The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-11

lvlce.
show these persons to have consider
able personal property and to be able
to pay taxes. A list Of those owing
$1,000 has been prepared but is with
held from publication for the present.
Needs Investigation.
The fact that two-thirds of those
assessed for personal property only,
in the city of Richmond, pay no taxes
at all seemed of enough Importance
to be given further investigation. The
law of Indiana provides that the coun-
ty treasurer shall make a list of all
delinquents and then call on all these
either in person or by deputy and de-
mand payment. If payment is not
made when thus demanded, the treas
urer is then to levy on enough prop
erty to realize the tax SO delinquent
with the added penalties. If he is un-
able to collect the tax in any way the
treasurer is to note on the delinquent
list the full explanation of why it
could not be collected.
The law seems to be dead letter,
no effort being made to comply with
its provisions. Notices are mailed to
all those who are assessed for more
than one hundred dollars worth of
property. If this notice fails to bring
response nothing further is done. No
doubt a more vigorous effort would
save to the city, county and state sew
eral thousands of dollars every year.
Rich Tax Dodgers.
There are many persons assessed for
taxes who have ample property, both
personal and real, who fail to pay per-
sonal taxes. The methods they en-
ploy are diverse and despicable, and
we refrain from disclosing some of
them for fear that others no less hon
! orable would make use of them for
the same purpose.
| Among the persons paying no taxes
are men who rank high in professional
| life, men who are employed on sala-
ries, of 81 600, to s. 900 per year. men
| who are able to own automobiles for
pleasure, men who conduct business
with a tangible stock of goods; in
short, men who are abundantly able to
carry their share of the public bur-
dens and should be made to do so.
| Law Is Cumbersome.
| In defense Of this lack of compliance
with the law in the enforcement of
these collections by the treasurer and
his predecessors. they state that the
law is impracticable. While on the
face of it. it seems adequate. but when
put into effect in an impartial manner,
it is found too cumbersome, expensive
and utterly impracticable. 1t is
claimed that to faithfully carry out
the provisions of the law. would re-
quire force of twenty-five deputies in
the treasurer's office, and quite a num-
Der of additional deputies in the sher-
ifs and prosecutors offices. Each
of the five thousand delinquents of
the county would have to be seen in
person and the money, demanded; If
this fails the deputy must levy on the
property. but if householder, one
hundred dollars worth is exempt His
compensation for this work would be
fifty cents for making the demand. and
six per cent of the taxes, providing
they are paid, but nothing if he fails.
The average fee. therefore, for making
the collection would be about 6S cents
1t would more than cost the treasurer
all his salary to comply with the law,
and in addition would make him the
object of hate of half the people of the
/ county. That the plan they are fol-
| lowing is the one in vogue in all other
counties. That many of the delin-
quents are persons who resided in the
county at time of assessment. and one
year later at time of collection were no
longer residents of the county.
Public Will Assist.
1t appears to your committee that
there is some foundation for perhaps
| part of this lack of enforcing the col
lection in certain instances and that
| better law should be enacted to cure
this public injustice of permitting
| about one-third of our citizens to es-
cape taxation. We believe that il the
public becomes fully acquainted with
! this condition. more effective law
will be put on the statute books of the
state. For instance, it is the law in
several states that in order to vote at
any of the elections the voter must be
| able to show that his taxes have been
paid. In other states the collector
nav nroSouf hia Sf0toYnor< - <a~o. -