Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1913-01-10

We6k WIFI bl4Leeu Columns OF Qelln-
quent tax list, at an approximate cost
OF s34. 10 a column, or s755.2O for the
publication. 1t is some six or seven
years since the list has been publish.
ed, during which time r. II. Boul.
ware was the assessor, and Jackson
Agee "a the treasurer. A close ex-
animation OF the list gives a reason
why It was not published before.
There are many errors IN the list,
made by the assessor, and many taxes
that have not been collected, which
the treasurer should have collected,
but apparently made no effort to
gather In. 1t looks as though Treasur-
er Agee did not want to advertise
the errors made by the assessor, and
did not want to show up his own
lazlness. AS an example Of the treasur-
eT's poor work 1t will be seen on
looking over the list that It frequent
ly happens that a man will be ad-
vertised for taxes several years ago,
and not since. Some Of these are the
men who really own the property, and
for some cause forgot to pay their
taxes, for a year or so. and then be-
gan paying them again. II the treasur-
er had been onto his job he would
have notified them when he sent the
receipt that there were back taxes
against the property, and he would
have got the money. This is certainly
the case In the matter Of e. W. Clapp,
for Mr., Clapp so told the LIBERAL.
There are instances of personal prop
erty being advertised for years. up to
aud including the year 1910, which
might have been collected If an eff
fort had been made, and now IL Is
probable that nothing can be collect
ed, as personal property is hard to
find. In one case a herd Of goats are
advertised for taxes in the year 1908.
The man to whom they are assessed
has gone out Of the goat business, and
Of course nothing but those goats can
be held for these taxes. If the sheriff
can follow up that herd Of goats, to
distrain them from taxes, he can levy
on none that were born since the as
sessment was made, and If the herd
has been mixed with another 1t will
be impossible for him to pick out the
goats that were members Of the dock
In 1908. Another instance is that Of
II. f. Brinkman. He Is advertised
rs delinquent on personal property In
each year from 1904 to 1910, and owes
ol33.54. Mr.. Brinkman sold his prop
moved to California, and has
since died. How Isl anything be ac-
complished In collecting these taxes.
There are taxes charged against prop
erty which lie entirely out of the
precinct. Two especially were noted.
Frank Cline In the Gold Hill list, was
with taxes on town lots in
Lordsburg, and j. w. Johnson, was
in the Lower ella precinct
LordsbuTg town lots. The
owner appears on the list
In several places, and all are mistakes
the assessor. He is charged with
owing taxes for the year 1905, to the
amount Of p cents on lot 4, block 8,
Lordsburg. When no paid the first
half Of his taxes In 1906, he found
himself charged with this tax. The
property In question is the Clifton
He never had owned It,
never had returned 1t, and did not
owe the tax. He explained the mat
ter to Treasurer Agee, and wanted a
Of the money, but the treasurer
told him that to get a return he
would have TO get an order from the
court, and this vas impossible at a
profit, on % cents. When he paid the
last half Of the taxes he held out the
y cents, again told the treasurer OF
The error, yet 1t was not removed
rom the list, and Grant county pays
cents for advertising II. II the
assessor had checked his returns he
,ould not have made this mistake, for
a cents is a ridiculous tax on q brick
building "a foot front. He Is assessed
n the Bedrock precinct for taxes on
property which is situated in the
lower ella precinct for taxes In 1909
md 1910, which taxes are paid, and
le holds q receipt. The LIBERAL does
lot know whose error this Is. He is
harged with forty acres OF land In
he Redrock precinct with taxes for
he year 1909 and 1910. The land lies