The morning call., 1891-12-07
TAX COLLECTIONS,
Result of the Work Under the
New Revenue Law.

Tax Collector O'Brien forwarded the fol-
lowing letter to the State Controller yester
day:
SAN Francisco, December 6; 1891.
Hon: e. p. Coigan, State Controller-DEAu
SIR; My report OF tax collections under the new
revenue law Will be filed with the Auditor to-
morrow, the 18th inst, III time for you to amor.
tion The States share without waiting another
, mohta iGf tnat purpose Io you as Controller
deem It a pleasure 10 send You the figures OF my
collections in advance, and also my opinion OF
The workings OF the new revenue law.
As you are doubtless aware opposed its ell
actment, deeming IL unwlse TO upset system
that had been working well since the existence OF
the State. thought 1t best to leave "well enough
alone; that 10 was better 10 bear the Ills we had
than to fly 10 others we knew not OF. But the
law passed, and as 1aw.abiding citizen and Off
clai Dent my best energies 10 carry II out and
give 1t the fairest kind OF fair trial.
;. The press kindly assisted me 10 disseminating
knowledge IN reference To IL and thus the tax
payers became thoroughly familiar with its pro
VISIONS. L predicted that taxpayers generally
would pay their taxes In full, while CORPORATIONS
ana otner iarge tax payers would take advantage
OF the law, which was evidently enacted for
their benetI and pay Oh the installmeut plan.
which they have done. l predicted That 75 per
cent OF the taxes would be paid before The Both
ton.
stated to our Mayor and Finance Committee
that II would double the expense of my DEPART
III ent and materially increase the EXPENSES OF
me departments OF the Auditor and Assessor
IL has done SO or would have in my case il The
Finance Committee had not by their meager APP
preparation Tor clerk hire compelled me 10 work
my clerks from O'clock IN the morning 10 ): 80
O'Clock 10 the afternoon and evenings and Sun
days. have my whole force working here To-
day entering tags and posting the roll.
L am Tree 10 confess that the law has many
good points. The best one is that an outgoing
Tax Collector has the month of December 10
settle his accounts. SO that the incoming Tax
Collector may have clean field TO commence
business de n0yo. Another one is that the
strain on the money market is not SO great at d
lime when every body needs a little money for
trade aud people can indulge their gilt propeusi-
les without having the "hydra-headed buga-
Doc" Taxes" continually rising up before
lhem Another point and, III my opinion, very
favorable one, IL that now that the people are
thoroughly familiar with the law they viii avail
themselves OF IL next time. With the penalty on
the nrSt lnstallment reduced TO PER cent 1
think tie law VIII become satisfactory one
lnclosed L send you the figures OF my collec-
lions, all OF this years taXes-uo back taxes or
any taxes OF that nature, simply the roll OF 1891.
Ii the Impressions herein given aie of any use 10
the press you al liberty 10 publish TINS letter
Yours, respectfully,
THOMAS o. BRIEN, Tax Collector.
TOTAL AMOUNT CHARGED.
City and county personal property. $3.50 622 10
state pc rsona! property -. ......... 3S5.52442
Guy and county real estste........-. 2.5lS5O7 81
otate real eSlale,.. l.4l1 .6S9 SO
Total ........... ............ 81 992 354 81
Collected. ..".............. 3747.826 81
Balance. ..-.........,........ 81 244. 52S 30
Total Collections for October $339O2344
Total collections for Noyember...... 2S79,O55 10
................. So, 2l8O5S d.
In round numbers rs per cent collected IS pef
ceHt delinquent.