The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-02-11

To tho Editor OF The Post,
Austin Texas February a---For the pur-
pose of taxation there must be value
placed on real estate, because taxes are
levied al certain rates ON 4 hundred dollars
worth Of property. The market value OF
property Is generally admitted as the value
ON which the tax is rated. The owner OF
unencnmhered real estate. rendering the
same at It's market value, bears his true
proportion OF taxes, because he Is the own.
or OF the value OF the property. Il. how
ever, the real estate is encountered. the
owner Of the same does not own tho full
value but only so much thereof ns Is tree
from enoumbrance. The remaining rnsi of
the value of the land Is owned by the own.
er OF che lien ercumberlns the same.
II II Is correct that the tax shah ba
assessed against The v8lue q follows that
the owner Of the eucumbered land should
only be taxed on that part Of tho value OF
such land As he owns, and that the lax
ON the remaining value thereof should be
borne by the owner OF said value. Such
value may he represented by vendors lien
notes, by mortgage notes or generally by
any paper secured by lien on the real
estate. The owner Of the lien then, 81
seems, Is the proper person to pay the
taxes on that part OF the value Of the land
which Is represented by his paper. Il APP
pears clear, however that such paper has
IT'S value only because based Oh land aud
representing part OF the value of the land
Such papers are negotiable and can pass
from one owner TO another without REQ.
Its owner so 10 Apssa. Is unknown until
the time comes when the paper 10 pre-.
scented for payment
suppose the owner OF encountered real
estate owns only one third Of the value
ana two.thirds are owned by unknown
parties, holders Of lienu The whole value
Of tho land should ha taxed, and tho tax
should he collected from the owners Of
said value in proportion Can this be
practically accomplished when the owner
OF the lien is unknown,
The following propositions present them
selves
/. The real estate II responsible for the
tax assessed against Il. that IS, against its
value
@ The visible owner OF the land Is re-
sponsihle only for the pro rata tax on the
value OF the land he is the owner OF
3. The owner Of the credit paper, Great
ing lien on the property is responsible
for the pro rata tax on the value he owns
in the land
T. n the law viii require the visible
owner Of the land 10 pay tho tax on IT.
full value. then provision should h.
made to reimburse him pro rata by the
owner OF the other part OF the value o.
the real estate
5. A law making the pro rata tax pail
by the visible owner OF the land on that
part OF the value he does not own, collecti-
ible from the owner OF the lien would
solve the difficulty.
II is one way 10 reach the desired re
suit. Let the law require that the owner Of
encountered property render the same for
taxation At its market value, the tax is
assessed against the market value, with
the femark By the assessor In proper
column "encumbered.
Upon paving the tax the owner pays the
entire tax levied upon the value OF the
property and receives therefor from thu
collector as many receipts az there arc
different values held by unknown parties
on liens. The owner should be required 30
furnish the collector with such deserip
ton OF each outstanding lien, 30 that the
proper tax receipts for each Will Identify
the paper fnotel representing that p1rt Of
the value. After receiving The several
tax receipts for the pro rats tax on each
value that stands against his land. She re-
mainder In one receipt will be the pro rata
on The value he owns unencumbered.
Let the Law provide that such tax receipt
shall be legal Offset agiinst the note
and when the same is presented for pay
ment the tax receipt can be used as part
payment. either on the annual interest o.
on tie principal as the ease may BIZ.
II results from the foregoing.
/. Thst the tax Ia collected on the en-
tire value Of the land.
2 That the owner Of the land bears
only his pro rata tax on the value he owns
uBencumberd.
3. That the owner Of the land paying
The taxes pro rata on the enenmbered
parts OF the value. Is only paying part
OF his Indebtedness. and the tax Is really
paid BY the owner OF the Hen.
1. That the tax 10 collected from an un-
known owner Of the value, no matter
where he resides
5. That the tax Is collected 10 the coun-
~ or city where the value exists. and for
the benefit Of that county or city,
8. That the tax Is levied and collected
ON the entire value Of the property. and
that there is no double taxation
7. That the collection can be enforced
against the basis OF the value: that Is
s-aInst the real estate. IN the manner the
law may prescribe for the collection OF de-
lipoueDt taxes.
2. That the owner OF the land is not
paying more tax than the pro rata on his
unencuthbered value
o. That the State and county or city re-
eeiyes It's taxes on the taxable values In
full as II no enoumberance exists.
W. Won Rosenberg.