Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-27
District Government Affair.".

Inc report OF tne operations OF the health
officer for the week ending Jan. % 1881, shows
nuisance reported, PA; abated, 22S: cases O.
death reported to coroner. }: burials at public
expense $; tons OF garbage removed. 9S; dead
the poor-3'S patients treated. 12S OF which
we're white and 245 colOred; 226 visits were
made and 175 office consultations held: 62 orders
for food were Issued to sick poor persons.
ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF TAXES.
In answer to request OF Hon T. r. Cobb OF
the House Committee on Appropriations, to be
furnished with an estimate OF the number OF
employees required TO collect the taxes the next
fiscal year, and the cost OF the same (the asses
sor turning over the tax dupllCaues) the District
CommtSs toner's enumerate the employees con-
sisting OF the collector OF taxes. one clerk Al
CASHIER. two clerks tas bOokkeepers), one clerk
ito make out certifcateS), four clerks (to make
out tax bills), two clerks to issue licenses one
messenger, and contingent fundS-tne total
amount OF salaries and cost being $40 800 The
collector of taxes states that IL It be contem-
plated 10 transfer to the collector OF taxes the
duly now performed by the treasurer aud asses
sor of the District OF deposlting daily with the
treasurer OF the United States his collections OF
taxes and revenues it Will greatly embarrass
him In bis office. as very large amount OF his
collections is made In checks and drafts. which
cannot be converted into cash before the
daily deposit required can be made. This
service alone requires an average of two
and half hours daily, which time the collector
could not possibly give without great risk to
himself and the funds in his cnarge, as it would
require him to be absent from his desk at busy
periods when very large sums are being aid In
Dy crowds OF taxpayers. Under the present
arrangement, the distribution OF the clerical
force OF both Offices is much more effective as
at times when the duty OF assessing and collect
lBg Is not pressing. 1t can be used in making
n1sa Transfers OF Up property, making up OF the tax
DOCKS, tax bills, certificates Of taxes, &C. Prac-
tfcal experience has shown that the present
system has great advantages over that proposed.
both as to economy and safety. 1t is especially
valuable for the checks which it places on these
offices, one upon the other. The additional
duty which the proposed change viii de
vvolve on the collector, besides the EN-:
at least to have one other bonded assistant.
Treasurer and Assessor Dodge states
that In his Office there will be required for field
work for Georgetown and the county two EN-.
plOyeS, washington City five, and in order to
prepare the proper field books, make the trans
fefs and write up the tax books and their dupli-
Gates. both for real and personal property four
expert clerks will be required this for th usual
annual assessment, without reference to licen se
clerks, etc. general assessment would re
qulre larger force, and because of the new
subdivisions OF lots which are constantly being
maue, a more carerul and laoOri0uS work would
be necessary in order TO avoid The miny errors
which have crept into previous assessments
1mperfectly made.
THE POLICE AND THE ACCIDENT To Mr.. RAMsDELL.
considerable newspaper comment having been
made upon the allegation by Mr.. II. J. Rams
dell that he saw no policeman when he broke
his leg from fall on the ice. during the whole
VI lut UlIllC ut was CALLING IOT alQ, LlR matter
has been taken up by Major Brock, who has re-
ce1ved the following statement from police
0fhcer j.. w. Bailey, who says he helped MIR.
R2msdell to his home. Officer Bailey states
that at halrpast II O'Clock Tuesday morning,
Jan. Is officers Ryan and Lamb passed him az
the corner or 18th and X streets He Bailey
then went up X to 10th and up the latter to NJ
again at the corner 18th he apd 4hea
about twenty-five minutes OF l O'Clock, He
{Ba1leyl then went home, read The STAR, and
just as he was about to get into bed he heard
the cry OF "Police, pollce.' 1t was then about
twenty. five minutes past o'clock. He dressed
as quickly as pcssible, and just as he was
going out the door the cry was repeated, ''Po-
and found Mr.. Ramsdell sitting on the curb.
and lady and gentleman standing with him.
me gentleman said to him: ''Will you help Us
with the gentleman; he has spratned hts ankle >
will do all can for him. Mr.. Ramsden then
said: "Do you know where can get a car
riage?" He Bailey replied: '.No, sir; not at
this time OF night, but guess we can get you
home" The gentleman then asked Mr. Rams
deli where he lived and Mr.. r. said "On N ST..
just above Admiral Radford's.' The gentle
man then assisted him (B.) about half s1uare.
and Mr. Ramsdell then said: 81 have friend
right over there across Massachusetts avenue
named HUTCHINSON; would like him to know
IT, IT, B BAILEY u said ~ lS WIN 60 over and tell hi@
can" He went over there and rang the bell
and told him that Ramsdel was nurt and
wanted to see him-he was out In the street
Ihe servant went over to where they wara
and said Mr.. Hutchinson said Bring Ranlsdell
1n." RamSdell said. 81 can't come 1n want to
go home tell him to come here right away
While standing there, he policeman Bailey
asked MIN what his lame was, and he replied
"Ramsdell" Bailey said "your first name il
you please" and he said HJ Bailey then wrote
II down while standing there with him. After
MI. Hutchinson came the lady and gentleman
left, and he and Hutchinson took Mr. Ramsdell
from n street, between 10Th and 18th. to his
home on n, near 18th street. They carried him
go for the doctor. Bailey then replied that he
was policeman, and would go for him If he
wanted him to do so. He offered him (B.) his
card, and said the doctor would come IL he (BI
showed him the card. Mr.. Hutchinson took
the card and carried 1t to his house ard sent a
servant for Dr. Ford Thompson. Mir. Bailey is
q policeman OF the fifth precinct station. and
lives at 1889 18th street. near the Scott statue
1t was near two O'Clock when he Bailey goc
home.
This statement serves to show that a police
man OF patrol duty and who had gone to bed
vert to the aid OF Mr.. Ramsder, put does not
explain where the patrolmen on duty at the
tine were that they did not hear Mr.. Ramsdelrs
Calls 1or an nOur. unless upon the theory we
nave suggested, that In consequence of the
1HSu1llc1ent number OF policemen for the terri
tory patIoled they are unable to cover it In an
hours time. An explanation why the police
did NOT enforce upon the Louise Home people
the requirement to clean the snow Off their
sldeWaikS where the accident happened) would
also he In order. ED. STAR,