Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-28
COLLECTING TAXES.
The Report of the Collector of Taxes
and His Recommendations.
an Additional Force and Other
Changes-The Receipts and the
Arrears Other Points.


Arrears - Other Points.
The annual report Of the collector Of
taxes. Mr.. E. G. Davis. was submitted to
the Commissioners this afternoon. Ac-
company1ng the report are statements
showing In detail the amounts received
rom the different sources during the year.
For special assessments. A.63S70 was re-
ceived; for compulsory permit work under
acts OF Congress from. 1887 to 1892 inclu-
sive. $o7,512.60 was received. For improve
ments in repairs $22sS6.72 was received: for
construction Of country roads. $702.X. For
work done under the permit system, de-
posits were received aggregating $40.124.S4.
The following amounts were deposited
through the collectors office to the credit
OF respective funds: Repayments to appro-
priauoEs. HO7 ,S0l.32; police fund $s72 fire
mems fund, N.2S; Wright's legacy. S425.22;
totaI. $il0. 4SS 81. The aggregate amount re-
ceived from all sources was g. 1l3. $3.50.
To Increase Efficiency.
Continuing his report. Mr.. Davis says:
In response to your request that such
recommendations be submitted as may be
deemed advisable, with the object of in
creasins the efficiency Of this office, 1 beg
to say that in order to place the office upon
business basis and enable IL to give the
public prompt and satisfactory service the
nrst and most important need is an increase
IN tne clerical force. not simply an increase
IN numbers. but at a compensation that will
secure the services of accurate, efficient
and competent clerks.
tne citizens. the people who furnish the
revenues that support the government and
n n%ey want ma ana have right to demand
ers who remit through the mails during the
busy season often have to wait ten or If
teen days for their receipts. This delay is
1ncOnVQntanf
very embarrassing to this Office. while those
VINO pay at the counter are compelled to
receipts. This would not be tolerated in
any business establishment in any country,
and no government should permit it's citi-
The demands upon this office are increas-
Ing daily. and the time is fast approaching
when the present limited force win not be
1t Is only accomplished now by working the
entire force of this Office over time nearly
one-half Of the year. 1t Is. therefore, strict
~ IN line OF increasing the efficiency Of this
ONCE that l renew my recommends lions
that a deputy collector and an assistant
cashier be allowed.
minister the office as to cause the least pos-
sible delay and annoyance to the public.
hence l have been compelled often not only
&C. to require work after hours. which /
think should not be exacted from faithful
clerks. but they realizing with me that the
ways responded to my requests cheerfully.
l therefore earnestly request that you urge
upon Congress the importance Of allowing
TINS oce the assistance asked Tor and abSo-
iutely needed In order to give the public
plompt ana proper accommodations. and
also to insure the accuracy in the financial
l have upon several occasions urged the
importance Of the passage of a comprehen-
sive law governing tax sales in the District.
and as time passes our experiences teaches
that the necessity for such a law, free
from the defects of the present one, be-
comes more and more urgent. With a
view Of remedial legislation on this subject
we have with some care prepared a bill
which We think will accomplish the object
desired. and while we have earnestly striv-
en- In this bill to protect the interests of
the District and provide for the collection
OF the revenues, we have not lost sight of
the citizen. and have endeavored at all
points to guard his interests by proper no.
tees. advertisements, &c, and even after
expiration of the two years limit we pro-
vide for the redemption Of property by the
owner at a fixed percentage of the amount
paid not leaving the amount to be fixed by
the cupidity Of the dealer in tax sale certi-
hcates. as at present. The Importance OF
is so apparent that I earnestly recommend
that early and favorable action by Con-
gress be urged. as its adoption Is all i'm
portant to the revenues Of the District.
Measures Of Importance.
To make taxes receivable in one paymen,
instead Of. as at present, in two, the au-
thority to reassess property against which
| for various reasons. the courts have enjoin.
| ed the collection Of the tax by the District
the adoption Of a uniform system of render
| ing bills comprehensive and simple in detail
are measures OF importance to the District
| office with good and sufficient reasons fol
| their adoption. In thus briefly alluding &c
hss asa beg to SAY that
delay. but on the contrary, reasons for theil
adoption become more urgent every day
We beg to call attention to the operations
| Of an act approved May o. 1892, which ma
terially lessons the revenues of the District
In accordance with the provisions Of this
| taxes from any sewer. water or gas main
or other underground structure located In
| any public street. avenue. alley highway
road or space for the purpose of repairing
altering or extending any house sewer
| water main. gas main or other underground
CONSTRUCTION shall be deposited in the United
states Treasury. one half to the credit OF
the United States and one half to the credit
Of the District.
ed from the purposes enumerated in this
act come directly from the owners of prop
| erty and have heretofore all been deposit
ed to the credit Of the District. 1t is a
| legitimate source Of revenue and is collect
ed in the same manner as permits for build
| ings. licenses. etc, and there is as much
Justice in diverting one-half to the United
| states as there would be in crediting one
half OF the revenue from buildings, licenses
etc. to the United States. I am satisfied
that II the matter is properly presented to
Congress that the mistake will be recti
| fed by repeating the act.
| THE department requires all deposits
received an account Of permit work desig
mated compulsory and Improvements and
| repairs to be deposited not only to the
credit of the act under which the appro
| priation Is made (Which numbers g., but
also requires the deposit to be made to the
credit Of the appropria tons for the foul
| sections of the city and the Improvement
Of county roads. 1t will be readily under
| stood that these Subdivisions complicats
deposits on this account, and are a fruitful
| source Of error to rectify. which Is very
annoying and is the cause of delay in set
| Element of accounts. I think deposits or
this account could be made In bulk or sons
| method could be suggested less cumbersome
than the present which would be mutual,
| satisfactory to the department and thi.
office.
| Exempt Property.
Attention has been called to the fact tina
the large realty balance charged agains
this office does not represent the tru,
| amount Of arrears. inasmuch as 1t contains
taxes on property not now taxable. namely