Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-01-10
Wednesday, Jan. 10, 1888.
What a Republican Paper Thinks OF
the $4,000 Tax Swindle.
From the Saginaw Herald

the $4,000 Tax Swindle.
From the Saginaw Herald.
The spirit of inquiry has sprung up
in the State as to the authority and
necessity of the large and expensive
tax advertising now being done under
the act for quieting the title to land
bid in by the State for taxes under
the old State tax system. The Herald
some weeks since in noting the APP
pearance of those advertisements,
called attention to the fact that they
seemed of but little use to the public,
as no sum was stated as due for taxes,
etc, on these lands, and the owners
would be required to address the Of
flee to find the amount of taxes due,
and this could be done quite as well
without the extraordinary advertising
as with. The law, as we understand
it, places the advertising of these
lands entirely within the discretion of
the Auditor-General, and if this be
correct, we think, with all due respect
for that officer, that he has made
very poor use of his discretion. In
our opinion a small advertisement in
each county calling attention to the
provisions of the law and notifying
all parties interested that a list of
these lands could be seen at the coun-
ty treasurers Office, or by application
to the Auditor General statement
would be furnished, was all that was
actually required, or should have been
attempted by the present officials. 1t
is already charged by the opposition
press that these advertisements are a
colossal steal, and unless the wording
of the law clearly authorizes the
course pursued, the charge is good
one. A personal application to the
executive reveals the fact that he was
not consulted and had no knowledge
of the course pursued until the adver-
tisements were made public. We are
not informed whether other officials
were consulted or not, or whether the
work has been ordered solely upon
the direction and ruling of the Audi
tor-Generals office. The proper ex-
PLANTATION of these facts may throw
some new light upon the subject and
fully justify the action taken.
AT best there seems to be question
as to how these immense advertising |
bills should be paid. The lists have
been given out to be paid for in the
same manner as the old State tax land
lists, l. e., at forty cents description.
If this is so it becomes serious ques-
ton whether the money can be legally
drawn from the treasury. The law
under which the advertising is done
provides that the title of the State
shall be released "to any person, upon
therefor at the Office Of
the Auditor-General, and upon pay
ing to the State Treasurer, on certif-
cate of the Auditor General, the total
amount of the original taxes levied
upon such land for all the years for
which the same has been sold to the
State for the non-payment of taxes,
and for which the State now holds
said lands, with interest at seven per
cent. from the date of the return, and
without other charge" This plainly
shows that the land or the party who
redeems the title cannot be charged
with the cost of advertising. On the
contrary, the old law protected the
State treasury, and imposed all costs
and charges upon the property. The
cost of publication shall not exceed
forty cents description, and shall be
paid from the proceeds Of the sale of
the lands, on the warrant of the Au-
ditor-General, on proof satisfactory
to him that the publication has been
properly made" With this conflict
existing between the two laws and
systems it is a serious question wheth-
er payment can be made in the usual
manner.
This matter involves an expense Of
from $4,000 to $4,000 to somebody.
If the new law prevents it being
charged to the property it must come
out of the State treasury. If adver-
tised under the old law it can only be
paid from "the proceeds of the sale of
the lands" The Legislature, to say
the least, was very loose in its Ian
guage, and the manner of the execu-
ton of the law is quite as loose. 1t
is a matter which certainly needs ven
tilation and explanation, so it can be
fully and fairly understood by every
body.
prineinaI Events NJ 1880