Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-02
REVOLUTION IN lax SAIL
Coming Legislature Likely to Max.
Radical Changes in Present Law,
TOO MUCH CHANCE FOR FRAUDS
Des MOines SherIG Has Plan which
He Thinks VIII satisfy the AppIi-
cRnts for Dcputyships In
His once.
CFrom a staff Correspondent

(Fr0m a staff Correspondent
DIES MONIES, Dec. 1.-Cspecial.)-Revo-
luton in the method OF selling delinquent
taxes is threatened by some members Of
the legislature and It is now practically
certain that a bill will he introduced In
the Thirty-third general assembly provid-
ing for a radical departure from the pres
ent system in vogue.
1t is quite generally claimed that the
manner of selling delinquent taxes now is
unfair and there have been strong intlma-
lions Of corruption in the disposition OF
valuable parcels.
Under the law as II now stands the
county treasurer holds an auction sale
on delinquent taxes. The tax is supposed
to be sold to that bidder offering to accept
the smallest portion OF the property as
security. 1t is customary TO hear bidders
Org one-one m!llonth and even smaller
inconceivable amounts. Where the prop
erty is valuable thore are many bidders.
In Polk county the delinquent tax sale
takes on the appearance OF a Board OF
Trade pit during an interesting f%luctuatiou
Of the market. Fully 100 men. when the
description is read, cry out their bids and
wave their hands. They stand on chairs
and tables. waving their arms and shout
Aib VI an AA'll lllBils FUN IN llhb-
dub the county treasurer is supposed to
pick the man who bid the lowest. 1t has
been customary for him in Polk county
to mark down the name of the winner
without even announcing the name.
Claims have been made in the past that
in the crowds of bidders were men who
were buying delinquent taxes for the treas
urer himself. Whether II Is taken advan-
tage of or not the possibility Of false deal
ing Is present. The system Is, to say the
least, considered an unfair one.
There is considerable talk OF amending
the law so as to have the sale awarded to
the bidder who agrees to pay the tax
for the lowest amount of interest. This
would make the bidding Of advantage to
the person who has been unable to pay
taxes, as Il would bring down the interest
on delinquent taxes to- the lowest amount.
AS the law stands the bidding means moth
ing to either the county or the delinquent
taxpayer. 1t is probable this movement
will have the support of the tax commits
sion. which will urge several reforms be-
fore the general assembly.
Senator Cummins ORA WIS seat.
Senator A. b. Cummins received notice
from Washington this morning that in the
drawing of seats for the term OF congress
beginning this coming month he drew seat
No. is.
Senator Cummins. accompanied by his
wife, and his private secretary, Jonn Briar,
will leave Des Moines for Washington
Wednesday evening.
Fight for standard.
Attorney james NJ. Parsons, who APP
pears for the Standard Oil company in the
criminal case brought against it. in the
Rockwell City courts, declares that he will
fight the Indictment on the grounds that
it is unconstitutional. Moreover, he is OF
the opinion that the Indictment was brought
in the wrong county, which gives him
another basis for striking a few blows on
behalf of John D..
The Standard Oil company was indicted
on the grounds that it has been selling oil
for less at Alton, where 1t has competition.
than at Doom, where 1t has a clear field.
Mr.. Parsons was retained to defend the
octopus and went to Rockwell City, where
arrangements were made for trial at the
next term of court.
The SOIdIers' Roster.
The state has received one volume of
the compilation of Iowa soldiers in the civil
war. 1t is the size OF an extra large law
book. Indications are there will be four
such volumes. This roster Of old soldrrs
is being compiled and printed in accordance
with an act passed by the general as
sembly two years ago.
tuden Found Guilty.
H. F.. Higgins of Mahaska county, the
young man who was arrested for stealing
valuable platinum wares from the labora-
tory OF the Iowa State college at Ames, was
found guilty by a jury In the district court
of Nevada, which also fixed the value of
tine property at 500. Judge AlDrook will
sentence Higgins on December 8.
TrnHic MnnREer Comes.
A conference between P. s.. Eustis. pas
senger traffic manage of the Burling-
ton system, and the Iowa Board of Rail-
road commissioners has been arranged for
next Wednesday morning when the ques-
ton Of train service between Des Moines
and points on he Burlington road in south
ern Iowa will be considered. Mr.. Eustis
has appeared before the board on other
occasions upon this matter.
sheriff Hns
Sheriff-elect Ben Ness, who assumes his
duties January l, has decided on an in
novation regarding appointments. He has.
since election, been besieged by applicants
for the positions of deputies and court
bailiffs. lie has the appointment of five
of each. He has decided to make appoint
ments for but four months and then TO
replace the employees by other applicants.
In this way he hopes to pass the political
cake around among a great number.
Sole agents Radiant Home base burners
& SchoeninR IN