Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-24
TAX CERTIFICATES.
Mr.. TruesdcIl Takes Issue With the
Attorney.

Commissioner Truesdell as1ded another
chapter to the contention regarding the
Issuance of tax certificates today 1t will be
recalled that Mr.. c. c. Glover first called at
tention to the fact that tax certificates were
issued without containing any mention of
tax sales. Thereupon the Commissioners
passed an order providing that hereafter
an tax certificates issued should contain
a record or the tax sales. This order threw
tne ONCE In charge of this work into seri-
GUS complications. Such a record as pro-
posed by the Commissioners would require
many days to complete, and the working
force OF the office was utterly insufficient
TO do the work. When Commissioner Ross
returned to the city he first learned of the
passage of the order. and immediately set
about to rectify IL If possible. At that time
complaints were coming in every hour and
the conditions were getting serious Real
estate agents and property holders about
10 make sale appealed TO Commissioners
Ross TO modify the order, as its enforce
nlent would seriously embarrass them I'm
their business. IL was then that the at
torney was called upon TO give an opinion
as TO the necessity, under the law, OF en-
Dodying tax sales in certificates for taxes.
MS opinion vas a lengthy ana interesting
one. and printed at the time In fun I'm The
Star. He held that tax certificates should
only contain statements of unpaid taxes
ana assessments for which the District
claims lien against the property described
IN the certificate (this will include tax sales
where the District is the purchaser because
the Hen is retained I'm such easel, and after
a sale Tor the satisfaction Of a particular
TAX or assessment. such tax can neither
De said to be due and unpaid nor lien upon
the particular property, unless the Dis
trict is the purchaser"
This opinion promptly received the an
prevail of Commissioner Ross Not SO hox,-
ever, with Commissioner Truesdell, who
was instrumental In having the original
order Issued. He took issue with Attorney
Thomas. and today made the foIiowins
report upon the case:
Assuming that the attorney is correct
as to the technical requirements of the
law, II would nevertheless defeat the object
OF the law and deceive the public in MANY
cases TO omit all mention OF tax sales which
are still subject to redemption. 1 suggest,
however, that the existing Instructions 10
the assessor be modified sc as 20 authorfze
MN TO omit all sales from the certificates
n.aoe prior to 1878, which as L understand
nave been declared void and that no sales
oe mentioned when a deed OF the property
mas been executed and delivered by the
commissioners In completion of such sale
Also tnat the assessor be authorized 10
omit all sales, when requested so 20 DC, IN
the application, and that I'm such casee he
inoorse on the face OF the certificate Tax
safes omitted by request Of applicant 4
further suggest that a copy OF the reglla-
cate"
The matter was taken up again today in
the absence of Commissioner Ross Com
missioner Powell read the papers and
agreed with Commissioner Truesdell. An
oroer embodying the Recommendation of
Commissioner Truesdell was accordingly
Issued Ii is expected Commissioner Ross
Will submit minority report when ne re-
turns. as IL is known he is deeply interested
In the subject.