The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-18
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER IS. 1905
The States Slipshod Ways.
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80, s.,. .,,n ,,leased to observe The strong
.tara yopr tnper has taken for the re-
1 snrn, NJ our land Jaws, and nope the'
51i,att1c YOU aro waGing tor the auopt.oil
~ ira Torrens system will be successful
NJ gtvc MI illustration OF the unsatislac-'
tory condition of our present laWs'-iet
no relate n recent experience. a refl
estate agent, In another city IN lhe Slate
1,,oto mo that owed some back taxes
~, nroncrty there I could not under
J. stand how it could be, because q former
AGENT had written me that these very
,axesi had been paid. To be certain,
wrote the treasurer OF the city, asking
Sc there were any such charges. he re
nlied that there were none during his ad-
r11inistration, but that If wished TO ne
assured that / did not owe MIN anythins
would have to employ lawyer 10
search the records and find out. Could
q q ,,vthinr be more outrageous! Why
should the State compel me to pay q la
yer 10 inform me whether or not she
has n bill against me? Is 1t not her bust
ness to know and be able to inform me.
nromptly? Yet she casts the whole re-
sponsbility upon me, and VIII 1orlelt my
land IL fail to settle the smallest tax
bill however old it may be, OF which
she declines to give me notice, even upon
respectful Application for anformauon.
&c
this evil and be relieved OF other bur
(, de,,e to which dealers in real estate are
now subjected
= Ro. A. LANCASTER, JR.
Richmond, Va.
adopted, but the defect to which Mr.
Lancaster calls attention can be rene
died without resort to the Torrens Sys-
TEN. It Is defect in the method of keep
B ing our tax accounts. When you are
running an account with merchant and
make a partial payment. he gives you.
credit for the sum paid, end when the
next months account comes. it shows
at the top of the column balance on ac-
count rendered. With the new items
( following Why does not the State follow
the same simple rule? Each and every
tax account rendered should show on its
face the exact standing Of the taxpayer.
\ If there are back taxes the amount or
amounts due should be brought forward
on the account from year to year. II
partial payment is made. 1t should be
credited on the whole account, ana not
entered as q credit LOT any particular
year. If the whole account is paid, it
4 should, when receipted, show on its face
that the tax payer is paid in full to date.
The plan is SO simple and reasonable that
1t needs no argument.
But what is the system employed? Tax
bills are made out from year to year,
one account .or each year. a taxpayer
may be delinqgfsr. for 1903 and 1904, bat
when he goea. to-the Treasurer this year
be will find separate account for 1866,
and If he pays it he will get receipt
for that year, Notwithstanding his de-
unquency for the other two years. But
what becomes of the bills for 1903 and
1904? The bill for 1903 passes on to the
delinquent collector, and in another year
4 the 1901 BILL II still unpaid, will take
the same course.
Fellow-citizens. now that the election
Is over. we make bold to say that the
.ystem is slipshod and unhusinessllke, and
Il reflection upon our Intelligence Let US
reform 1t at the first opportunity