# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 3/15th Congress/2nd Session/Chapter 35

Chap. XXXV.—An Act supplemental to the act, entitled “An act further to amend the charter of the City of Washington.”
Act of May 4, 1812, ch. 76. Lots sold for taxes in the city of Washington may be redeemed within two years, on payment of the purchase money and ten percent. per ann. interest. And if the purchaser cannot be found, or refuses to accept the redemption money, may be paid to the clerk of the circuit court for Washington county.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That any lot, or part of a lot, or other real estate whatsoever, in the City of Washington, heretofore sold, or hereafter to be sold, for any tax due to the corporation of said city, or laid or assessed under the authority of the said corporation, pursuant to the powers vested in it by virtue of the act to which this is a supplement, or of any other act, passed, or to be passed, shall and may be redeemed, so as effectually to reinstate and invest the proprietor, or his legal representatives, in and with all his former estate, as fully and effectually as if such sale had never been made, upon payment, or tender of payment, being made, at any time within two years from the time of such sale, by such proprietor, or by his heirs, executors, or administrators, or by any other person, in his or their behalf, to the purchaser of such lot or part of a lot, or other real estate, his executors or administrators, of the money actually paid by him for the same, with the addition of interest, at the rate of ten per centum per annum, to be computed from the time of the payment of the said money by such purchaser; and if such purchaser, his executors, or administrators, have no known place of residence within the District of Columbia, or be not to be found at such place of residence, at the time such redemption is desired to be made; or if such proprietor, his heirs, executors, or administrators, or any other person in his behalf, shall offer to pay such money, with interest as aforesaid, and such ​purchaser, his executors, or administrators, shall refuse to accept the same, and give a sufficient receipt and acquittance in writing for the same, by way of redemption as aforesaid, then, and in every such case, it shall and may be lawful for such proprietor, his heirs, executors, or administrators, or other person in his or their behalf, to make the redemption aforesaid, as effectually, by paying the said money, with interest as aforesaid, to the clerk of the circuit court for the county of Washington;The clerk to make report, and deposit the money, &c. Proviso. Vested legal right to hold clear of redemption at less than two years, not affected. The court may require higher or other premium, in any case where, &c. whose duty it shall be to make report of the same to the said court, immediately, if in session, otherwise on the first day of [the] session then next ensuing, and to deposit the said money for safe keeping, and pay the same over to such purchaser, or his legal representatives, under the direction of the said court: Provided, That nothing in this act contained shall be construed to affect the right of any person now entitled, under any law heretofore enacted, to receive any higher or other premium than an interest of ten per centum per annum as aforesaid, upon the redemption of any real estate, other than vacant and unimproved lots heretofore sold for taxes, nor to affect the vested legal right of such person to hold such real estate clear of such right of redemption, at any time less than two years from the time of the sale, such legal right being vested prior to the passing of this act; and that the said court may require such higher or other premium to be paid, by the person redeeming, to the purchaser, in any case wherein it shall appear to the said court that a vested legal right to such premium existed before the passing of this act.
The officer charged with selling real estate for taxes to make report in writing to the clerk of the court within ten days, certified, &c. The clerk to record the report.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the several collectors of the said taxes, or such other officer of the said corporation as shall be charged with the duty of selling any such real estate for taxes, shall, within ten days after every such sale, transmit to the clerk of the said court an accurate report in writing, certified by the clerk or register of the said corporation, containing a particular description of the property sold, the amount of taxes for the raising of which it has been sold, the names and residence of the person or persons to whom such property belongs, or to whom such taxes have been assessed, and of the purchaser or purchasers, the amount of the purchase money; distinguishing how much has been actually paid, and the clear surplus, if any, coming to the proprietor; which report it shall be the duty of the clerk of the said court forthwith to record among the land records of the said county, and the expense thereof shall be paid by the party who redeems the same.
Approved, February 20, 1819.