Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-06-10
LOCAL NEWS


The following Communication OF the saperin-
tendent Of Assessments aud taxes received by
the Governor to DAY, and which will be trans-
mitted TO the Legislature this afternoon, con-
tains some important recommendation - co
proposed reforms In the method Of tan asSaSs-
ments In the District OF Columbia, by which, it
il claimed, the cost Of making the same can 10
OrrIcs OF sUP'r AssEssNESrs AND TA.Es,l
MAsHINsroS, ID. c, June >, la@
I have the honor herewith submit FOR your
ainstion and sdrsf Of an act am End
siory 20 the existing statutes which govern ana
guste the assessments u property IN this District,
tie present is%s in neIa,ieS ~ such ss.essmenss,
and an estimate Of the pesdiurcs under the pro-
A eomP.Tison q ths-e expenditures displays a re-
duction q Ss $50 from those nov incurred, or
sSSS t. this ss St am eSassai sn, in
posed Law would also materially increase the ef-
Uncer the present the clerical functions q
the office exclustve Of the board q appealed cause
ces q this bureau, ineludfns si.tionery aud Other
are expected 70 pcsess ALEC clerical Abilities which
tsins pEoperi, utilized Mould employ their entire
ture, but thus clerical force would also be oh
and f.%isr With the TAXABLE srep ~T !. w." :.
with the records, an advantage Of eaus ~ the
In this connection, beg leave to add a word IN
defence Of the principle guiding the system inaas
A
annual asses sments in reference 10 The usasss ~,
der the late corporations.
Legislative Assembly q closely appraSimsi-d e.,1.
mate " the total value of all taN sbe property a.
comins fiscal year. Alec, from the commenSea,~ue
OF the hscs year ending June 30 is7a, the Coutrc-
amount q taxes due Tor aud during said -oal sesT
prepared In one COPY ~ the duplicate tax books. in
Which all taxes are accurately footed and charged
This process secure. an accuracy and eOstroI.
than the amount Of the entire Cost IL annual
ments, which becomes manifest when IL Is remem-
ration the tax book. 81 so q n. sss ssqno1s
tons had never been balanced and e-qid be, ami
spon mere conJectures, without actual know ledge
Of even an Approximate value = all the property 70
net even the mayor, had any inform alton Of the real
or probable public revenue beyond what they could
Is truly not .urprisns that each succeeding al
ministrsiion of this city found isself encountered
with heavy debt, without resource whatever to
hQuidate demands upon them except BY the funding
process All these evils can be avoided only By q
The ssen assessmegt Of property does not exceed
ain some irregularities IN the valuation which
Iresen ipegursble features, which are caused ~
trct assessors, ho will diner in Views. namely in
the construction u the term cash value, as used
and entire sections are assessed fun 20 their
value and others much below the same.
The act now proposed aims TO obyate all such
irregularities and seeming inoonsistencies whiclr
even the most earnest zeal Of the board appeals
much more ample Opportunity 70 supervise and
equalize the actions Il the assessors, aud that tho
change q experiences among themselves. when in
mutual contact and IN fun access Co all records,
most desirable results.
There are other serious objections 20 the absn-
Comment Of yearly sssessmeBis, among which per-
haps the strongest il that during the Approaching
our real state arket shsss IA. ,s, an.rls se ,s
reached its settled standard, and incalcuabe losses
tax payer. If the present assessment should be az
lsSsd to De- stationary Tor some years, eei..e aa-
complete state Of public improvements must sni
will cause tor some time yet, sudden aud heavy in
other sections, ali Of which would hsve TO De- is-
nored by any posipOnement 81 annual assessments.
onlmend that You will advocate the further adher-
snce 10 the stem Of annual assessments until tbs
Il the public Improvements in ali directions wiz
have have settled The values 10 a somewhat permanent
such surgestions, only ropes, the wishes OF tbs
tax pay er. whose views have had fun opportunity
the universal apprOyal Of property holders.
II. A. Hall Superintendent.
THE DRAFT OF The BILL
81 a saaeied, &c, That there shall he appointed
seven assessors II taxes Tor the District u coium-
Of thu y an md tares ali
real or personal property now az hereafter made
be hfteen hundred dollars per snnum: PrOcidef,
That in addition 20 the services required in making
the assessment, Il sk all be the duty Of said a-sessorG
TO perform such clerical or other duties may be
required by the superintendent Of assessments aud
taxes And prOrtded Jsyfh,y, That two Of said
sors shall be residents IL the county ~
one shall reside in Georgetown and four In the ciiy
EsTNAIEs FOR APPROPRIATION
required In efhce Of superintendent Vt
and taxes under the proposed bill Recommended To
the Legislative Assembly Salary Of superintendent
OF assessments and taxes, $500; clerk, who
shall perform the duties formerly Required VI the
said superinte pdent, "a 900: clerk, who shall
perform such clerical dutie. may be required in
the office OF superfnte OF aud tax
es and also act secretary OF the board " appeals
s1r9W; tthe remaining clerical duties 20 lie per-
formed by the assessors, in addition their duties
IN making the assessment intending preparation q
tax books and making a numerical book seven ss.
seseors, 1T 81 so each, $1,000. Total, si1.eeo.
ExrENsEs
IN the once q superintendent Of assessments and
taxes for the fiscal year ending June 80, ls7s-sal-
airy OF superintendent Of assessments aud taxes.
e3 90; one clerk IN his once, go do, q sO
twenty two assessors, AZ eco each, ss,so; tempo
tingent expenses sl00e; clerical services rendered
10 Office Of district from October u.s. ls72 70
February s. ISIS, $50; salary Of two clerks making
duplicate copies of books, forty tive DAYS eac n
az 81 per day, $50; salary q four clerks preparing
tax books for fiscal year ending June lsS days
esch, at - pei day each, sl.2ss; making nanericsl
REcAPITULATioS.
Amount OF Appropriations required under preseut
law, exclusive OF expenses Of board of appeal,
81 SO; estimates under proposed act, exclusive q
expenses VI board OF appeals, IL oOD. reduction of