Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-14

Annual Report Of the Collector Of
Taxes-His Recommendations.

Mr.. E. @. Davis, the collector Of taxes, today
submitted to the District Commissioners his
report for the last fiscal year, giving detailed
statement Of the business Of his Office. The
reports shows the total collections for
the year to have been s2,544, 49,. 6s,
as follows: Realty, s1,774,0ss.s7; personal,
$l6s, 944.2s; penalties, ss5,14422; miscella-
neous, S26s ,6i0.1s; water fund, sa46, ASA. Is.
In addition the collector charges himself with
amount ofreductions in assessments, SI6, All "a,
and amount of uncollected taxes, ss3s, 745. 81,
making grand total, 1898, 349.s6.
ARREARS OF PERSONAL TAX.
He reports gratifying results in the efforts OF
the office to enforce the collection Of arrears OF
the personal tax under the appropriation for
this purpose of $4,000. During the time the
deputy has been on the work he has collected
about $4,000 and reported $4,000 uncol-
He says that, judging from tho success al
ready attained in this line he anticipates ma
terial increase in the District revenues from
this source. He says, further, that the result
mas proved the statements heretofore made OF
the existence of large personal tax arrears bal
ance made up Of fictitious vaiues, a showing
Ankle dlscreditable to tax payers and the Off
GERS CT the District charged with its collection.
With reference to the -ecomme ndation in
his last report to strike from the books all
personal tax arrears previous to 1884 he says
he renews it, as they are uncollectible, the ma
Jorlty OF them being founded upon arbitrary
other purpose than to swell the already large
unpaid balance due the District.
RECOMMENDATIONS
He dwells upon the importance o. system
attic elimination from the books Of his office of
taxes charged against properly owned by the
United States, District of Columbia and prop
erty exempt by law, such as school, church and
asylum property, and urges immediate action.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Reference is made to class Of property on
which the taxes due equal and in many cases
exceed the value Of the property itself, and the
vigorous enforcement Of the law provided for
such cases would result in material benefit to
the District.
He urges the return to the one-payment sys-
tenn for the collection of taxes, and calls espe-
clal attention to the importance of the enact
ment OF comprehensive law regulating tax
sales. He says the system should be perfected.
he reviews his recommendation for the CON-
pllatlon OF an arrears book of taxes. Every
year he says adds to the already large accumu-
lation of tax books, making it more difficult to
prepare certificates of taxes.
He says that radical change is necessary
in the manner of answering requests for tax
bills, as the bills are furnished only for the cur
rent year unless otherwise requested fact un-
known to large number.
AN INCREASED OFFICE FORCE NECESSARY
He calls attention to the fact that from in
crease Of population and additional duties re-
quired the business of the Office has increased
to such an extent as to render additional force
absolutely necessary.
The additions needed, he continues, are a
deputy collector at $4,000 and an assistant
cashier at 81 800. the necessity for a deputy
collector being imperative, the collectors
time being almost wholly taken up
in affixing his signature to let.
tiers, receipts, &C., the law only providing
for the performance Of these duties by the
cashier in the absence or inability of the col
lector. The many inquiries from tax
payers also consume great amount
continues, an assistant is absolutely necessary.
In the matter of the assistant cashier he says
that there is great amount Of work imposed
upon the cashier by increase of
the current work. and that there are at
least six months in the year when one cashier
is totally unable to accomplish the duties re-
CURED. The responsibilities of this position
will not allow any but experienced clerks to as
sumo the same. The necessity for an
goes on to urge the Commissioners to call upon
Congress for this addition to the working force
Better and safer facilities he says should be
accorded his Office for transmitting the re-
ceipts from taxes, &c, to the United States
treasury. He urges that the Secretary of the
Treasury be requested to designate bank of
deposit in the city for the funds of the Dis
trct.
.o Then sGa follow his estimates, amounting to