The Opelousas courier., 1886-07-31
o. b. STEELE,
Auditor. {
STATE OF LOUISIANA

Z Auulbuf OWGR. J
Baton Rouge, La, July oath 1886 }
Mr.. g. e. Duson, Sheriff and Tax Collector
Parish Of st. Landry, City Hotel, N @, La.
Dear Sir:-After the close of the late session
OF the General Assembly, Senator Lewis, at
MS request, was shown your account as Tax
C0llector, and a statement of same for th..
years 1884 and 1885, (being the only years not
nnaliy ctosedl was made and handed to him
In the conversation had with Senator Lewis,
who spoke OF you in the kindiest term fully
explained the defective character of the as
sessment Rolls for 1884 and 1885. The Roll for
the latter year, 1885, as you know, Was reject
cd, and not till it was too late to have proper
Rolls made, free from the numerous errors
contained in those of the previous wear was
il accepted by this office: but, with the un-
dersGanding that, the Assessor would be re-
dulred to refund to the State, commissions
paid him on all erroneous and double assess
ments and assessments which, for want of de >
cription, would prevent the Collector from
making fixed collections Of taxes Oh property
so assessed. ~.
fully explained TO him that, prior to the
loss of yonr record, yon had submitted your
deduction list or claims for errors i'll rolls
taxes on property sold to the State and bills
for publishing Tax Sales for the purpose of
making final settlement for the taxes of
1884, aud that, pending this settlement, these
statements, which had been returned to you,
from this office for correction, were reported
lost in the burning of your Court House. there.
by delaying the settlement, and preventing
your account from receiving the credits to
which it was entitled, as shown by these
statements
MY books show that prior to aud since my
induction into office, you have promptly nc
counted for collections made by you as Tax
Collector, and as to the taxes of 1885, the
statement could only show collections made
since December and prior to March 3ist last,
aR collections made since AnpiI 1st and nrior
TO lst of the present month are not required
TO be accounted for until the present month
and could not have been included in the state
ment, and that no final settlement for taxes
of this year could have been maiie. at that
time, and not until after sales of property for
unpaid taxes had been made.
Tie settlements made by your predecessor
show that, the credits fot errors received by
him varied from 81, 1850 to 81 sos 90 for each
year, while Your credits have been as follows:
for 1880. S1175; 1881, Sl835; 1889. $3123 and
1883, $3.50.
statement of each collectors account was
published in the Times Democrat, on March
3d last, and the statement handed your Sen
ator corresponds with the one published
There was also published in tile official jonrii-
al Of tire State a statement of all collections
made by tax collectors, and accounted for III
The first quarter of the present year
do not see why a written memorahdum
which corresponds with statements published
in the newspapers months ago, should occa-
sion at this time, any unmerited comment, aud
especially when all of the facts connected
with the matter were made known at tht
time the statement WAS given; and feel as
sured your Senator win do you the justice tt
give to those of yoar people who 10 nat u,i
derstand this matter, the explanation givei
him by me at the time | furnished ht IN
formation asked for Yours truly.
M Au1lifar