Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-21
Observation-Disclosures 81, lS99.
THE DELINQUENT-TAX LAW


we take the following paragraph lio"l
the editorial columns Of the PetersD"s
Index-Appeal. ,..
"Au over the State the land-grapDeIS
GRO az work. and are forcing the "o"",
ouent taxpayers to pay their laAeS ",,'
tho heavy penalties allowed oy tno -
THE people are Of course. srulhulIl7 az" I.
the odious law is being deloullOou In
massage and enforcement ho"cNOi
80 some good results. People are learn
90, the importance of paying their tax
90 and the Legislature will frame Id"
,,.bicb whilst not so severe upon the l"N-
,'a,.cr as the existing statute. will Just as
ooctusllv compel him 10 pay ms taxes \
1av of this kind can be easily lidilleu,
NJ, suggestions looking TO this ehd
have appeared in the public prints
In some counties of the state friendly
local organizations have forestalIed 'ile
.qand-grabbers" The result there VIII
no that the State will get her money
hut the 'Iand-grabbers" will make no.
thing. In some of the counties members
y, the LEGISLATURE who voted for the Ia"
3, ouestion-not realizing the hardshlps
that IL would impose upon poor taN-paS-
ers-went to work, upon their return
homo IN form organizations to avert the
severity Of the statute.
That the law has been the means OF
uniting a large sum Of money in the
State Treasury there can be no question:
That it has been very profitable 10 the
land,grabbers, also. is incontestaDle'
That If has been extremely harsh upon
many taxpayers must likewise be admit
ted. In not a few instances taxpayers
have been made to suffer because OF the
errors or default of the officers OF the
Commpnwealth.
The law has caused the fact to be dis'
closed that many collecting officers nave
been in the habit Of returning as "dellh
ouents." taxpayers who were as goo'
for the amounts charged against theh
as the Bank of England is Cor the notes
IL has issued. \ reform in That dlrecuol
is undoubtedly demanded, and II eHec'
ed it should be put TO the credit OF IN
present law.
According to the information receive
nv the Dispatch. the demand is genera
that the law shall be thoroughly over
hauled and cleared of its eXtoIuona'
provisions. The s. redemption fee e.
acted. whether the amount involved
small ar great. is very odious, and hi
few defenders.
II the operations Of the land syndicate
have been as exhaustive and extensive
reported. possibly it would be vel Il
the LEGISLATURE to take into considerau'
the propriety of making clear sweep
delinouent taxes and starting new sy
TEN, alb initio.
The people have learned much oufi
tho mast six months about the delinque
,and.1aws of this Commonwealth. Sol
Of them have paid very dearly for tn
information. Some of them have i
their homes: others find themselves
VOWED in vexatious and costly litil
tion. Now the question arises, Cam
Virginia adopt a system which VIII be
fective in the collection Of delnqu'
taxes. and yet be less severe upon
,ax-payer than the existing statute Isl
The Index-Appeal thinks law of Il
kind may be easily framed We h'
40. one of the first essentials Of a &c
law is that ii shall provide against
return as delinquents Of persons who,
the exercise of a little pressure upon
part of the collecting officer, could
made TO pay their dues to the State
nualy.
We regard II as a foregone conclus
that the next session of the General
sembly will be largely devoted to the c
sideraton Of measures relating to
collection OF taxes. Whether what is !
generally known as the 'land-graob
law" will I'm the end be promotive
good. or will cause the pendulum
swing back very far tother way rem;
20 be seen. However We are not
posed to take pessimistic view; but
inclined TO hope that the dearly-bor
experience Of many Of our people vii
turn.d a. accnnnt for the general gO(