Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-03-04
TAXATION IN THE DISTRICT.
Conference OF Representative Citizens
Of the District with the
House Committee.
Washington, Georgetown and the
County Represented.
A Tax Bill Submitted.

hearing to representative citizens and tax
payers OF the District OF Columbia on the
! subject OF the framing OF a proper law for
| the assessment and collection of taxes here
there was large attendance of prominent
| citizens al the committee room at 10 O'Clock
| a. m.
Among the prominent citizens of Wash
| ington present were Mr.. George w. Riggs,
| VI. w. Gait, J. w. Thompson. John T. Given
VIM. H. Clagett Z T. Merrick, W. G. Met
zerott, Crosby S. Noyes, VIM. Ballantyne,
j. III. Semmes, j. Van Riswick =. Bacon H
| Polkinhorn, q. Lansburgh, S. ID. Castleman,
James l.. Barbour, g. e. Crandell, Geo. W.
| Cochrane. NJ. f. Morris, Jos. Savage. Geo.
! T.. Kirk, j. h. CIagett, A. ii. Young and
| others. These gentlemen appeared To present
their views on the subject of taxation and
| also 10 offer. in accordance with the invita-
| ton of the chairman Of the District Commit
| tee, the form of bill that would in their
| opinion meet the views OF the Taxpayers
| and obviate the defects of the bill already
before the committee. Mr.. John T. Given. on
| behalf of the delegation, presented 10 the
committee the draft OF the bill thus prepared,
! as follows:
The Proposed Tax Bill
| BILL Tor the support OF the government or
| the District of Columbia for the fiscal
year ending June 30th, lS11, and for other
| PURPOSES.
| Be il enacted. DC, That for the support Of
| the government of the District OF Columbia
/ for the fiscal year ending June 30th, IS77, aud
| for the purpose Of imposing just me asure
| OF taxation, and OF collecting therein the PRO-
| portion of the expenses Of the government OF
| said District Of Columbia proper TO be borne
| by said District. there shall be, and is here.
| bv, levied upon all real property in said Dis
| trict, except as hereinafter excepted, tax
| at the rate OF 81 so on each SiO0 OF the as
| sessed value OF the same. That for such pur-
| pose, until otherwise provided for, the gene
raj assessment OF real property made for the
| fiscal year ending June Goth, 1876, shall re-
| main, subject only 10 the Tevisions for spe-
ctal causes hereinafter provided for.
! . Sec. ?. That the amount collected under
| the provisions of this act shall be distribut
! Tor the purposes required under the various
| acts in force in the District OF Columbia,
| upon inst and fair apportionment 10 be
! made by the Commissioners of the District
| of Columbia; or their SUCCESSORS in office:
| Irortded, That before any of said fund shall
be expended, said apportionment shall be
| established by said Commissioners and pub
| liShed, at least six times In daily news
| paper published in the District of Columbia;
and the said apportionment shall stand as
! the law for the diSiri button of the funds
/ herein mentioned: P,Ocidei. further, That
| deficiencies in any OF said funds enumerated
| IN said apportionment may be supplied
| from any surplus in either OF said funds so
| apportioned but unless a surplus exists, the
| revenues belonging TO one fluid shall not be
| applied to the purposes OF any other fund.
! Sec. 3. That e-half the tax levied by this
| act upon real property shall become due and
| payable on the 1st day OF November, 1876,
and tie other one half of said tax shall
become due AMI payable on the LIST day of
| May, 1871; and in every case where the tax
] levied by this act shall be paid ia install
/ nents as Herein authorized, each of said pay
I meGfS shall be deemed TO have been made
! on accountsof the several funds and for the
! different purposes indicated in the second
! section OF this act, aud the pro rata proper
tion OF the payments so made shall be car
| Tied TO the credit OF the respective funds.
| Sec. i. That If OIehalf of the tax herein
| levied upon the real property taxed by this
act shall not be paid on or before the list day
| of November, 1876, said instalment shall
| thereupon be in arrears and delinquent;
| and there shall be added, to be collected with
| such taxes, a penalty OF per centum upon
| the amount thereof on the 1st day OF each
| succeeding month until payment OF said in
| stalment and penalty. And If said install
ment shall not be paid ON or before the LIST
| day Of Nav, ISL, together with the one-halG
| Ofsaid original tax due on or before said LIST
| day Of May, a Ii Ike penalty shall be added
on said last one half OF said tax, and the
| whole together 81 all constitute the delin-
| Quent tax, to be dealt with and collected in
| the manner prescribed by law. All the taxes
| herein levied, or which may hereafter be
| levied, upon the real property within said
J District Of Columbia shall be collected within
| four years from the levying Of the same; and
| the collection of taxes shall not be enforced
| by law after-the lapse OF said four years. II
| shall be the duty of the collector TO promptly
| advertise and sell all delinquent property
on which taxes shall accrue or shall be IN
| arrears during his term OF office; and II any
| such taxes shall be lost 10 the said District
| by reason Of the Aforesaid limitation of time
for collecting the same. each and every
! collector who sc neglect may have cOntribu-
ted to said loss shall be respons be TO said
| District for the amount thereof, and may be
| sued therefor b. the Commissioners OF said
| District or their successors in Office.
| Sec. 3. That 1t shall be the duty of the co.,
lecior for said District as soon as prac ,ica bic
| after the LIST day Of July, 1871, TO prepare a
| complete list, for publication, OF all the real
| property in said District which shall then be
| in arrears, and as soon as possible after the
| completion OF said list be shall publish the
| same with a notice that if the taxes due to-
1 getler and M Y
| have accrued thereon, stall not be paid prior
| to the day named for sale, the property will
| be sold at a place and on day TO be deSig-
| mated in said notice. Such publication shall
| be made in the form of q pamphlet for the
| use OF the tax payers. To be issued not less
| than three weeks next prior to said day of
sale, and the printing of the same shall be
| awarded by the Commissioners of said DIS
trict or their successors in office TO the lowest
| responsible bidder the number OF copies not
| TO eIceedI0, COO-after advertising ten DAYS for
| proposals to print the same in threa daily
newspapers published in said District
| Notice shall be given where such pamp lets
| may be obtained, by publication daily for
| three successive weeks before sale. in IN ee
| daily newspapers having the largest circu-
| latiOn In said District,
| Sec. G. That upon the day therefore speci-
| fed In the advertisement of sale aforesaid
the collector shall proceed 10 sell any and ali
| real property upon which taxes remain un-
paid, and shall continue to sell The same
| every secular day until all such property
| shall have been brought 10 auction. Imme-
/
ment OF the purchase money, be shall Issue
| TO the purchaser certificate OF sale. Aud If
the property shall not be redeemed by the
| owner thereof within two years from the
| date of sale, by payment TO the collector OF
| said District, for the use OF the legal holder
| OF the certificate, of the amount for which il
| was sold at such sale, and II per centum per
| annum thereon, deed therefor shall be
| given by the Commissioners of the District
| or their successors in Office 10 the legal hold
| er of such certificate, which deed shall be l.
| mitted and held to be good and perfect tide
In fee simple 10 any property bought at any
| sale herein authorized: PrOUided, That no
property advertised as Aforesaid shall be sold
| upon any bids not sufficient to meet the
amount of tax, penalty and costs: But in
case the highest bid upon any property is
not sufficient to meet the taxes, penalty and
costs thereon, said property shall be bid of
for the amount thereof by the said Commits
sioners or their successors in office, in the
| name Of and for the District OF Columbia a
purchaser: And pTorided also, That minor or
| other persons under legal disability shall be
| allowed one year after the removal OF So en-
disability to redeem any of their property so
| sold, nom the purchaser or purchasers, his.
her. or their heirs or assigns, or from the
| District of Columbia, by payment of the
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