The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-01-19
DARST WOULD END
Sales FOR TAXES
Would Proceed for Collect.
ion AS An Other
Civil Gases

CHARLEsToN,W Va, Jan. 1s-.Ai
radical! changeiinith present system Of
real estate for taxes IS made In aSbilli
whichlhasl been prepared by State Aud.
itor Darsts to be presentedFin the pres.
ent session Of the Legislature. The
bill, amendingsthe re-enae:ing chapter
81 OF the Code. was recommended In
the auditors report, and such legis.
lationl also was strongly recommended
by Governor Hatfield In his message.
to the Legislature.
Under the present law as sci. outtin
chapter 31Sof the Code, all delinquent
lands a%reSreturned5 to the auditors Of.
flee. where they remain in the first
day OF November of the following
year, unless redeemed, and are tneIi
certified to the sheriff to be sold; az.
ter publication, to the individual who
will pay the taxes for the smallest
share Of the tract. which really means
the lowest bidder. All tracts not pur.
chased by individuals are sold to the
state, and il not redeemed within one
year become forfeited to the state,
and r certified to the commissioner
of school lands, to be proceeded
against as provided in chapter -05 Of
the code.
No Sales.
Under the change roposed by the
auditor, all tax sales are entirely done
away with, andIthere are neither sales
to individuals nor to the state. In.
stead of the auditor, all tax sales are
entirely done away with, and there
are neither sales to individuals nor
to the state: Instead of the auditor
returning the delinquent lists to the
sheriff on or before the first day of
November of each year to be sold to
individuals, or purchased for the state,
they are sent to the prosecuting at.
torneys or collector Of the county on
that date, who publishes an; abstrac.
of the various tracts and gives notice
that unles the tracts are redeemed
In or before the first day Of January
following the first publication thereof,
suit will be instituted for the pur.
pose of collecting the taxes or enforc.
ing the lien created on the property,
Just as any other suit is Instituted
and prosecuted for the enforcing OF
any ordinary lien or collecting any
debt.
Under the proposed law, all taxes,
with interest at 6 per cent per annum
are made the first lien on all real es-
tate, and the auditor is authorized to
institute suit in %chancery in, the name
of the state, for the purpose Of en-.
forcing said lien for taxes.
Little Benefit.
The sale of forfeited lands to tic
state has been Of very little, IL any
financial benefit to the state, as ut
.torneys' fees and costs have practic.
ally consumed every dollar for which.
the property was sold. Thousands. Of,
dollars will be saved in attorney fees
alone. las under the proposed law only
one docket fee is allowed fol. all the
tracts against which suit is instituted,
whereas, under the present law u
docket fee of $40 is allowed for each
tract proceeded against aside from his
commission. The roposed law allows
the prosecuting attorney or. collector.
"a commission Of five per centum on
the amount collected and a single
docket fee:
In preventing the sales to individt
'ua!s. hundreds of homes belonging to.
poor, innocent and sometimes ignor-
ant persons who have no knowledge
of the fact that their property is de-
'linquent or advertised for sale, will
be saved.
To Highest Bidder.
Instead Of permitting this property
to be sold to individuals. it will be
sold, not to practically the lowest bid.
der but to the highest. bidder. at a
regular public sale after regular Judi
clal proceedings OF which the owner
will have had due and timely notice,
and all over and above taxes, interest
and costs iss to be deposited In the
state treasury to be distributed to the
owner; his heirs, deyisees or assigns.
Earthq