Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-21
MORE FORCE NEEDED,
Assessor Trimble Tells of the 0verwork
of Clerka
Licenses Issued and Real Estate Taxa
Report - More Help Needed.

Several days ago The Star printed the
supplemental report, which was submitted
last evening, there are many interesting
facts The report touches on many points,
among them the following:
If our real estate. liquor and other IL
censes, which are now payable in advance,
were made due and collectab1e on July
of each year, instead of November, there
would probably be received, in addition to
other usual receipts, a sufficient revenue
to meet current expenditures until the
semf-annual payment Of general taxes in
November without any advance from the
general government. as reported to be the
case under our present system This plan
might possibly enable the District to
catch up with the general government
In It's current expenses. and thus do away
with one serious argument which is ad-
Vanced against our former recommends
ton for the payment Of general taxes in
one installment at the end of the fiscal
year. One annual payment of taxes has
been persistently urged by this office and
mas also been ably advocated by the col
lector as desirable and economical
Assessed for over $4,000
"One OF our enterprising newspapers CThe
Evening Starr, In its issues of the Goth 2Sth
and 3ist ultimo, published a carefully pre-
pared list Of isis who pay taxes on assess
ments over $4,000. From this list 1t ap-
pears that 665 pay real estate tax on an
assessment Of $4,000 and over: $50 on an
assessment Of $4,000 to $4,000 and loo
who pay on an assessment between $4,000
and $4,000 the largest assessment to one
individual on our books being that of the
estate of w. w. Corcoran, with an assessed
value of S1,264,412 and following as a close
second. our esteemed and popular citizen,
Mr.. Caleb c. Willard There are perhaps
some 2osOOO others who contribute to the
District revenues on assessments below
$4,000 each
Constant Increase Required.
THE expert clerical work required of the
officials and employees of this office in the
and compilation of the numer-
ical books and tax iedgers has been la
borious and difficult task for the past six
and most of them have averaged
fourteen hours daily service in order to in
sure completion of the work. 1 cannot too
highly commend this sacrificing devotion of
the clerks to the interests of the District,
and 1t is proper for me to state that the
tax books would not have been ready for
the collection Of taxes in the time prescrib-
ed by law had the clerks not worked this
extra time. The demand now for tax bills
exceeds any previous years In the history
OF the District government and the limited
number of employees allowed this office
compels them to continue the working of
extra hours. A few weeks ago / forwarded
a formal recommendation for the meager
sum of $500 for the purpose OF partly COM
penSating them for this extra labor, and
trust it will be favorably reported to Con-
gress.
Valuable and material aid has been rem
dered by my two assistants, E. w. W.
(NritE I'm nd off A II on -h.a ho,-
firing in their efforts with the limited
force at their disposal to promote the
proper execution of the work. In my esti-
mate submitted have recommended a
slight increase In the pay of one of my as
and specially request the favora-
bic Endorsement OF the Commissioners to
the District committee, his duties being of
such nature as to Justly merit the in
crease.
AS an illustration of the increase Of
work in this office, the real estate in the
county was up to and including 1880 en-
braced in one volume of 400 folios; il now
next year on account OF the crowded con-
dition of the accounts, will necessitate six
of $50 foiios EACH
This increase is owing to the large num-
numerical book of the county exhibits the
same ratio of increase. The real estate in
the city Is embraced in eight volumes. with
an average OF 450 to each. and six years
ago there were three volumes, afterwards
six. but it is estimated that In three years
the number will be Increased to ten.
The force of this office Is not sufficient
TO perform the work necessary to be done
in the regular official hours, and the daily
strain upon the clerks working night and
day Will soon unfit them for active service
and an addition of the clerical force is alb
necessary to perform the duties
now being done by extra work.
Licensed.
During the past year 1916 licenses were is
sued. exclusive of liquor licenses, besides AL
certificates to the collector of taxes for
miscellaneous receipts.
There have also been issued 121 engineer
licenses and % licenses to dealers in deadly
weapons.
Between the beginning Of the. license year
and the Sd of March 1893 the date of the
passage of the new law, 6l9 bar and 1920
Wholesale liquor licenses were issued.
the total amout of yearly collections was
27s,0S4a credited to the various sources