Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-10

embrace these entries with respect 70 some
10000 tracts ~ land. In forty-niue coun-
tics, including the largest in the state. and
the act OF the Legislature directs three
copies 10 be made OF them before distribu-
ti0p. In addition 20 copying thcm they
have 10 be- verified by comparison with the
stub receipt-books. which are the books OF
original entry. and by which errors which
are found 10 occur in the lists are corrected.
TROUBLE IN VERIFYING.
These stub receipt books were not sys-
tematicaily kept by counties Gas the lists
were), and hence the work Of verifying the
first copy is more troublesome than thatof
making II.
Immediately after the act directing these
copies was passed by the Legislature. the
Governor appointed an ageat, who with q
force. o. clerks began work on the copies.
be rules Of the department do not al
low these records TO be taken out OF the
Treasury building. and the work has 70 be
done IN such space ne may 10 assigned Tor
that purpose in the building by tho de-
partmeat officials, and in the hours the
building ~ kept open for business. The
space assigned 10 limited because OF the
crowded condition OF the building. but
every clerk for whom room could possibly
be gotten is at work.
Inc records from Virginia are more
than twice * large a. those from any
other STATE, and some States which COM
menced the work of copying nearly year
ago have not yet finally finished it be-
cause of incompleteness and inaccuracies
in their first copies The average payment
TO be refunded TO each claimant in Vir-
gina is only some $3.50 or 80. SO that the
expectation Of some taxpayers looking for
considerable amounts TO be refunded them
IS liable TO disappointment.
The lists, together with the money,
will be delivered to the county treasurers
or commissioners as speedily as possible,
which we hope will be IN two or three
months. At any rate. the public may rest
assured that 10 time Is being lost IN the
matter.
THE SALE OF CLAIMS.
"As TO the sale Of these claims by tax
payers at discount, II is of course TO be
regretted. There are. however, no author
lied lists Of the claims in circulation. The
writer has heard that IL was claimed that
such lists were gotten some years ago, but
the department officials insist that they
could not have been obtained, because II
has been the iuvariable rule of the depart
ment TO allow access to the records only
10 the authorized agents OF the States,
and no such large amount of copying
could have been done surreptltlousiy
without the knowledge OF the ofnclhls.
These records have for some years been
under the control of General Rosecrans,
Register of the Treasury, and Colonel L..
W. Reid, of Alexandra. Va, as assistant
register gentlemen in whose accuracy the
writer has all confidence.
"Of course. In cases where the tax
payer has kept his receipt, no has himself.
information as 10 the status of his claim II
he wished to sell il. The act OF Congress
rounding the tax was passed, however,
March 2. 1891. so there was given to par
ties wishing TO speculate year TO work
in before our Legislature took action.
This communication has gone into de-
tails somewhat at length because Of the
numerous inquiries made OF the writer IN
regard TO the matters involved, and he
trusts, therefore. you will not consider 1t
too much of a trespass upon your columns.
"JoHN b. Moon.
Auril Y 1902 ~