Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1869 — Delinquent Taxes. [ARTICLE]

Delinquent Taxes.

Euitoks of the Union: The amount of taxes in Jasper county for 1868 and previous years remaining unpaid is over seventeen thousand dollars. Some of this delinquent tax stands against nonresident land-owners. Where such is the case payment will be enforced by sale of land on the first Monday of February next. — The penalty and interest allowed purchasers of lauds at tax sales will insure the collection of taxes against such persons. But where the delinquent tax stands against resident land-owners, its collection becomes more difficult. Lands can not be sold for taxes while there is personal property within the county. The personal property must be sold and exhausted before sale can be made of the land. And here is the difficulty. Property can not he sold without purchasers. Through a squeamish delicacy on the part of citizens to purchase their neighbor’s personal property at tax sale, such property seldom sells at these sales. The treasurer is discouraged and rarely afterwards attempts the collection of taxes in this way. Hence, many of these resident delinquents go along year after year and never pay their taxes until an« opportunity is presented to sell their land, when they arc induced to pay to satisfy the purchaser that the land is free of incumbrance.

This delay in paying taxes-makes the burdens of gov eminent fa 11 ihe more heavily upon those who pay their taxes promptly, and is an imposition that the honest and prompt tax-payers should not tolerate. — The remedy is with them and they can correct the evil. AN hen the treasurer advertises the property us their delinquent neighbor for sale to pay taxes, let them attend the sale and buy the property. — This will encourage the treasurer and have the wholesome effect to induce the payment of taxes, for when it is known that they must and will be collected, payment will be made to avoid the costs of sale and the sacrifice of property. It is important that the delinquent list be settled this year. It can be done better this year than next, when, besides our ordinary' taxes, we will have to pay the levy for the railroad. Our treasurer intends, it possible, to enforce the payment of the delinquent tax during the present season. He should have the assistance of all who do not permit their taxes to become delinquent. If the delinquent tax is paid this year, next year the levy for county purposes, will be much less than it will be if such delinquent tax then remains unpaid.

The payment of taxes is properly regarded as a burden which should be borne by all according to their means. There is no reasqn why one man should be required to pay another’s tax. This ho does, indirectly at least, when he pays his own tax and his neighbor does noL pay his. But, as before stated, the remedy, ample and complete, is with 'him. If he pays his neighbor’s tax, let him have vahio received in the way of a horse or a cow purchased at tax sale. This is my advice, and, if followed, I am assured that, in some localities at least, the delinquent list will rapidly disappear. * Taxpayer. # . —-<r- ••• eDucks are said to be plenty along the Kankakee river, and its tributaries, and sportsjineu are haying fine fun.