Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1895-07-11
Collection Of TdGeS.

county udS DSSu OISdllLSu q very
large proportion of the taxes have
each year gone delinquent. 1t is
true that ever since the county has
been organized times have been very
close and taxes have been very hard
to collect, yet we do not think that
this has been the fault, only to
limited degree. Last year Marion
county collected her large roll up to
S., 900 before July. This year Clat-
sop county has collected over $Io5-
900 on a roll amounting to SIP 1898
46. 1t is true that Clatsop is
large and wealthy county, but it is
equally true that it has its proper
tion of boom property that is not
worth the taxes on it, and also that
that the hard times have been as Sc
verely felt i'll Clatsop county as it
has in Lincoln county. The fact of
the matter is, the trouble seems to
lie in the different methods employ
ed to collect taxes. In Benton
county before it was divided, it was
| the custom to collect money from
all who came forward and voluntar-
lily paid their taxes. Then the
Sheriff alternated between threats
and appeals through the local pa
pers to get the delinquent ones to
come forward and settle with the
county, but no forced sale was made
or attempted, and no levies were
made upon personal properties, as
by law required. The result was
that the taxrolls became badly and
hopelessly mixed, and a delinquent
list piled up until the total equals
the debt of the county twice over
When Lincoln county was formed
it was apparent that the same poll
cy was to be followed. 1t is true
that sale of property was attempt
ed in 1898, but owing to the gross
ly incorrect condition of the taXrol
the sale was of but little effect
Since then sale has not been at
tempted, and as a consequence thu
delinquent roll is out of all reason
able proportions
In Marion county the sheriff use
every means of collecting the take
before the sale of real property il
; attempted. If the delinquent ha
any personal property subject to ex
ecution the sheriff levies on tn,
same. The taxpayers know tina
} the taxes will be collected if posi-
BILE, and hence they use every effor
) to pay them before they are delin
quent and thus avoid the costs o
, collection. The same course shoulC
be pursued in Lincoln county. Thi
seems like hard advice, but care
, full inspection of the tax rolls in tn
{ office of Sheriff Lands will diecloe
the fact that but very small por
tion of the delinquent taxes are du
from what we term poor men, VIII
4 are residents of the county. Th
greater part of these men hav
c managed by some hook or crook t
pay their taxes. Most of the de
e linquent taxes are due from nou
). resident spectators, or men in ou
0 own county who are able to pa
but don't intend to pay until the
have to. Indeed we know of on
man whose taxes for this year hav
not been paid, but who finds mon
5 ey to speculate in county warrant
: when the discount is ruinou
enough to suit him. Now sucl
men as this keep we'll posted OH tn
course pursued by the county il
! the collection of taxes, and dom
$ propose to pay till the last minute
, 1t is true that there are some VIII
| are unable to pay their taxes, bu
/ who would pay if they could, anc
whose property will have to 60 t.
sale, but there are not nearly 81
r many Of them as one might think
In any event it is no more of ;
hardship to them than it is an in
justice to force those who do pay
, taxes to bear the whole burden O
the county government.
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