Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-12-29
MEMPHIs. TENN SATURDAY, DECEMBER 80. 1883.

Tax for schools, zoe the slo0, in any valid in
de6tedness; quoted at from 40 to sc.
slo0, same as for other years above.
Tax for Brown mandamus, SOc on the 500, same
rs for other years above.
TAXES FOR 1873.
any valid Indebtedness, quoted at from 40 TO 44c.
kTax for interest on bonds, 81 on the 500, in
Tax for Sinking fund soc on t the % sioo j. in N any any
valid indebtedness, quoted at from 40 to 4ic.
Tax for schools, 30c on the Sl00, in any valid in
debtedness, quoted at from 40 to iic.
Tax for reimbursing paving, zoe on the Sl0O, in
any valid Indebtedness, quoted at 40 to 4tc;
Tax for BrOHn mandamus, zoe on the Sl0O, same
as for other years above
, Tax for Mississippi River railroad, lOe on the
500, same as for other years above.
To make an average, it may be said that
the amounts saved by using scrip in the
receivers office on all bills back to 1873,
except 1875 and 1876, on which very little
is saved, about equals the interest, and the
money cost of settling these delinquent
taxes is about what it would have been
when they first accrued, and which is the
premium of delinquency. For all years
back OF 1873 the taxes can be paid in
scrip at cost of even less than the orig
inal face, without interest.
All taxes for years prior to 1873 are pay
able in any valid Indebtedness of the city.
On each item of tax for each year six per
cent. interest is collected from the last OF
the year for which the tax was levied to
date of payment. The interest is pava-
bic in the same character of Indebtedness
as the item of tax upon which
it has accrued. In the collection of
taxes made by the receiver he is
required because of this multiplicity of
distinctions to keep separate accounts OF
principal and interest of each kind of tax
collected for each year. Payments have
a no % wit ral IN
the character of Indebtedness in which
made. This entails great deal of clerical
labor in the office in proportion to what is
required in ordinary business affairs.
Looking over the statement above, some
idea can be formed OF the number of ac-
counts 1t is necessary to post on receiving
taxes.
Nearly all the taxes in this office are
paid by brokers, who make it special
business and have become expert in the
intricacies of the law pertaining thereto.
For convenience, they deposit to their
credit with the receiver amounts OF each
kind of scrip receivable for taxes and
check on their accounts for exact amounts
as needed. These accounts are kept posted
daily, Just as the accounts OF bankers with
their depositors. All scrip so deposited is
Immediately cancelled and filed away, Ia
beled, and numbered in packages that can
readily be referred to as vouchers. As soon
as cancelled interest is stopped. This sys-
TEN OF accounts makes it possible to make
exact change for odd amounts that it would
otherwise be impossible, or exceedingly
inconvenient to make. The system of tax
assessments as made by the old city was
cuipably irregular, and, as in making state
ment of taxes on each lot the receiver has
to run back to the beginning OF the city,
it is no small matter in this office to render
tax bills. The books that it is necessary
to look through in each case stretch out
over a counter of thirty feet, or more, in
length; the irregularity of descrip-
ton Of lots, the numerous subdivi-
| ions in later years, and the changes of
names in which listed, puts many snags in
| the way and demand great deal of patient
research through auxiliary assessment
books, plats. maps, ETC., to trace the prop
erty. Sometimes, even by recourse to the
| abstract office, it is impossible to
| locate lot as described in the
| tax books, or to follow it in the
chain OF assessments from year to year.
| In fact, back of 1886, the records are so
nebulous that it is in almost every case a
! fruitless labor to search for anything.
| Since the days OF activity in real estate
here there have been comparatively few
| changes in ownership, and the work is
! SmOOtnef III laler years accordingly. MI.
John J. Shea, who presides in this depart
ment OF the work in the receivers office,
is practically well qualified. Besides be-
ing an efficient accountant, he was for
years deputy in the County Court clerk S
| office, where the county taX-books are
made, and where in former years some of
the city books were made under his direc-
ton. Since the appointment of Laurence
/ Lamb receiver tax suits have been filed
from his Office on about 200 different city
lots, involving in all large amount OF back
taxes. Suits are being instituted as rapid
ly as the bills can be made out and the at
tOrneys can get them into court. Delin-
quent taxpayers should take warning and
pay up before being dragged into court
aud made to pay with costs.