Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1884-12-05
Communication.
tFrom Salisbury Pres.-specta,or.l

Il
KEYTEsvILI.E, Mo, Nov. Il, '84.
MEssRs. EDITeRs :-In recent is.
sue of your paper observed an ar
ticie devoted to some statements
made by o. F. Smith in speech
that gentleman delivered in your
town, and which you seem to think
reflected upon the management Of
the affairs of this particular office.
Since you so kindly volunteered
your columns to the discussion OF
this topic, and specially invited my
attention to the article, and areply,
I take this, my earliest opportunity
of fayoring you.
As to Illegal. charges, in the form
of commissions made by me in the
collection of taxes, I emphaticaIly
deny the allegation, and can produce
the highest authority in the county
to bear me out. AS to taking my
commission on the entire tax, regard
less of all compromise made ty the
county, Iplead guilty This has
been thoroughly investigated as to
legality and justice, by all parties,
and l feel sure, that properly UNDER
standing the principles involved, no
fair minded man would, for an in
stant, undertake to make il appear
that 4 am, IS collector, exactin1
what is not ~ e due.
What an nsnirsnt f6F sn ehise on
the Republican lxreenhscka I,,i ssis
tion ticket mioht do ar saw IN this
matter is another thing. The CONN
tv court. in permitting cela pron,;. Is
10 be made. and in orderinc ,,icf re-
duct;on exercises ,nr,.d;ct;oa snIv !
over the or,Oin., tsv and ;ntera,s.
and recognizes that Il has ne r;vht
to rive awav = fee or anv nrrt tt,eya-
Of. provided nv Law az full comyen.
sation TO the servant far his serv,icas
If a tax book amounting ta 40 o0o
was delivered to : collector. and the
law fixed his compensation at 24 per
cent. on the amount presumed,
Or in other words. that his services
we're worth $3.50 and .vresd ia nav
him so much therefor. If then. She
county court should sten in and conn
the tag Al ono-tbird tba
.monnt and raon;re an. eoll.et,r ta
accent the one-third Of h,s rav ar
ss3. .33a for $3.50 worth of WORK the
7ery object and intent Of the law
would be defeated, and the collector
wronped.
It's true. as Judge Smith stated
hat In the case of 4 suit and ferced |
collection, the collector and attorney
re entitled to receive compensation |
,nly ON the amount actually collect |
d but in case. of comnroTnise the |
ourt saws the tax and interest nav |
,e uaid at S34 per cent. of the eriri-
al amount. provided the eomu,is- |
ions and fees are paid in fun. I'll
hen becomes optional with the paw |
r, whether he accent this propesi- |
ion or lets his tax remain on the
ook.
If Judgment is obtained for 5000 |
/ tax and interest and the land is
bid for $50, the attorney and col
,ctor receive their commission on
ut $50, within the meaning of the
Iw. If the party refuses to let it
0 to sale and compromises the
it places the case in anoth-
: light, to illustrate, the average
ack tax against different tracts Of
nd on tax books is not TO exceed
10, although Judge Smith gener-
lsly baeed all his calculations on 9
asis Of 500. To be perfectly fair |
will calculate on the amount at $50
hich, at per cent, would give
2.50 commission, total, S52. so; Fl
the tax at one-thira and
e have $16.66i tax and $3.50 COM
ission, equals $19.I6; saved to
by reason of comnromise.
1884 Is this the wav .Jndse | [
NTH figures the money oat Of the
pocket into mineY Or II
this the smaunt r.insa bv the Ii
,var which be 40 enr;analv kans | {
IL from his apd;..cs2 In aem-
go. a. - - a;-;5