Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-10-09

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HELPSOTHER TOWNS

One of the measures other than the
prize fight law enacted by the pres
ent legislature In recent extraordinary
session is OF protiual interest
to the taxpay srs Of Fort
Worth as well US TO uther
towns and countless That Is the the
statute to prevent any delinquent tax
payer from pleading the statute of
limitation after the expiration oil Two
years. Gov Culberson, in his second
message to the legislature, in extra
session assembled used ,his !anguage'
ITO the senate and house of repre-
sentatives at the urgent request OF
representatives OF certain cities Of the
state. another matter is called to your
attention. Bv section l6 Of the act
approved July 4, 1879, general laws
1879, called session, page Is, it is pro-
vided: No delinquent taxpayer shall
nave the right to plead In any court
or in any manner rely on any statute
of limitation by the way OF defense
against the payment OF any taxes due
from him when either to the state or
any county. city or town.
"This provision is not brought for
ward by the commissioners In the
revised statutes OF 1879 1t Is repre-
scented that in many cities OF the State
u large amount Of taxes Is now due,
upon the collection OF which payment
upon their bonds largely depends and
that unless such law as that referred
to Is passed ut this session OF the leg
islature, the municipal authorities Will
1Naa Nod ii t.fN
suits TO be filed against delinquent
taxpayers In order to prevent the bar
OF limitation of two years.
This suggestion by the governor was
acted upon SO that now the old law
of 1879 Is again on the statute books
That law, says the governor, is es-
pecially needed by several cities in tho
State. As a matter OF fact the law
was passed for the especial benefit OF
Dallas, tut us It Is a general aW other
cities. towns and counties VIII take
advantage Of 1t In the collection of
back taxes. II Is said that the City
OF Dallas, failing TO negotiate an issue
pr bonds that was needed to liquldatc
certain Indebtedness needed this law
N order TO enable the collection of
some 100000 or 100000 Of back taxes
mat would otherwise be barred by the
statute OF limitation
The county OF Tarrant has only
hnah delinquent tax list for 1894 but
there Is large sum on the lists for
previous years. Collector Hovenltamp.
when. asked as to His course under the
new law, slld: I'VE can. OF course. do
nothing TIL the delinquent tax records
are sent us by the comptroller. but
suit VIII at once be brought as the
law directs. The Colquitt law has nj
ready been OF great service TO us in
collecting back taxes, and this law
VIII doubtless enable us to save sew
eral thousands or dollars"
what amount OF taxes are delln-
quentY' asked the reporter.
on the rolls OF 1884," said the COL
ieetor, our books show less than
Sls,OoO-Sl16s75S But there Is a large
2mount back Of that. 1t is Impossible
Tor us to say how much, though. aa
IL would be practically impossible for
our books to show that"
The city Of Fort Worth Is also in
teresied IN this matter, ms II is In need
OF all money due II. CITY Attornev
Tempieton said last night.
Il suppose there must be somethino,
,iRe Slbu,OoO of taxes due the city de-
Hnquent prior to 1891. and much OF this
can probably be collected bv The helm
OF the provisions OF this law. IL | rightly
understand It, though l have been SO
constantly engaged In this police In
vestigation that have not looked into
us PROVISIONS. / will say this much.
however: That the city viii take al.
xahtaSe OF every law on the statute
BOOKS to collect the taxes due it, for
We need the money" 80
The delinquent taxes Of the city are
SHOWN S,, by the collectors books 10 be
For the year 1874. sI.sa; 1876. SCI. 10.
1871, l,175.96: 1878, 81, 0lO. "a, ISTa'
ssi;lll;si; 1850. s7d3.35; 1882. siiG.2l; isss'
saSi.l; 1884. ssll769 1885. So 900 81,
!ss5 SSl4.M 1857, s29Ol.79: 1888. 50 ,90i n,
lAs lesi.as: ism, ss.,O7.se. lS1i
,,ss,i4g.si; lSss, sssO56.75 1898. s77 o95. 90;
1879, SllS,Ss2.32. Total. $3.50. s3e.53
According 10 these figures there VA.
une the city long enough ago 10 plead
sne statute OF limitation, about SiOO-
w; some OF which may. of course, be