St. Paul daily globe., 1889-01-12
An OPPRESSIVE TAX LAW
Upon the Unfortunates Who Allow Their
Realty to Be Sold ior Taxes.
AMENDMENTS PROPOSED
BY the Huron Member Which Will
Protect the Poor Land
Owners.
Special to the Globe.


Huron, OAK. Jan. u.-Only those
who have taken the trouble to look into
the matter, or have been sufferers by
the burden of delinquent taxes, have
any idea of the rapidity with which the
original tax is increased if permitted to
become delinquent. By our territorial
code all unpaid taxes become delinquent
On the first Monday in February, and a
penalty of 5 per cent is attached on such
taxes at that date, and also makes it
obligatory upon the county treasurer to
add
ONE PER CENT MORE
upon such unpaid taxes on the first day
of each month until payment is made.
Besides this, the treasurer must also
charge up the 10 per cent in addition
to the 5 per cent penalty. and II per
cent interest, thus making the total tax
pile up very rapidly.
Charles 0. Morgan, for number of
years connected with the financial af-
affairs of this (Beadle) county, has been
giving the matter of delinquent taxes
much thought, and has outlined bill
which he will submit to the present gen
eral assembly, which, If it shall become
a law. will remove some, if not all, of
the legal features of the present laws
governing
DELINQUENT TAXES.
Mr.. Morgan's bill provides for the
amendment of sec. 81, chap. rs of the
Code of 1887.
Section 1 of the proposed bill provides
for striking out the words land shall
draw interest at the rate of 10 per cent
per annum from the date of such de-
linquency'' that now appears in the
chapter and section named.
The second section reads: "That on
all unpaid delinquent personal taxes the
county treasurers Of the several counties
of this territory shall cease to collect
and receive on said taxes aud interest
which has accrued under said section,
and the said interest shall in all respects
be treated as if the same had never oc-
Cured"
Provision is made for the repeal of all
acts OF parts of acts in conflict with the
foregoing, and also for taking imme-
diate effect.
In Mr.. Morgan's proposition tuere is
certainly the element of fairness. and
will no doubt receive careful attention
at the hands of the lawmakers at Bis
marck. BY it the taxpayer is not bur-
dened quite so heavily as under the
present law should he be compelled to
allow his taxes to become delinquent.
1t should be remembered, however, that
Mr.. Morgans bill does not disturb the
law providing
FOR A PENALTY
of per cent on all unpaid taxes on the
first Monday in February, each year.
and the additional 1 per cent month,
but seeks to remedy the law which COM
pels the treasurer to tax up 10 per cent
in addition to the 5 per cent penalty
and 12 per cent interest demanded un-
der the provisions of another act-chap.
% of the laws of 1887.
In the matter of redeeming property
sold for taxes. Mr.. Morgan suggests
that while it might be advisable tore
duce the present redemption of 80 per
cent, he would not advise any very
radical cut, or make the fee SO low that
the county would be forced to carry de-
linquents without limit. The fee of 80
per cent is sufficient inducement for
the purchase of property at tax sales,
but if the redemption fee is small and
the property redeemabe at any time
difficulty will be experienced in finding
purchasers,