The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-31
WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT
The Hardships Of The Present Tax Law Is
Discussed.
TWO YEARS STAY or EXECUTION FAVORED.
other Laws In which Houston II In
tcrestcd-Ap Animntcd Confer
ence-Chnrtcr Amendments.

Quite number OF citizens responded yes
terday 10 the request OF Judge kittrell.
0 one of Houston's representatives in the
present legislature, TO meet him at the
city hall and discuss matters OF needed
o legislation.
Owing to the fact that the council cham
= Der was being remodeled the meeting was
y held In the mayors office. which was filled
10 overlooking.
% Mayor Brashear Was selected TO preside.
Judge Kittrell said he had received several
N letters from citizens asking for some re-
lief from the hardship worked upon them
through existing tax laws. He admitted
that the city was entitled to receive its
tnxes. and yet II was hardship TO put
people out Of their homes for not paying
them.
In the line OF providing remedy he had
introduced bill providing for stay Of
execution for one year in the case OF tax
sales
Judge Kittrell referred also to the char
Tor amendment advertised over the sigma
ture OF Mr. Mosehart in reference to some
N proposed changes In the management OIL
the public school system He did not Rho"
what these proposed changes We're, nut ne
was very much in favor OF divorcipg the
school system from politics.
IN Judge A. r. Rniley suggested that a
~ committee be appointed by the chalr 10
formulate and suggest to our representa-
tives In the legislature such local or spe-
cial legislation as we require, or sucn
general legislation as viii best meet our
needs. 49,, =,
>. limitation of four years to rur against TAX
debts He referred to bill nov betore
the legislature providing for the redenp-
es ton within two years of property soia un
% der trustees sale to secure loans and that
n the property is bought in the price to pc
paid must be SO per cent OF its value ana
M the sale subject to refision by the courts,
w Mr.. B. ?. Bailey complained Oh lho
charge OF 50 cents made by the county
cierL for a statement OF what was due or
so the delinquent taS roll. .,
Oh Mr. George spencer spoke vehcmently IN
condemnation OF the practice by what ne
termed human yutures OF buying at TAX
IA sales the property of poor people, repre-
w sentlng their lifetime earnings, He raw
orei !. law, II possible, that would prevent
100 this practice.
Mr.. James Charlton did not favor any
law that would drive away capital
City Attorney Stewart said he knew II
was always popular in public gathering TO
60 speak in favor of the poor. down. trouaen
taxpayer. He said as rule the poor people
were the best taxpayers. The city now
had n thousand deeds for the property OF
delinuuent taxpayers and no law that
30 could bo passed would be retroactive IN us
operation, hence could not help those
whose property had already been sofa LOT
;. taxes He favored law, however, that
would help those whose property might De
sold In the future. He favored twelve
months stay of execution and would even
% favor two years limitation. He spoke OF
the effort on the part OF the wealthy tax
PAYERS 10 defeat the payment of the bond
tax and said a large portion OF THIS tax
was yet due. From 1894 down. the city had
brought tax suits against all Delinquent
taxpayers. He said that there had never
been delinquent taxpayer who had come
10 the mayor and city attorney and asked
for further time who did not get It,
Captain Bujac agreed with Mr.. Stewart
that no ex post facto law could help those
whose property had alreay been sold
Judge Klttrell said that while he would
- bow in obedience to any law that would
dispossess him OF his property, yet woe
bctide tho money shark who would attempt
TO dispossess him He would nave TO DC
brought in on a litter. These sharks. as q
rule do not themselves contribute one
dollar of taxes with which to run the gov
crnment.
Mr.. H. II. MacGregor thought the 81
2sn per cent valuation redemption law In forc-
closure sales referred TO by Judge kittrci
a good one.
MIR. letter used some very forciblc Ian
go guage in denuncintion of the vultures VINO
we're taking advantage of the present taN
law in gobbing up the property of poor
rcd people and turning them out of their homes
simply because they wcro unfortunate II
-, not being able to pay their taxes I'VE
-, don't want to encourage such capitalists as
~ ~ these"
OF Attorney Stewart said that while tho law
-, made no provision for II that rather thar
ou u work hardship on citizens It had beer
e"' the custom of The city to permit any tax
"a, payer to redeem his property by reimburs-
az az ing the city what It had paid for IT,
"e' Mr.. Lock Mcdaniel said the great trou'
90, bile was in general msoonception of thu
"" law by people having the erroneous idea
", that they had two years In which to redeem
sn their property after II had been sold fol
i, A. taxes while In fact the purchase al ta'
n sale gave absolute title with no redemption
- Any law that might now be passed coult
~ not be made to help the unfortunatcs wht
Nv. had already been sold out. but those who
~, might be in the future. He favored tn
~, law providing for a stay of execution ans
,' a law of limitation also in which to brint
tho suit
Major W. Ii Crank spoke also of th'
hardships that hBd come under his obserya
ton growing out OF the present tax law M
M did not dispute the right OF the city to sci
- property for taxes but the operation Of thu
law worked great hardship. Many peo
pie were deprived OF their property slnpl!
!, from losing their tax reeeptsy Others has
Y. tax receipts when tho records in the as
SCISSOR and collectors office would not SHOW
me any credit on their tax accounts. III
charged no derillction or dishonesty in thu
40. tax collectors office. but mistakes were a
u natural there rs elsewhere.
20 Judge Raiey moved that our representa-
ien tives In the legislature and senator u.s.
ia. their best endeavors to have a law passed
lin. providing for a two years. stay OF cxccu
{ II ton on tax sales.
the Hon. John y. Browne said he had seer
ain one law submitted TO the present leglsa
ins ture that provided for redemption on thu
act installment plan OF property sold for taxes
on. but he did not know what would be III,
emit fate OF this bill. He would support an,
Ila- measure that was just and reasonable an'
lth that would belp tho honest and unfortu
,m- na.e taxpayer. He did not think law o
alt the character that would apply the remcd
nal would keep out capital. lie favored tw
WI years stay of execution law.
rits Mr.. Frank s. Burke thought that thos
lily. who made the constitution and inserted u
and Il the clause that persons would have tw
mo- years In which to redeem their propert