or else there would not be :"
many names of persons returned as de-
linuueuts, who have offered to paw their
taxes. The strange part Of II Is that
mite number of persons have been to
the collectors TO pay their taxes; the
collectors have looked diligently for
their names, and not tiuding them In
formed the applicant that their names
were not on the duplicate, and yet the
same names are upon the delinquent
return as made to the Court. We could
name some of them ifproof were wanted
that this WAS not the case. We are not
disposed to lay the blame of wiltul neg.
ligeuce on our collectors who have
apparently acted very fairly in giving
persons an opportunity to pay their tax
es, and keep themselves on the dupli-
cate, but the number Of names returned
of persons who were told that they were
not assessed, and of others who actually
did pay their taxes and have the re-
ceipts to show for it, is rather astonish-
ing and demands the closest scrutiny
and investigation by the Levy Conrt
We do not say that these return errors
were made with any partisan design,
though it is not strange at all that they
should have a partizan bias. The
names of those returned who applied in
person to pay their taxes and were in
formed that their names were not on
the duplicate, may have been irregular
" classified and their names have been
in some other ward or class of voters
and by this means have been overlooked
while searching for the name. Those
who are familiar with tt = routine of as
easements and error returns can easi ly
see how persons who have paid their
taxes, were returned as delinQuents
For instance. the collector commences
some three weeks before the Levy Court
meets to make out his return list and
in going over his duplicate he puts
down the names in his error book of all
who have not paid their taxes. These
same persons present themselves after.
wards, pay their taxes and are duly
credited on the tax duplicates, but
their names either for want Of time or
neglect, are not stricken from the al
ready made up delinquent list. We
can in no other way account for the re-
turn OF 80 many persons who have paid
their taxes.
All this liability to errors, even when
collectors do try to act honestly and
squarely, only shows the clumsy and
miserable character of our assessment
laws, which are compelled to do duty
as registry of voters also, and when
they are in hands of a tricky politician,
who will 60 any 'ength to help his par.
ty, they become an engine of destruc-
ton by which thousands of voters are
very easily DISTINGUISHED. A need Of
an honest and efficient registry law as a
qualification for voting, was never more
sensibly felt than at this time. But
few have any idea Of the gauntlet
name has to run from the time it is Civ
en- to an assessor, until it is placed upon
the tax collectors duplicate. and handed
to the latter.
The assessor commences his work ir |
October, taking down the names OF
voters as they are given to him. with |
all their errors in orthoe raphy and if
the assessor Is not a very good speller.
he will add more errors to it, This is
one writing Then the assessor trans
cribes the name into a regular asses
ment duplicate provided by the Levy
Court. This makes second writing of
the same names with perhaps here and
there letter added or letter left out.
These names are then posted abont the
last of December and return is made
to the Levy Court. There the names
are again transcribed into the county
assessment duplicate and by the time
this is done a number of names have {
been dropped ard others have been
probably misspeled and mutilated in ]
some manner beyond recognition. But
this is not all. The nance are again
by a number of clerks
more or less efficient or deficient in or .,
typography, into the tax duplicates to I
be handed to the collectors. As an eff.
Tort Is made to classify the tax payers
by Hundreds, Wards and Districts, it
Is no a'tficult matter for quite large /
number of names TO be placed III the l
wrong district. The tag payer on a
coming to pay his taxes is asked what c
district he lives in, which he frankly J
tell-, and the collector not finding it,
he is told his name Is not on the dupli. ;.
cate. This may account for the uames b
OF persons being returned AZ delin b
qutnts who are assessed and who have
offered to pay their taxes. The Levy
Court will not have done its duty a
until it refuses to strike from the re !
turn error list the names of all persons
who have paid their taxes and the h
names of all persons who have Otfe ed b
10 pay and still ars returned as deln.
luents.
Mr.. Bsyard and l. ocal option. Ii