Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1912-07-11
Not the CuP Politician But the Views Business Man Who Comes Before
Political Ntul
Who Makes His Appeal Individual
tand
the Commerce of the South Nation, and to Which Its Natural Re-
and Its People Enhte It to Occupy and Enjoy.

the county officials and see thaA
they turned into the treasury
money collected. Although they
were thus supposed to be the
guardians of the public treasury,
the records reveal the fact that
they have guarded it but to plum
der. According to the comp
torller's last report, all the county
court clerks, all the trustees and
other county officials were delin-
quent only about $4,000 during
all the years reported, yet Theses
revenue collectors, who were the
predecessors in office of the revo.
nue. agents and back tax attor.
neys, were delinquent to the
amount Of over 100000. In Ham
ilton county not a single county
official was reported as short, but
ST., 1851 was due from the revs-
nue. collectors. In Shelby county
there was $2,225.29 delinquent
taxes from all the county officials
since 1866, yet the revenue collect
ors were delinquent in that coun-
ty to the amount of $91, $3.50.
In Scott county all the county Of
ficlals were short only $10.25.
while the revenue collectors were
short S., 427.48. In Coffey county
there is not dollar reported as
delinquent from any county Off
cial, but $9,833.93 from the reve-
nue. collectors. This is what the
revenue collectors did prior to the
autocratic reign of the revenue
agent, and in this connection 4
wish it distinctly understood that
anything may say is not intend
ed as personal criticism of the
comptroller, revenue agent or any
back tax attorney, but the system
is what we are fighting.
Under this system there are
three revenue agents for each,
grand division Of the state and a
set of back tax attorneys operat-
ing under them. They are clothed
with power to back assess prop-
erty and from an impartial read
ing of the law, with knowledge
of conditions in Tennessee, do,
not believe there are five per cent
of the homes, farms or business
in this state that cannot be back
assessed under this act, regardless
of statement to the contrary. just
how many back tax attorneys are
operating under this act, no one
has ever stated with accuracy, but,
there are five in Shelby county,
alone, They are allowed fifteen
per cent on all collections made,
from which they are allowed sal
airy of $4,000 per annum in addi-
ton to necessary expenses,
which are supposed to include at,
torneys' fees, etc.
The revenue agent from West
Tennessee for the years 1909 and
1910 turned in a necessary ex-
account of 500, 300, in addi-
ton to his salary of $4,000. This
did not include the necessary ex-
oenses" incident to the collection
If city taxes, which undoubtedly
would have greatly increased his
expense account.
In East Tennessee the revenue
agent for the same period turned
n an expense account of $4,884.14.
This can only be explained upon
he ground that he was new and
inexperienced.
The revenue agent for Middle
Tennessee for the same period
urned in an expense account OF
4 ,812.96. To this must be added
lis expenses incident to the coli
ection Of city taxes.
In the last legislature an at
empt was made to repeal the sal
ry and expense limit of these
eyenue agents. If this had been
lone, the revenue agents of East
Middle or West Ten
lessee could easily have earned
lnder the law $4,000 per annum.