The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-03-31

bors who may expect more considerate
treatment from them than from the
tax sharks, as well as to their own
profit. AS the law now stands tax
title is worth very little for imme-
diate realization. AS long as the os-
tensible owner wishes to hold the
property which has been sold fortaxes,
he can remain on it in defiance of the
holder of the tax title. There is no
provision in law by which the interest
Of the person holding the tax title
can secure his interest. This taken
with the fact that the courts are very
wary OF tax titles and will set them
aside as worthless upon the slightest
irregularity in the proceedings, make
the purchasing of tax titles risky busi-
ness and insures 1t that those who are
engaging in it will resort to tricks
to make themselves whole.
Senator Pugh's bill provides that
after FIVE years, the holder of tax
title may bring a regular foreclosure
proceeding against the owner of the
property and If the amount of the
claim is not paid, the property may
| be sold and the surplus of the pro-
ceeds of the sale after the claim has
| been paid turned over to the owner.
It adds no additional hardship to the
owner of the property, but seeks to
do equal and exact justice to all par
| ties concerned.
Under the present law the amount
of real property on the forfeited list is
constantly growing. Attorney Cen
eral Monnett states that in the city
of Cincinnati alone there are millions
| Of dollars worth Of real estate that
has been offered for sale for taxes
and there being no bidders-no doubt
! for the reason that a tax title is Of
such doubtful value-has been put on
the forfeited list, and, of course, taken
from the tax duplicate. 1t is, there
fore, exempt from taxation, and as
the state seems to be in no better posi-
tion to assert it's claim than the in
dividual who buys a tax title, the own
ers are allowed to remain on the prop
erty, using it and paying no taxes. AS
long as they do not want to sell it, the
cloud in the title is Of no disadvantage
to them.
Senator Pugh's bill would prevent
the increase of this forfeited land list,
and a bill now pending drawn by the
attorney general, providing for the
foreclosure of the forfeited lands, will,
If it becomes a law, bring back upon
the tax duplicate great deal of val
liable real estate in every county in
the state-but particularly in the large
cities-that has been escaping its
share Of the burdens Of government
for years.
Let Elections Alone.
Senator Long has introduced bill
which will burn severely If it becomes
a law and is enforced. 1t provides a
heavy penalty for corporations that
seek to control elections. For the first
offeuse it provides a fine Of $1,000 and
for the second a fine of double that
amount and forfeiture of its charter
If it is an Ohio company, and cancella-
tion of its license in this state if it is
corporation Of another state. This
law in the national election Of 1896,
in which corporations played such an
important part, would have been very
serviceable.
A bill has just come over to the
senate from the house, where it pass
ed, which has very suspicious look.
It provides for changing the time
when county prosecutors shall assume
the duties of office to the first Monday
in September. OF course there may
be some reason for this proposed
change, but it is more than likely that
it is only one of the never-ending pro-
cessiou of changes in the time of talk
ing county offices, the real object of
nearly all of which is simply to give
incumbents another half year Of office.
By a convenient Interpretation of the
constitution the length of term Of an
already elected official cannot be re-
duced by legislative enactment, but it
can be heightened in that way.
II the house agrees with the senate
in the bill of Senator Cohen in the
matter of jury service-which passed
the senate this week, a private snap
by which many persons nave Deen ac-
customed to purchase security from
being called upon for jury service will
be brought to an end. The bill is
aimed at the law which provides that
contributing members of militia COM
panies shall not be liable to summons
to the jury box for service. By this
law such companies have been accus-
toned to draw considerable revenue.
However, it is plain to be seen that
the plan is but a slightly veiled pro-
vision for purchasing immunity from
this citizenship duty, the only exten-
uation for which is that it affords a
revenue for a very excellent organiza-
tion-the militia of the state.
]. II. GALBRAITH.
|