The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1885-02-07
Back Tax sales.

Times Democrat.
1t is to be hoped, for the benefit Of
the State, of the public schools and of
the property-holders themselves, that
the very stringent laws regarding the
sale of property for the non-payment
of taxes will not be further neglected,
and the final sale of these properties
made.
| If these back taxes are paid, as they
should be, and if the owners of these
properties bid them in, instead of let,
ting them fall into other hands, IL will
leave the State with u large school
fund that will prevent Louisiana from
being further criticised for neglecting
its schools. The Legislature has pro
vided that after the payment of the
baby bonds falling due in 1856, and
which is to come out of the back taxes,
the surplus shall go toward the school
fund. There is, it so happens, a very
large amount due, mary people having
held back because the Old laws on this
subject were not stringent enough,
and because they hoped for some es-
cape from paying anything-far more
than sufficient to pay the bonds, and
which, when tho money is collected,
will leave more than million of dol
lars for the schools. Those, therefore,
who now pay not only escape heavy
penalties aud the loss Of their pro-
perty, but their money will go to one
Of the best purposes for which the
State can cxpend 1.-THE schools.
The fact that some of the old laws
relative to the sale of property for
back taxes proved Intellectual, has re-
suited in pefsuading many persons
who have not given the subject suifi-
cienL attention that the present law
would also prove imperative. This
unfortunate mistake is likely to cause
them a great deal Of trouble and some
very severe losses.
The present law is based upon an
ordinance Of the Constitution itself
which directs the sale of all property
upon which the taxes, together with
the interests, penalties, costs, fees and
other charges have not been paid up
to january, 1856, the title Of the pur-
chaser at this tax sale being full aud
complete.
The Legislature, uader this proys-
ion ef the Constitution, passed an act
regulating the manner Of selling this
property, providing, among other
things, that the title to it shall be final
and complete, and that it shall not be
subject to redemption. If no bid is
made, the State can buy in the pro-
perty itself The sales were begun
under this act some time ago, much
property being sold and more adjudi-
Gated to the State itself In order to
realize from the vast amount of real
estate thus acquired, tho last Logisla-
ture provided for its sale. Under this
act the sheriffs have prepared a list Of
these properties, and will begin selling
them during February.
The State does not desire to become
a land speculator-aII it wants is the
back taxes due on it. Here there is Il
fine field for Investment; and here is
the last opportunity offered the former
owners of these properties to buy
them in by paying the amount due on
them. As we have already said the
law relative to these sales is ironcIad.
1t has been passed on frequently by
the courts, which have decided that it
is legal and good and the title passed
by it perfect Those who desire to
obtain real estate at the very cheapest
figures have here an Opportunity to
purchase; those who do not wish to
see their property pass away from
them forever have one last chance to
rescue it. They will have the conso-
l4tion of knowing also that what they
pay now will be expended tdspreservc
and advance the credit n the State,
aud above all, that it will place our
public schools on solid basis, For
their own protection we hope the pro.
perty holders whose lands and houses
have been sold will seize this uppur-
tunity now offered them and pay their
dues to the State. They are necessary
for the support of the schools, aud the
Legislature is acting wisely in pressing
an act as stringent and severe as that
under which these sales will take