Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-05
ASSESSORS AND AUDITOR.
How the Controversy Between Them
StandA.

ASSESSORS AND AUDITOR.
How the Controversy Between Them
Stands.
TIE TALK or HsAPPIIKD YuNDs-FH1 Ass1ssc1s
BUSY xQUALzNa AssEssHxNrs TO-DAY, BUT
PROMISE TO COME TO THE SCRATCH ro-nou-
row AND FIRE THE BOMB rHxY Arx LOADING.
Public opinion is very much split up over the
only too-aparent differences which Just now
form the chasm that yawns between the board
of assessors and Auditor Petty. Some are in
clined to the belief that there is nothing in the
dust which temporarily obscupes the facts in
the case, while others are positive that the dust
will at least make somebody sneexe. The
aggressors In this combat are the twelve mild
hammered gentlemen who have for some
months past been engaged in looking at every
body's property and calculatpg how much Of
ought to DO compelled to stand.
To the end that they may be paid for their
somewhat unpopular services Congress- appro.
priated the sum of S15,000 portion Of this
S9.000-was to be used to pay each of these
twelve assessors the sum OF e5 day for period
the purchase Of books, another to pay clerk.
hire, and 80 on up to the $4,000 limit. To-
day the term Of oficefor these twelve good men
and true comes to an end and yet there 10
NOT MONEY ENOUGH
unexpended to pay them. Even to o patient
man it is q sore cross to have money due him
which he cannot collect, and not unnaturally
some Of those whose income has been abbre-
waited have INDUCED in large harsh words when
speaking OF the authorities who were in control
OF the appropriation. They have fatty charged
that money which should have been paid to
them for services rendered has been misap-
piled. Those whose complaint has been
loudest in this matter have been
the assessors who found it nee
essary to labor on the Sabbath in order
that they might complete their returns by the
time set by law. Their charge Of misapplica-
ton of funds is specifically directed toward Au-
ditor Petty and the contractor for the prepara-
ton Of the numerical book.
THE NUMERIcAL~BooK CONTRACT,
This numerical book is record Of all the
property in the District of Columbia, with the
various squares and subdivisions arranged
numerically. 1t has been the Gus
tom hitherto to award to some RESPONSE
BILE person the work Of compiling this
work with the understanding that the compile
ton be done by clerks who during the day
work in the District assessors office; this was
done because the clerks were familiar with the
work and could do it with greater accuracy
and much more dispatch. This year, under the
late Commissioners, the contract was placed in
the hands of Geo. E. Walker by Assessor Fish,
Walker agreeing to do the entire Job for the
sum Of "a, 964. He at once employed num-
Der Of the clerks in the assessors Office to work
for him on the compilation, and for their serv-
ices he re1nunerated them at the hourly rate Of
seventy-fve cents. This was what slangily-
disposed person would call
"PIE' FOR THE CLERKS,
and some Of them displayed a willingness to
burn the midnight oil until midnight had gone
by three or four hours This, however, the
contractor would not allow, for he
knew knew that they would soon be
daily business and then green men would have
to take their places. In addition to the regu-
lar force it was found necessary to engage an
additional clerk, whose salary was paid out Of
the appropriation. And it is right here that
the assessors stick q pin in and say
their appropriation. They also hold that at the he
compilation of the numerical book could have
been satisfactorily made in the assessors Office
during the regular hours Of toll without Sc
verely injuring the constitutions Of any of the
clerks
LOADING BOMB.
Over at the Arthur Place school building,
where the assessors have been wrestling all
day with the fag-end Of high-strung and de-
cidedly irritated crowd of don't-want-to-be tax
payers Cor at least they don't want to be to quite
such an expensive extent), there is an ominous
silence as to what is coming when the board Of
appeal gets through with the immense batch Of
sworn statements that irate cititizens
have contributed to official litera-
ture. There seems to be promise of
is nothing that points definitely to materializa-
ton. Some Of the assessors were asked as to
their plans. but they will only say enough to
convince the questioner that it will not be their
fault il somebody's blood goes unshed. They
are evidently loading bomb, One or two Of
that Auditor Petty has been guilty of duplicity
at least. The entire board of assessors con-
templates formulating reply to his statement,
but they are not going to do it just yet They
are too busy now.
TO BE FIRED TOMORROW.
They will have less to do tomorrow and they
will then gather data and accumulate testimony
which they say will astonish not only the aud
itor and the Commissioners but also that por-
ton Of the general public which is
open to astonishment. Incidentally some
paid for working on the numerical book who
never worked on 1t at all. The assessors are
satisfied that there is guilty man
somewhere or there would have been enough
money to pay them all, even il every one Of
them had disregarded the twinges and tugs Of
conscience and had gone assessing on Sundays
Congress, they argue, does not make appro-
priations in bulk. Nine thousand dollars must
have been set aside to pay the assessors, and as
the remuneration has been cut of to await the
tardy coming of a deficiency appropriation
they do not hesitate to state that the money
has been misused or diverted.
COMMISSIONER HINE SAYS THERE Is NOTHING IN
Under the system of divided exertion in vogue
at the District building this hubbub comes
within the bailiwick of Commissioner Douglass,
but as he ia absent from the city the eloquence
has 80 far been poured into Commissioner
Hines ear.
To STAR reporter who talked with him this
morning he said:
when Mr.. Douglass comes he will attend to
this auditor-assessor trouble. don't see what
an investigation can do. Nothing that have
heard seems to be sufficiently serious
to call for any particular inquiry. There
was not money enough left to pay
those assessors who worked ON Sunday for
their Sunday work; that's all II we can find
available funds elsewhere, why they will be
paid of course. II not, Congress will help
them out. No; we shall not send for the as
SCISSORS unless they ask for hearing. don't
think there's anything in this fuss"
COMMISSIONER RAYMoND's VIEW,
Commissioner Raymond had very emphatic
views on the subject "The matter" said he,
- -