Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-04
Land-Grabbers' Act Defended.

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
SO much is being said and written in
reference to the existing law relating TO
lands that have been purchased by the
Commonwealth at delinquent tax sales
that it might not be amss to review the
laws that have existed in Virginia since
the Code of 1881 on this subject, and COM
pare this law with those that have pre-
coded it; and also to call attention to the
conditions which made the law neces-
sdry, and the circumstances which attend
ed its passage.
The statute. section G66, as originally
placed In the Code. provided that the Au-
ditOr should annually, in June, cause TO
be delivered 10 the Treasurer Of each
county ana city "a list of real estate In
such county or city 50 purchased in the
name of the Auditor which remains I'M
redeemed, with u statement OF the taxes
came the duty Of the Treasurer TO make
sale OF such tracts or lots as had not
been redeemed" Such sales were made
by public auction, after such advertise
ment as was required when the land was
originally sold, section 6G2 providing that
The land should be sold ''for such price
as Il would bring" No notice, other than
the advertisement, was required 10 be
given, and the property was cried out to
he purchaser at any bid, however small.
There was hardly a prospect that there
would be d bidder at the resale. unless
al a price less than the amount for which
the property was purchased by the Audi
tor. as the want OF a purchaser for the
amount Of the taxes due upon the pro-
perty had made the purchase by the State
necessary.
At the session Of 1924. the law was
so amended that any person, after two
years from the date Of the purchase by
the state, might acquire any unredeemed
ands by paying 10 the Clerk TO whose
office the delinquent list was returned the
amount FOR which the property was
bought In, with interest from that date
nd 40 per cent. together with any other
taxes that would have accrued had not
the State been the purchaser, such addi-
tiCnal amounts to bear interest at the rate
Of 10 per cent. from the 18th day OF De-
eember of the year In which they would
have accrued No notice whatever was
given 10 the landowner, and he had no
right of redemption unless the purchaser
Jailed within one year 10 secure deed.
10 which he was entitled after having q
report made by surveyor and approved
bv the county or corporation court, as
the case might be, After the year had
expired. and before deed was made. the
landowner could redeem by paying 10
the purchaser the amount he had paid
TO the Clerk with 10 per cent interest
The legislature, at its session in 1885, 9G
again amended this section OF the Code.
The amendment provided that an appli-
cation 10 purchase the land should be fled
with the Clerk, and copy OF the appli-
cation was required TO be served on the
person In whose name the land stood at
the time of the purchase by the Auditor
or If such person were dead. upon his
personal representative. Such person. or
any "other person who had the right 10
redeem before IL was sold" had the right
TO come In and redeem within thirty DAYS
after the notice was served, by paying
the taxes with interest, and the costs OF
the application. il no such redemption
was made, then the applicant proceeded