El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-10-15
LAND SOLD FOR TAXES.
The City's Power to Force Payment
Firmly Settled.

The power of the city to sell pro-
perty for taxes and give the purchaser
good title, says the San A Antonio EX-
press, which has for long time been
questioned by some, has been fully and
finally settled. The city attorney and
other city officials have never for a
moment dou bted the power of the city
to force property owners to contribute
their proportion ate rshare of the cost
of city government under penalty of
having their property sold. But in
some quarters this hit of the city has
been doubted and the impression has
prevailed that if a properly owner re-
fused to pay his taxes and had sufficient
to withstand the "blutfs'' of the city
collector and. city attorney he could
get along without paying his taxes.
not stop here. The ability of the city
to sue and recover the taxes was dis
puted. While no facts were ever
stated on this subject the impression
nevertheless prevailed, and quite gen.
orally, too, that somehow tax suits
never amounted to anything and the
average citizen has come to attach
very little value to what he terms a
ts deed.
The prevalence of this belief that
the city is impotent to enforce by harsh
measures the collection of its revenues
has caused many to delay payment of
their taxes with the result that more
than S400, 900 is now due the city for
taxes.
City Attorney Minor has been indus
triOusly trying to combat this errOn-
eous ioea as to the clty's powers and
has filed q large number of suits
against delinquent taxpayers. While
majority of these suits are still pend
ing quite number have been tried
and in no case has the city lost, but in
every case where the issue was square
y made the city has secured judgment.
Several cases We're appealed to the
court of civil appeals and some even to
to the state supreme court. In every
case decided in these courts the city
has been successful.
But the most convincing proof of the
city's power in this respect is found in
the fact that the sheriff has sold sever
al pieces of property to satisfy judg-
meut for taxes. And these sales are
final, the purchaser getting as good
title as can be desired. Several pieces
of property have been sold under exc
cutiOn for taxes, but in most instances
the owner managed to rustic up the
amount of taxes, together with snug
sum for costs and expenses and has bid
in the properly for the amount due the
city and the court officers. In some
cases, however, the city has bid in the
property and holds a sheriff's deed,
which is considered first-cIass title,
as it is executed under the direction of
the district court.
An il iustratiOn of the danger of de-
| lay in paying taxes was forcibly shown
| in case that was b ought to the a.
eution of the mayor and city attorney
yesterday. A property owner failed
| TO pay his taxes for several years and
| fually suit was filed against him. The
| trial of this suit was continued from
time to time aud it was several years
| before trial was reached. But it
| finally came up for hearing and result
ed in judgment for the city. In due
| time an execution was issued and the
| property sold at sheritf's sale. No
| oder appearing the property was bid
| in by the city for the amount Of taxes
aud costs due, and an order was issued
| by the court directing the sheriff to
oust the former owner from possession
Of the property and deliver same to the
city. Yesterday was the last day of
grace aad the sheriff was about to ex.
ecute the order when the former own.