Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-30
LOST A GOOD THING
TAX SALE COMBINE BROK EN- Up BY
OUTSIDERS.
Latter Bid ON Fractions of an Inch of
Property and Deprived the Com
bine of Fat Perquisites-
How 1t Is Done.

The sale of property for delinquent taxes
by the city treasurer has just closed, and
the combine of tax purchasers has been
broken up, not by the refusal of members
to stick to their agreement, but by out.
siders. who have bid on fractional parts of
an inch of property. AS usual, the general
public is the gamer.
The laws governing the sale of real es-
tate on which taxes are delinquent We're
designed to protect the property owners,
but by a combination of tax sale buyers
the property owners were completely at the
mercy of the combine. The law provides
that when taxes or real estate become de-
linquen the city treasurer shall sell the
property, for the amount of the taxes due,
to the person bidding for the smallest por-
nl9h , 1f f the sI prop tbe yb,d dhus; o,y Wne n a lot is
taxes on a half. a quarter, a sixteenth or
the smallest fraction of an inch to be ex-
pressed in numbers. and the one willing to
take the smallest fraction gets the prop
erty. When the successful bidder pays the
taxes he holds a lien on that amount of the
cent to the amount of taxes due and charge
= per cent "a month interest OF the total
amount until the property owner pays the
sum due.
No Cloud On Title.
And right here there exists a general mis-
apprehension of the law on the part of
property owners that has aided tax title
dealers to collect the exorbitant advance
in the original amount due.
Nine-tenths of the property owners be-
lleVe that the purchase of Il fraction of an
inch of their property by tax title dealers
throws a cloud on the title that cannot be
that fraction is paid what he demands. AS
a matter of fact this purchase throws no
cloud on the title. any more than it would
for a property owner to sell a part Of his
lot. To the remainder he has a clear title.
If a property owner who has a lot, a frac-
ton of an inch of which has been sold to
Il tor ,ttI- 1a1 rra -tal % IN
such dealer to keep that fraction of an inch
and still possess a clear title to the bal
ance. The combine thoroughly understands
this. and is always eager to get possession
of the entire lot, something hat could only
be effected by a close combination. In con-
sequence when a tax sale is advertised.
the members of the combine get together
and agree not to compete, but to appor-
ton the property to be sold among them
selves.
Thus when a piece is put up for sale
one member of the combine bids for the
whole lot, no one else bids against him,
and the city treasurer is compelled to sell
the entire lot. The next piece goes to the
next member of the combine, and so on,
until all the delinquent property has been
sold.
Another provision of the law permits per-
sons bidding in delinquent property. when
they get the entire lot to pay any other
park or special tax bills. whether they be
delinquent or not, and charge the owner
2 per cent a month for making such pay
ment.
Outsiders Entered the Field.
This has been the practice for years. un-
til this last sale. when outsiders entered the
field. and the combine was disrupted. When
the tax sale began last week the COM
bine was on hand early to parcel out all
that was offered and when the first piece
was put up one member of the combine
bid for the entire lot. To the surprise of
all a stranger stepped up and offered to
take a fraction of an inch. Every time a
1nf u-D c MT I'm the ca ms thing hannanl1 an
outsider bid for Il fraction and got the
property. Then the combine held a con-
and offered the outsiders SO a
day as long as the sale lasted, If they would
keep out, but the outsiders refused the Of
fer and the combine was compelled to take
a fraction of an inch of each lot, or none at
all. Some of those who understood that
property owner decided to let them keep
It. withdrew from the sale entirely.
As a result of this disruption Of the COM
bine. very few of the pieces OF property put
up were sold as a whole. and the owners
thereof will not be compelled to pay in
terest at the rate of "a per cent on state.
county and park taxes that are not due
yet.
Another thing that has protected the
property owners this year is the fact that
the tax sale has been advertised in a paper
with a general circulation. AS a result,
less property has been sold for delinquent
taxes than in any previous year. People
who forgot to pay their taxes. or who hap
pened to be absent from the city when
the taxes were due, had a chance to read
the list advertised for sale. and at once
The present sale ended yesterday. as far
as inside property is concerned. but will
be taken up again in two weeks for the
sale OF delinquent property in Westport.
has decided the legality of the annexation
of that district.