The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-18

| down. lie referred 10 some particular IN
stances that had come under his observa-
ton. one OF which was the case OF the late
Mr.. Mobiles who upon his death, had left
4 him (the speakeD In charge OF his prop
ertv to be cared for In the interest of his
daughter. After Mr.. Mobiles death he had
compromised Mr. Mobiles taxes BY paying
$500 in full for all taxes. about s50O-then
due. This was when lily scherffus was
mayor Recently the daughter OF Mr.. No.
bles had been sued for unpaid taxes when
the stub on the tax books showed that the
taxes had been paid In full
| Several voices: There are 500 cases In
the city lust like It,"
Captain Hutcheson cited another case
Of an old woman who wanted to pay her
lakes, SIG. She went to pay this and was
| informed that Judgment had been gotten
against the property and she would have
10 pay $50 to recover II. She had never been
sued or cited for suit. but man named
Ferd Miller who had not owned the prop
| etry Tor sixteen years had been sued in
his own name and in the name of his un =
! known heirs Sued both as living and
dead. anu this ola woman without any no
ice Whatever had been sold out. Was this
Justice?
A voice-It Is philanthropy and 10 per
cent ~
Captain Hutcheson-Yes. chiefly the ~
per cent.
~ H.'u ueen informed by some gentle
man who protested to know that evorv
rich man in Houston and every corpora.
tion, with the possible exception of tho
western Union Telegraph cotapanv. Mad
paid their taxes '"u
| was handed IN 'eP'Ft
| Mr. Chairman.
houston Texas, May 1i-sir. Your
committee appointed for that purnose he,
10 report mat 1t has waited upon the cltS
assessor and collector. and asked 70 he
informed as TO whom. II any, hanks r,cn
men and corporations owed taxes for Tho
past four years and what amount. as hag
Deeh alleged; also the amount OF money
| which has been paid into His ofero in
sausfaction OF Judgments obtained fnr
taxes within the past four years" Your
| sdld committee was courteousIv recctved
| anu informed that n would he imnr,,c-
Icaole 10 furnish the desired lntorma-
uoh within shorter time than thirty
aAys and that even meager data or alb
hrevlated memoranda. 10 be OF any gervioe
could not be forthcoming within a shorter
space OF time.
Your committee also called unon civ
| treasurer Sza5o f.r information az 10 ne
amount Of moneys paid into the treasury
| on account OF judgments thus collected.
/ and was informed that II was quite inn
| practicable for MIN TO give the desired
| were pajd IN lin, T., h,,1, LOT ta Ass
crlminafiop as IN u,hottan "i W., u'9-
that for recent dates ma ratn,r ."Hon VI
committee back IA fhe assesnr IA yo ~
lector who assured ynur co,,,,, atu 10
the only person who could cnn,,oriort1,,
furnish this desired inrormation ,yas tbe
city attorney. whom II was neceasart,N,
presumed kept a correct and comnro.
hensiye account of same. Awaiting your
further Instructions, II any. We remain
very respectfully, O. p. Shepherd.
r. A. Grant.
Continuing, Captain Hutcheson referred
to the practice OF the city selling out the
homes Of the poor for taxes not at public
or advertised sale, but transferring deeds
under tax judgments 10 mythical individu-
ais such as ]. NJ Seaman. thus selling
homes Indlscrlmlnately for the amount Of
| judgments obtained against them for taxes
and thus lrrovocably dlspossessing owners
/ OF their poperty worth thousands OF dol
| lars upon payment OF few hundred.
/ In reference to the bond tax he eS-
! planned the law requiring the lowing Of a
/ tax to protect the bonds, to provide a
/ sinking fnnd Tor the payment OF interest
and hnal redemption. Every dollar OF this
bona tax salq ne is sacred tund ana the
city mas no right 10 tonch IL except 10 pay
interest on the Dohds' put LOT tour years
| passed. not u eeht OF lhl5 money hdu peen