The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-04
CHAPTER ~.
HOW THE TORRENS SYSTEM AZ
EEC,TS FARMERS


FECTS FARMERS.
The chief asset of people IN the coun-
try consists OF land. 1t ought to be ii
valuable asset. and one that could he
readily dealt with mt the command OF
the owner. II you, own n farm, 1t is
yours and you ought to be able to do
with II what you please. in the first
place, you should be certain that You
/ have a good title to your land; second.
you should Sbe able to show your tito
at any moment without being put to
any expenae In the matter; and third,
you should be able to produce this evil
.dence in such form as to convince the
inquirer that your title Is good, without
his being put to any expense In tho mat
ter.
WHAT THE STATE OWES YOU.
The State requires you to pay taxes on
your land every year at n valuation fixed
by her officers paid for that purpose. II
you fail to pay these taxes promptly. 81
penalty OF per cent. is added, and In
terest also runs on the debt. Further
more. the State will levy on your per-
sonal property for satisfaction of her
taxes; and IL you continue delinquent, she
Will sell your land and deprive you of
your title. We will consider hereafter the
unjust and cruel provisions OF our present
tax laws and the oppressive results Of tax
sales; at present. 1t is enough to note the
fact that the State undertakes to deprive
you OF all your title to lands that may be
fairly worth thousands OF dollars, and to
confer this valuable property upon an
other In consideration of delinquent taxes
of any amount whatsoever--it matters not
how trifling the sum may be. Moreover,
II the State herself, or amy city, town,
or county wants your land; or II any rail-
road company. telegraph company, tele-
phone company, or any other company
for internal improvement wants your
land; or even II any one who wishes to
establish mill and build a dam, wants
your land-the State can take 1t away
from You and compel you to sell for such
price as may be determined in summary
proceedings for condemnation. And this
she can do whether you want to sell or
not. Now what does all this mean? 1t
means that the State regards herself as
| the ultimate owner of all the lands within
| her borders: and II you trace your title
| back to It's original source. you Will find
that It Is based upon patent or grant
! from the government. In other words
| the State has always claimed to be the
sovereign owner OF her lands, but has
undertaken to confer title thereto upon
| certain of her citizens. subject to what
she terms her right of eminent domain.
| This title conferred upon her citizens has
| never been a free gift, but has always
| been In return for what the State re-
| garded az a fair and valuable considers
| tion-usually in money. but sometimes IN
blood and services for her development
| and defence. In this way our worthy citi-
| zens have been induced to devote their
| lives energies, and their substance to the
1 upbuiding OF the State. They have re-
| paid in taxes many times over the value
l of the lands granted by the State. and
4 they have made the State what she Is.
| WHAT THE STATE SHOULD HAVE
DONE.
Therefore they had the right to expect
! and demand that their titles should be
safe guarded and guaranteed by the
State: that she should pass such laws as
| would enable them to enjoy their posses
sions In security: that she should pass
such laws as would enable them TO deaf
with their property freely: that she should
| mass such laws as would relieve them
! from all unnecessary expenses In trans
ferrinp title: that she should pass such
laws as would put an end to any unjust
| forfeiture of any mans land; and that
| she should pass such laws as ~ouiu ope-
rate as a guaranty OF all titles TO iands
| that might be brought under the law LOT
that purpose. ,,,1-,
It ia clear that the State should have
| done these things 1t is equally clear
| mat she has not done one OF them.
| Iand titles have never been safe -guarded
| md guaranteed by the State. she mas
! fraouently granted the same land to diff
! farent partIes and accepted taxes from
4 both. Did you ever hear OF any such
! taxes being returned? Owners have never
| been enabled to enjoy their lanus WIN
ANYTHING like perfect security, because
II u