Nevada County picayune., 1891-09-03
COLLECT THE BACK TAXES.

The NEVADA CorNrY PICAYrNE IS after the wrong State officer when It urges Gov. Eagle to collect the back taxes due by the railroads in Arkan- sas. That work is the business of the Attorney General. The judi ciary committee of the last Senate inquired into the delay Of pushing the suits for the collection of these back taxes. and Attorncy-Gencral Atkin- son promised to go to work at once on the cases, but it appears he has failed to do so. The pICAlCNE and Prescott, the former home of Attor- ney-GenCral Atkinson, owe the State an apology for ever putting forward man either so incompetent or too indolent to perform the duties of the position to which he was elected - Hope Gazette.
 Our ncighbor is wrong all the way through, in the above. To cnlighten his benightcd mind we here copy Senate concurrent resolution No. 20, which proves our position correct, that it is the Governor duty to pro- cecd against the railroads, to collect the back taxes. If the Governor in- structs the Attorney-Gencral to bring suit and he fails or refuses to =, a r,o.o,ol,ln t;,,o if iS tbpp his duty to employ other counsel to prosecute such suit. But before making further comment, we give the said resolution, spoken of above |: CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 20 SENATE.
 Whereas. There i, large amount of money due the State of Arkansas by various railroads, in the State as taxes overdue against said railroads, and
 Whereas. The General Assembly at its session of 1887, provided for and directed suits to be brought for the collection of said overdue taxes, and
 Whereas, It appear, that no effort has been made to collect said taxes as SO Proyid- ed bv said act, except the filing of one suit by Hon. Dan W. Jones, during his term oi office, Therefore
 Resolved by the Senate, the House of Rep resentatiycs concurring thcrcim
 That the Governor is hereby directed to proceed immediately in accordance with ar act of the General Assembly approved March I, 1887, to cause suits to be instituted and proceedings to be had for the collection of all overdue taxes due from corporations ss mentioned in said act.
 Approved March 2i, 1891.
 This is answer sufficient to our un- informed friend of the Gazette, as to who should proceed to collect these back taxes. However, will say sev- eral weeks since we insisted on these taxes beng collected, and laid re- sponsibility first on the Governor secondly on the Attorney-Gencral, which shows we don't propose to shield latter because he once lived here. What we want is to see the States interest forwarded.
 Now, as to latter part of the Ga zctte's smart squib, All informed men know it's charge of incompetence is a misrepresentation of Col. Atkin- son. He has been sick much the past year, which accounts, doubtless, for his failure to act in the matter. This being the case, the Governor should secure counsel and proceed. If Col. Atkinson has been derclict to duty, and it is proven, we, too stand ready to condemn such derciction. The Gazette makes assertions and proves nothing. Legislature posi- lively instructed the Governor to make suit, without reference to the Attorney-Gencral.
 As to making apologjes--that is the merest baldcrdash. The Ga zcttc should take warning of the man who lived in a glass house, and not throw stones. It has as much or more home patronage than this paper, yet has been giving the live town of Hope patent side newspaper. Here is room for apologies.
 Again we say the State needs, and needs badly, all the money justly due her, and We trust Gov Eagle will proceed to collect back taxes that the railroads owe her.