Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-24

ASSESSMENTS FOR SPECIAI. IMPROVEMENTS
Amount OF special assessment tax paid since
last report. Pledged to the redemption of the
per cent Improvement bonds S9o. 1S9. o. Amount
OF special Improvement tax outstanding unpaid
pledged to the redemption of the per cent iul-
prOYement bonds SJSl .29o.G3 The revision of
these assessments was reported completed last
year. with a net loss to the District treasury of
over two millions of dollars. principal and inter-
est. and it was shown that thetax vet collectible
was barely sufficient to secure the outstanding
special Improvement bonds. to the REDEMPTION
OF which it is pledged. There has been little>to
DO ia this matter since then, except to wait for
Oeilnquents to pay up and to ward Off all
schemes for the further depletion of this asset
Payments very slow, but interest at the rate
of ten per cent per annum, runs until the tax is
pad, and the unpaid tax. like the arrears of gen
efai tax is good investment for the District OF
Columbia, If secured. Security depends upon
successful resistance to all schemes for further
revision and further drawbacks. and these
schemes are hydraheaded- Among them some
are plausible. 1t is believed that none are
sound; that the two million loss in revision
covers all Just ground for complaint and over
laps all doubtful ground They are urged in
the Interest of the small body of delnOuents as
opposed to the interest OF the large body of tax
payers They are in rare cases advocated by
lawyers of ability and standing retained how
ever. by other parties. They are mainly aivo-
Gated by claim agents whose occupation is any
form OF Intervention between the tax and the
treasury. who are interested in preventing the
payment OF the tax, and not all of whom are
Scrupulous as to the fOIms of Intervention by
which they secure a commission. This was
quite evident while the revision was in pro-
gfeSs- III one instance access was had to the
books In upwards oftwo hundred cases under
the preteXt OF agency for payment of the tax.
The tax was not paid in a single case, but infOr-
nation was obta ned of the amount if any, by
which each tax had been reduced. With this
information, an offer could be made to the tax
payer OF services in securing this reduction of
the tax. which had been ALREADY secured. and
required no agency. and a commission could be
Collected for such pretended services.
III Is probable that as long as this influence
Continues the tax will be paid very slowly 1t
cannot be collected by enforcing the liens and
selling the property unless further legislation
shall provide the means OF conveying a salts
factory title To- purchasers. Where these liens
nave been sold 10 third parties a further COM
Piiea;ion exists. Upon the revision OF the tax
which they represent there was rendered to the
holder OF each lien a drawback certificate to the
amount OF the corresponding reduction In the
tax, 10 make good the difference between the
amount OF the tax named on the face of the lien
certificate and the amount OF the revised tax
These drawback certificates are receivable In
payment of certain taxes and their REDEMPTION
Is otherwise provided for. When accented by
the holders of lien certificates the lien certif-
cate Is corrected accordingly. Holders of GER
tain of these liens still refuse to accept the
drawbacks. and To permit the correction of the
lien certificates because the drawback is ten
dered to the amount only of the reduction in
the tax, and interest is allowed upon this
amount from date OF lien to date of revision
These uncOrrected lien certificates therefore re-
main outstanding
The report OF Mr. Vim. o. ROOme. clerk In
charge of special assessments, is transmitted
herewith.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Seminary statement Of receipts expenditures DC
G( NE Water department from Jug 1, 1852, Il
M Wa.t Fchts' S65,fo9 ).
49, tA 1852 u
r"ti (di'o S,lSU
Water permits, Observation-Disclosures. 2lSS2:
Total NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. So, So Il
Watcr-EIain tax arrears, S2Ss92Ot
peot, water bonds outstanding, s5.6, 900.
EXPENDITURES
Washington and Georgetown high service
pipe distribution, repairs, ma terial new
work, contingent expenses, &c...... S4OaaO
interest ana SillAlilS iund ON water stock. A,610.0
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. .s1O7 ,sss. O
Summary statement Of pipe distribution
sinch diameter. 1880 feet
o. nCu diameter ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 0,lJO :"
Ro-fnch diameter. Observation-Disclosures. 1880
12-lnch diameter. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 62,52S
Ioirch diameter. Observation-Disclosures. 1,410
o-ihch diameter ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 6,95i
AMI s-lnch diameter 81. .92o
Fire plugs ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 81
MIGRANTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 81
Jumps ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. a.
wafer takers Observation-Disclosures. e1,11
There is new on hand sufficient surplu!
fund to Justify liberal expenditure for layins
Nor2.-Heretofore the water rents hove beet
coliectibe IN January for the calendar year. In al
vance Ia January. isSa, rents were cOlectible fJI
II months only. On july 1, 1883, tho new 'sWatCi
Aea commenced, corTeSponCif,, 10 the fiscal year.