Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-15
DISTRICT AFT AIRS.
Another Proposed Solution of the
Tax Collection Question.
AUDITOR PETTY GIVES His VIEWS
Why the November Payment
Should Not Be Omitted.
OTHER MATTERS OF INTEREST

Mr.. J. T. Petty, District auditor. has a
solution to the tax collection question,
which he will submit to the Commissioners
probably at the next board meeting. In con-
versation with Star reporter today Mr..
Petty outlined his ideas as follows:
The proposition to postpone the collec-
ton Of general taxes until May can hardly
be entertained by the Commissioners. as
one consideration alone would seem to rem
der 1t impractcable-the resulting lack of
funds for the support of the government.
At the beginning Of the present fiscal year.
July l, there was no money to the credit
Of the District in the United States treas
ury. but a deficiency instead Of about
$4,000. Our only credit was the one half
Of the appropriation for the current year.
which is payable by the United States. As
this half will be exhausted by December.
it is plain that If no taxes be collected until
May that during the period from January
to May the United States will have to ad-
vance the money to meet our running ex-
penses. This would require a loan out
right in round numbers of 81. 100000 which
do not believe Congress would grant. As
Is well known the United States pays regu-
larly one half our expenses and the prop
erty owners the other half. This Is fair, as
the general government owns about 81 per
cent of the real estate in the District, but
when II has paid one half the cost of ad-
ministration for the year, 1t has discharged
its obligation in full, and there is no ex-
cuse for further demands. For this reason
I hold that when December comes, the
United States having paid its half Of the
amount appropriated. 1t would be improper
to ask a loan from the general government
to enable us to postpone until May an In
debtedness which we owe in November.
There is no more reason why Congress
should lend several millions of dollars to
District tax payers, to relieve their none
tary embarrassment than to those OF any
likely to be done The other proposition to
abate 10 per cent Of our tax assessment
favor with certain restrictions which 1 will
mention.
The last assessment was generally con-
sidered a fair one at the time. but II X were
to be made now IL is believed that lower
figures would prevail In view Of this fact
the reduction proposed seems reasonable.
cent from the first half Of the taxes IL paid
in November. and 10 per cent from the sec
ond half II paid in May. II more than one
half be paid in November no rebate should
be allowed upon the excess. BY thus al
lowing a rebate in November upon the first
half only, and no rebate upon the second
half. unless paid in May, Il is certain that
no one will pay taxes in full in November,
and there could then be no room for the
charge sometimes made that District funds
are locked up in the treasury. AS, with
November, five months or nearly one half
Of the tax year will have passed. IL but one
half the tax be then collected IL could not
be considered a payment in advance. but
the settlement Of obligation which had
matured. The method / propose would in
sure the payment of taxes by those who
have the means to do SO. In the case OF
the poorer class who, on account of the
financial stress, might be unable to pay
promptly. I would favor the suspension of
the penalty of per cent a month imposed
dalfn 70 oil oil fOr
the present year paid before June 80. 1894
to be received without penalty. These two
propositions, II accepted, would seem to me
to afford all of the relief that could, with
any show Of propriety. be asked of Congress
by the tax payers of the District.
Against Using Firearms.
W. e. Brown OF Ingleside writes to the
Commissioners complaining against the use
of firearms within the precincts Of the Ma
tional Park. He states that every morning
for the past two weeks there has been a
constant firing along the Pierce Mills road
and in Ingleside along the Piney branch
The park police, he states. appear to make
no attempt to stop IT and he asks the Com
missioners to issue special orders to them
instructing them to stop all cunning in
that section of the District.
Want n Sidewalk.
Messrs. George f. Emmons and Samuel
Ross Of the American Security and Trust
Company, in a letter to the Commissioners
ask that a sidewalk be laid on o street
between Sd and LIZ streets under the COM
pusory system. A large portion of this
block has been recently improved and fur
Their improvements are contemplated in the
near future. 1t is claimed that the street
is now In very unsanitary condition.
Wants the Alley Opened.
Mr.. A. M. Green asks that an alley on
Polk street. Anacostia, be opened to the
public and put in proper sanitary condi-
ton. He claims that the alley in its pres
ent condition is a nuisance and should be
attended to at once.
saloons in the Northeast
An anonymous letter was received by the
Commissioners complaining of the number
Of saloons located in the northeast between
I'd street west and I'd street east. and +
street and Myrtle street. The letter sug-
gests that after the Commissioners get
through with thinning out the bars on
Pennsylvania avenue between 9th and 18th
streets 1t would be well for them to turn
their attention to the northeast The writer
claims that In the district bounded by the
aforementioned streets there are entirely
too many saloons. around which men con-
gregate and make it unpleasant for ladies
to pass. The following three saloons were
mentioned as the more prominent among
the latter class named: One located at lst
street and H: one on H street near LIST street
and another corner North Capitol and G
streets.
Can't Lower the Grade.
The Commissioners have Informed Mrs
Mary S. Chase Of 1220 d street northeast
that they do not deem 1t expedient to lower
the grade Of d street between 18th and 18th
streets northeast.
Wants to BE n School Trustee.
The Commissioners today received an an
plication from Oliver C. Black. colorad
real estate agent 6O4 5th street northwest
for appointment to the position Of school
hr ., The application was accompanied
inent business men of Washineton .r,onr,
whom are lawrence Gardner, James r
Norris, NJ. 1. Weller. James G. Rerrat