Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-12
DE LIN Q Mt TAXES.
The Commissioners Recommend Reduction
in the Present Penalty.
No Discount, However, on Taxes and
Funds VIII Not BE Deposited
in Local Bankp.

Three matters of great Importance to the
citizens of the District were considered
at the special meeting of the board of Com
missioners this afternoon. They were the
questions allowing a discount of 10 per
cent on all taxes paid prior to November
80, 1879, consideration Of their approval Of
the plan to askCongress for permission to al
low the deposit of District funds in District
banks instead Of the United States treasury,
and remission of the penalty of two per
cent month for delinquent taxes. BY
unanimous vote the board decided not to
ask Congress for permission to make a re-
duction of 10 per cent in the taxes paid
prior to November 30, in view of the finan-
cial stringency. and decided not to recon-
mend the deposit of District funds in local
banks
On the question Of a reduction in the
penalty, however, they We're unanimous
that something should be done While they
did not believe in doing away with the
penalty for delinquent taxes they believed
reduction of l per cent a month should be
made, and letter will be written to Con-
gress today urging this reduction. So that,
II Congress is willing, delinquent tax pay
ers, for the next year, will only have to
stand penalty of per cent per month.
DepOsitinE Funds.
When Commissioner Ross called the
ing the District funds in the local banks
the auditor of the District was sent for
TO give his views on the matter Mr.. Petty
said while he was in favor of such a plan
as was proposed he did not believe the best
interests of the District demanded IL.
Inere were several contingencies that
would bring about embarrassment The
law governing District disbursements reads
as follows: THAT said Commissioners
shaIl not make reQuisition upon the ap-
preparation from the treasury of The Tinted
states 1or larger amount during the fiscal
year 1884 than they make on the appro-
priation arising from the revenues"
4, II the plan of depositing the revenues in
the banks of the city be carried out trouble
is anticipated with the monthly reouisition
AS IL Is now, collections are deposited daily
IN the treasury, and the account is stated
between the United States and the District
once year. Under this system overdrafts
are allowed from time to time. If. how
ever, the District revenues were deposited
In banks this would not be permitted, as
no advance could be made by the trea sury
beyond the corresponding amount rendered
by the District. Now the treasury Official
do not know from day to day how the ac-
TEN they could not be in doubt upon the
subject. The method proposed would also
complicate very greatly the accounts which
are already, according to the auditor. suffi-
GENTLY complex.
1t is understood that the Commissioners
intend to recommend. in case the proposed
reduction Is granted by Congress, that the
law governing penalties be amended and
that hereafter only one per cent per month
be charged for delinquent taxes
Commissioner Parker is heartily in favor
or the amendment, as he believes II is a
hardship to the poor man to be made to
pay "a per cent per year for his inability
TO meet the regular tax payment.