The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1898-02-25
Mr.. Mccain Gives His Views.

| Mr.. Mccain GlveS HIS views.
EDITOR UN1t NJ respectfully ask
space to answer IA series Of articles up
on the subject of the collection of de-
linquent real estate taxes which have
appeared from time to time in the col
umns Of your paper, two OF which were
from the pen Of tbe Hon. Otto Ander-
son of RocKerville and one as an cGi
torial in your issue of January q, each
OF which intimates that the county
commissioners have been derelct or
neglectful in the faithful performance
| OF their duties in relation to this mat
| ter.
Although the present board makes
no claim to perfection and are ever
! ready to act upon the wise suggestion
case to plead not guilty to the charge
implied. For four years the writer
has made county finances his closest
study. At the end Of his second year
he formulated the plan for placing our
county on a cash basis and met with
the sternest opposition, even from
those from whom he might naturally
expect support, and not until the vot-
ers of the Third district elected man
in harmony with his views was he able
TO seee the accomplishment of his de-
sire. The wisdom Of this plan cannot
now be doubted by anyone, not even by
those from whom we received the Sc
verest criticism at the first suggestion
of our plan. In less than six months
county general warrants have advanc-
ed from soc to SOC, with still an upward
tendency.
Now, in regard to Mr.. Anderson's
proposition | do not for one moment
doubt his sincerity. 1t is clearly un-
feasible instead of being, as he puts it,
business transaction 1t would be
detriment to the taxpayers of the
county, heaping an additional load up
on their already overwhelmed Shout.
ders First for the very reason that
the law which empowers the TIRE asurer
to issue tax deed to the county car.
make it utterly impossible for this
county to obey, even if the law is i'm
| perative, which it is not, as is proven
| by very recent decision of the su.
preme court in which the writer fig
ured quite conspicuously, viz: That
discretionary powers are vested in a
board of county commissioners to such
an extent that even the courts cannot
compel it to violate it's own judy men,
when it can be plainly shown that it is
detrimental to the public welfare; sec.
ond, in order TO carry out the provis
| ions OF this law the treasurer is com.
PEELED to Issue deed to the county in
the same manner as to individuals
Now, what IS the manner? The hold
er Of the certificate must, if he adver
tises for deed, pay up all subsequent
taxes, and the treasurer, before issuing
deed, must credit to the account o
and pay to the proper authorities or
demand all funds thus collected of each
school, road or other corporation with.
in the county or state owning an inter
est in such tax; third, If such actor
were authorized by the board we would
be compelled to bond the county in or
der to procure money which to NEE
the amounts due the state and differ
ent corporations Within the county, t,
say nothing about the problem of VIVA
would be done with the elephant OF
our hands, consisting of hundreds o
mining claims in course of develop
ment, properties Of defunct hume com
panies, dry and unproductive ranches
and thousands of town lots in Dakot
City, Silver City, Hill City, keystone
Rapid City and her suburban village
not yet materialized.
1 Oh no, Brother Anderson, you shoul
have looked up the MANNER of issuin;
deeds to individuals. There is no Law
in existence enabling us to use thes
properties and we know we cannot sci
them. Before we usher in the era q
Bellamyism or common sense SOCIALISM
as county and state we must clear u
our real estate tax incum berance tina
has in many cases confiscated OF
homes-taxes that have been compelle
to be levied in order to meet bonde
and other Indebtedness incurred b.
former INSCRIPTIONS and thieving &C
minis t,.;ltions. A. !. MCCAIN.
Rapid City, S. D.
The Surprise of All.