Evening journal., 1918-04-12
COUNCILMAN Wants
BACK TAXES PAID
Mr.. Robertson Thinks All
Should Be Collected for
Use of City
LEGAL DEPARTMENT
SHOULD TAKE ACTION

Councilman James W. Robertson, |
chairman Of the finance committee n
Council, ct the meeting Of Council last
night created surprise when Lc read
the names Of scores Of delinquent tax
ables who owe city taxes FOR The year
1916. The question Of taxes was
brought up by Mr.. Robertson. who
read an editorial from an evening
newspaper, In which it was stated that
the question OF back taxes. brought to
the attention OF City Council last week
by Mayor Lawson in a communication
to the Taxpayers League, was mat
ter for consideration by Counc Mr..
Robertson stated last week. when the
communication was referred 90 city
Solicitor Bayard. that II De could coli
lcct SiSO0O I'm taxes due from i.O'. the
City Solicitor would De adding
feather TO his cap" Mr.. Robertson
not only stated last night that these
taxes should be collected. bu; that
those OF 1916, which amount To- about
$4,000. also should be collected.
In opening lis remarks last night
Mr.. Robertson said:
Mr.. President and members. if you
viii recall last Thursday night a COM
munication was received from nus
Honor the Mayor relative 90 unpaid
lakes Following my remarks on THAI
subject before this Council, one news
paper Of this city took exception TO
what ! said in reference TO the city
solicitor collecting or proceeding
against those who owed the CITY
money. They referred go it as some
lidng Occult, unseen or under pusnel
basket
Mr.. Robertson read the editorial In
question and then continued:
"Now ! want t0 say again that ii
would be a feather in his hat II ht
could collect the taxes. u would pl
something that other officials could mol
do The communication referred &c
taxes charged TO Collector Mccall
which have not been turned over 90 the
CITY. say they should be collected
the collectors b0ndsmen should b'
proceeded against. n possible. and be
fore this can be done 80 IS the duty o
the legal branch Of the city g0vernmen
70 prosecute that suit
III the writer OF that editorial vii
consult the nles Of his own paper. h
will SEQ what I refer 90 and that i
that this Council, on October 4, 1871
received a COPY Of the delinquent us
from Dr. s G. Rice for the year 1910
which CODY was sent 10 the city so
Ncitor On the tenth OF that sam
month a letter was sent out over tn
name Of the city solicitor to those dc
lnquents. urging them 20 pay the bac
taxes or be would be compelled by Law
20 proceed AGAINST them.
"Now up TO March Z, OF this yea
nothing further was done IN this mai
Ger. except that a number Of the delir
duents called at the office OF the c0lleC
Tor Of taxes and settled.
on March 2, this Council passed
resolution requesting the city solicitc
20 proceed against all delinquents fC
the years 1903 to 1916. On March g, tn
Clerk Of Council sent a letter 10 th
City Solicitor with this resolution an
he received an acknowledgment.
Mr.. Robertson then explained, und'
the law, unpaid taxes were not delil
duent until after the first or May
the succeeding year. and that leg
proceedings could not be instituted Il
their collection until after that time.
Continuing. he said: Now II an
man wants the truth he can get it.
IS the duty OF every man, whether
be a former official or a private citlze
10 pay his taxes before he has a rig
20 live under this free government
Mr.. Robertson then read the nam
OF some delinquent taXables in q
Northern district for the year 1916.
Referring again TO the newspaper ed
torlal, Mr. Robertson said: This eC
torial Is unfair and while ! don't ca
a crack, will say what ] think 81
will continue TO do so. and L again sa
that II the City Solicitor can cole
tho money, this Council owes him
public reception"