The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-17
SUITS FOR BACK TAXES
Al Explanation from City Attorney John S
Stewart
CONCERNING 4 MucHEtyEp QUESTION
A Statement AZ 10 How Double A.
easements occur-wcrk VOW Re-
ina Done ON the Rolls.


city Attorney John s. stewart. IN dis
ouesfns With o reporter for TIE Post yes
.erdsy the nusa-mooted question ot suits
AGAINST delinquent taxpayers. said
II know that there Is q great deal 81
comment on the bringing Of these suits
ana this office especially is blamed for
srrors thar it has no control OF whatever.
errors. many Of which we're committed
years ago and for which neither myself
nor poor Justin White were 70 blame. !
bring suits upon statements made from the
city tax rolls by the city, and certainly
should not be held liable for the errors
Of that office. Our present mode of dealing
with tax matters is as follows. First
statement is sent TO my offce showing all
the taxes due on certain piece ot prop
ery, second. suit is brought by me against
the present owner. but before anything
further is done the suits so prepared are
aGsiI sent TO the assessor and collectors
office for a second check, and, again be
tore the suits are filed notice by mail and
BY i've days advertisement IS given This
ought 10 give ample notice for the tax
claim OF the city.
Unfortunate instances have arisen
where parties have paid their taxes and
have been sued again, but ] want to say
that the instances have bean very few
indeed where the tax collectors office did
not show such payment To explain this
1 will give YOU statement made by Mr..
E. p. Couch, who was employed By tho
city to make complete statement OF all
tsxss due the city. which / desire The
Poss TO print In connection with this in
r4kkiew. This statement was made me
by Mr.. Couch TO answer some questions
asksd me by a committee of citizens, which
Information was obtainable mostly from
me assessors and collectors Office
I am glad 10 say that most OF the suits
on the old taxes have already been filed.
Most of the suits that have been filed
in the last TWO weeks are on the taxes for
1898
There are cases that deserve much
pity and consideration, but in this con-
nection ! viii say that ! have never re-
fused to give any ono reasonable time &c
pay their taxes where they have asked It
and many are now paying so much month
10 the city on their taxes.
IL is unfortunate that these suits were
rot brought at the time the taxes became
dne. am strongly In favor of all take,
be:ng barred in two years, Tor l believe
that two years Is ample time In whict
the city could and should bring suits fol
tuStg. II the suits were brought prompt!
Il would be better for the city and th
ta;rsyer in this way, because the cit.
would collect the taxes sooner and III
taxpayer would not allow them TO accumu
late to such an amount that IL ia bur
den to DRY them.
Taxation is a necessary burden. Take
Is the sustenance upon which the lie an
prcsperity of a city depends, and IL seem
a clear proposition that either Nil shout
help pay taxes and help bear commo
burden. or that none should pay Clearly
n sta nf aff ui ahn 4
mass the city would come TO an END.
"If A aud r own their own little homes
N It, Just that A should pay his take
promptly for years. while pays non
and enjoys the same privilege?
Unfortunately, too many citizens ar
tnbued with the principle OF the ma
who sao he was in favor of any law tina
would prevent a man from paying taxes.
Much is always said of the poor wido'
who does not pay her taxes, while nothin
Is ever said in favor of the poor wido'
who promptly pays her taxes, and some G
our poorest citizens are our promptest tax
payers. Often times you will find a bis
hle-bodied tax dodger hiding behind tn
poor widow and writing newspaper arti
cles In her behalf. The Post recently ha
long article by Mr.. George A, Byers o
the subject OF taxation and which was We
with tears in behalf OF the poor widow
Probably II may be matter of interest
the general public TO know that Mr Dyer
and his brother Charlie own very val
liable tract of land near the foot of Nc
Kinney street on which taxes have nC
been paid for several years. and that judg
meut has been recovered against thel
for taxes on the same amounting I
sl4lo.e0 Using the same argument. I ma
ask IL It is Just and right that the poo
widow should pay her taxes and Mr. BY
ers not paw hs9
THE charter of the city at present
very clear and emphatic as to my dut
90 promptly file all tax suits. It shoul
have always been the law and taxes shoul
have been barred in two years. As III
matter nor stands. several thousand dol
lars are stil due on back taxes, whic
others either have paid promptly or hay
been forced to pay. believe might sa
thsi fully 90 per cent OF the people pa
their taxes. 4 is matter Of opinio
which deserved the most consideration
the rs per cent or the % per cent Of OF
inhabitants However know that y
different officers OF this administrstio
hay only done what The law required, ar
nj leriency in our power has ever bee
ertsnded where the circumstances deserve
t."