Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-09-10
LOCAL NEWS.
Corporation Affairs.

.aticn from the Mayor, stating that he approv-
ed on the 9th instant an "Act to compensate
,ne officers Of the city Police Department"
CRY OF VI NJ A. Bradley, deceased"
Also communication from the Mayor en-
closing one from Messrs. Stackpol' & Hall,
ing permission 70 occupy the Is foot alley on
The north side Of ID street north, between 9tn
and 10th streets west which they say is son
ihe sewer, and not used for any Purpose what
ever" Ia W hieh alley they desir., TO put up a
building OF one story to establish an ice depot.
Mr. Elvans moved TO lay the communication
on the table because it was not addressed to
the Board, but 20 the Mayor. On this ques-
ton Mr. McCathron called for the ayes and
nays. The Boacd then refused to lay the com.
municsiion On the table by vote Of yea, MIR.
Larman, Lloyd, McCathran, Moore, Noyes,
Richards, Tahert, TAFT and President, II. On
motion OF Mr.. Moore, the papers were referred
10 the improvements Committee.
Also, communication from the Mayor,
transmitting one from the "Sisters OF Vista
tion," praying that certain property, (square
162, recently purchased by thsm,) which is
hereafter 20 be used for charitable and educa-
uonal purposes, may be exempted from taxa.
ton; referred 10 the Committee on Finance.
Also, communication from the Collector, in
answer 10 the resolution of this Board passed
on the I'd instant, requesting him to furnish the
Board with ''a statement OF the amount Of gem
eral taxes remaining In arrears and due and
unpsid on the 30th day Of June last past. and
of the amount OF special taxes for various pur-
poses remaining d ue and unpaid as aforesaid"
The Collector says: ~ regret to be compelled
10 state 10 your honorable body that the condi-
lion OF the records and accounts of this Off ce
Is suCh that the report called for cannot posi-
bly, be furnished during the sitting of the pres
ent Council, without eae assistance of an in
creased and competent clerical force to pro-
perly transcribe and post the books of this Of
flee The arrears now standing upon the tax
books in the office OF the Tax CLERK. In order
not TO reflect disparagingly upon my .mmedi-
ate predecessor In Office, it is proper that
should state that it does not appear that The
general or special taxes remaining due and
unpaid upon the tag books at the close of each
fiscal year have ever been tranmitted or post.
ed into books In lis office. or a computation
made thereof. u hen ii is considered how
considerable is the amount OF real property
transferred each year upon the books OF the
Corporation. and the Joint increase OF the num-
ber Of treeholders In the city, some Idea may
be formed OF the confusion of the records and
accounts in the offices of the Collector and Tax
Clerk and some calculation made of the diff
Guilty TO be encountered in obtaining the infor-
nation required for the report called for by
your resolution. From an examination made
of the records in the office Of the Tax Clerk il
appears tnat there are due and unpaid taxes
npon real and personal property rs far back
as the year lS30-further than which, have
made no examination. Soon alter entering
upon the duties of this office, and upon eX-
animation of it's affairs. saw that in
order 10 facilitate future the business
transactions of the ce, now greatly increas-
ing from year to year. and to prevent the evils
IL
would be necessary to institute a more accu-
rate, careful, and extended ~ stem Of accounts:
that all taxes in arrears on my assuming the
office, should be carefully transferred in
proper form from the tax books to books IN
my office adapted TO the purpose; that at the
close OF each fiscal year the taxes for such
year, for whatever assigned, remaining due
and unpaid. should be posted IRto appro-
PIRATE books for the entry of all arrears
of taxes. before the return of the tax books to
the Tax Clerk; and the amount thereof com.
n AN n ash C3rav frrY Yna
ADo in furtherance ef such purpose l have
caused suitable book TO be prepared for the
entry Of all such arrears, intending the same to
be properly transcribed and posted far as
possible with the force placed at my command
by the Mayor and Councils.
1 consider this work imperatively deman ded
ny the necessities of the CORPORATION and its
best interests: and do not believe that any con-
siderable portion OF the taxes now in arrears
can be collected, or the business OF the office
transacted economically Or with satisfaction to
e'lher the Corporation or the taxpayers until
This plan is inteliigently carried out. 1t will
readily appear from what l have already
stated that there are no books or records IN
shis ctce from which can be ascerained The
amount Of taxes IN arrears beyond that OF the
present fiscal year; and that such information
can only be obtained by recourse to the tax
books of each year IN the office of the Tax
CLERK, which process is attended with greai
delays and diff cuties. II may be proper for
me 10 say that the amount Of general taxes
assessed upon PERSONAL property, and now due
and IN AID, mas been variOusly approximated
at from forty 10 fifty thousand dollars and
1 myself think that it canno fall much
below thirty thousand: and in view of the I'M
portance TO the Corporation that this tax should
Oe collected at as early day practicable, L
feel it my outy 10 suggestthat radical change
OF the existing law regulating its collection is
necessary, as ii is now, l believe. wholly in.
operative. 1t also becomes my duty to 8 bmit
that in my humble judgment, and in view OF
clerical force now SLOWED this ON ce by law is
Iolally inadeq uate, and should be greatly in
creased, and IN this opinion l am supported
by bis Honor the M9yor. I consider that at
rhTy additional thereto are actually required
10 meet tie present and future necessities of
this office. 4 have The honor 10 be, &c,
A. G. HALL, Collector
Referred 10 Finance Committee
Mr.. McCatnran moved thai the vote by
which The nomination of Mr.. 4. j. Campbell.
Tor Commissioner OF Improvements, for the
Fourth Ward was rejected atthe last meeting
of the Board be reconsidered, and on that ques-
lion called FOR the ayes ana noes.
The vote was then rec9nsIderpd by the tO-
lowing vote: Ieas-Messrs. Given, Grinder.
Lloyd, Nd McCathran, Moore, Noyes, Talbart and
President Barr. Nays s-Messrs. Elvans,
Larmar, Richards and TAFT.
Mr.. ElvaDs said before the vote was taken,
he desired TO state that the gentleman whose
swOrn statement was read at the last meeting
OF the Board, (Mr. Hutton desired before the
nomination is confirmed by tbe Board, 10 have
three witnesses summoned. Jacob Il. Hutton,
j. w. Hutton, aud ansther.) 10 substantive his
aiirgdtionS concerning Mr. CAM bell having
received bribes. He also stated that J. w.
Hutton informed him (Mr. EIvans) and Mr.,
Tait this evening ha, he (the iniormant,) had
paId Mr. Campbell s. for SIS for few days,
and was thus guilty OF receiving illegal in.
tsrest.
Mr.. Noyes said II now appeared that the
opposition 10 the nomination was reduced TO a
matter OF IS.
Mr.. Lloyd wished 20 know whether Mr..
Campbell was Observation-Disclosures any one knew
MIN TO be such. He (the speaker) said he was
not: lat he was as patriotic and loyal as any
member Of the Board. The speaker knew him
20 be all he represen ed He charged that the
member from the Third Ward (Mr. Elvans)
had charged more than legal in terest for money.
He wanted TO hear the report OF the Committee
In regard to the matter.
Mr.. Elvans said he did not think ii his prov.
IN ce 10 keep record for members who absent.
I'd themselves from sickness or other causes,
tend more regularly. He utterly denied that
he had charged more than legal rates of inter.
est, and SAID he would be glad 70 get even le.
gal rates Tor any money he had loaned.
Mr.. McCathran warmly defended MIR. Camp
bell from the charges made by contractors and
interested parties.
Mr. TAFT only wished 10 know II MI. Camp.
bell was loyal man, whether be went TO New
York TO escape the draft and was brought
back by The military authorities. THIS must
be explained before he voted for Mr.. Camp
bell.
Mr.. Moore replied, giving the history OF Mr..
CampbelPs visit TO New YORK, which was
SIMPLY TO procure a substitute, and while
there he get under arrest through going on
spree.