The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-09
SAYS HE WANTS MORE ROOM
Tax Collector O'Brien Files His
Annual Report.
The New Law Greatly Increases the Expenses
of His 0fiee-How Taxes Should
Be Collected.

Tax Collector O'Brien filed his annual re.
port with the Board of Supervisors yester-
day.
Its first statement is to the effect that the
expenses of his Office were increased
1892 0S last year by the operation of the
new law requiring him to collect real estate
taxes in instalIments. The years expenses
We're SCI. 740 10.
The total number of bills made out for
taxes on real estate was ll3. 40, being an
increase over those of 1890 of 1850.
''Wh hen it is further stated" says the Tax
Collector, ''that every bin includes a cor
responding tag to be entered on the cash
books. and that such cash entries must be
subsequently posted on the respective
volumes of the roll, the magnitude of the
increased amount of labor is apparent.
The present Office room is entirely too
limited. The new revenue law has increased
the labor Of the Office 30 per cent. When
the rooms were first used the entire roll of
real and personal property consisted of %
volumes, while the present roll includes Y
volumes. The clerks are frequently con-
PEELED 10 occupy the private Office of the
Tax Collector.
Il heartily indorse the system recently
inaugurated by your honorable body for the
collection of delinquent personal property
the courts.
an designating the City and County At
torneyS department for this purpose, in-
stead of selecting special counsel annually,
you have acted wisely and we'll.
The good work should be carried further
by transferring collections now in the hands
OF special attorneys appointed in former
years TO the department recently chosen for
such purpose. Purchasers of real estate
would thus be saved the trouble of going
frn ltsffi n IL nrr
attorneys, often in vain, TO clear titles of
liens for personal property taxes OF various
years"
Further. concerning this system, the Tax
Collector quotes from his own statements,
made when first assuming his duties, as
follows:
The system Of collecting delinquent personal
property taxes by special counsel appointed by
the BOARD OF supervisors IS not warranted by
The revenue laws OF this State. l think the Su-
peryisOfs simply deemed Il their duty TO adopt
this method, believing IL the most eXpedient
manner OF collecting from those who neglect 10
pay through The ordinary channel. This system
has been ~ vogue so long that II is almost rec
oguized as the law on the subject. While not
desiring 10 pose a refof mer OF existing methods
my experience in this Office enables me 10 make
some suggestions witch may be Of adyan-
lage 10 IaXuayers. Ii j. advisable for the Tax
Collector. instead CT special counsel, 10 collect
all delinquent taxes, with the assistance OF the
City aud County Attorney where legal aid is
necessary. The City aud County Attorney might
be allowed assistant lOf this purpose If re-
qnired. but All taxes should be paid in The office
OF The Tax COLLECTION.
The report then says that if the engage
ment of special attorneys be continued
they should be made TO give substantial
bonds, subject 10 the approval Of the Mayor
ana the Auditor. and monthly or semi
monthly reports should be made by them to
the Board Of Supervisors through its
Finance Committee. The latter might fur
nish the special counsel with copy OF the
transcript.
Then" says the Tax Collector, "while 30
fault can be found with the reputable gem
tiemen acting as special counsel. the sys-
tenn has proved defective and impTac-
tieable."
Ia conclusion the report says that the eff
forts Of the Board OF Supervisors to pre-
serve the records Of the Office last year were
entirely inadequate. and the Collector
again appeals to the board to arrest their
rapid decay.
4 recommendation in this connection Is
that delinquent personal property taxes
for each fiscal year be entered In one vol
ume, the same 10 be certified copy of the
delinquent tax-lst flied by the Tax Col
lectOr on his annual settlement with the
Auditor. and made officia. by the requisite
affiGaYits Of these officers"
The following accounts are amended.