Evening star., 1895-08-28
DISTRICT TAXATION
Features Of the Annual Report Of
Collector Davis.
OVER FOUR MILLIONS COLLECTED
An Increased Force is Necessary
in the Office.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS

OIdER COMMENDAIlONS
The annual report of the collector Of
taxes was submitted to the Commissioners
several days ago, and made public today.
During the year he collected from all
sources $4,042 76. This was divided as
follows: From realty tax, 81, 592, 1927: per-
sonal tax, $166, ,3365O; penalties. $Sl.19S4 10;
miscellaneous, SASS, s,34932; from the water
fund, rents, 1925. .sOO.37; water main tax,
$4.soO.5s; interest, $.3s2.15; special fund.
$2S, 1882. and sundry deposits. 1851 459. 10.
Continuing his report Collector Davis
says:
'In accordance with act Of Congress. ap-
proved August IA, 1894. creating board
ot assessors, &C.. collections on account of
realty tax for the year ending June 80
1s95, were received in one instead of two
payments. as heretofore. In consequence.
the receipts for the month of May were the
largest in the history of the Office. To re-
ceive and account for this large sum taxed
to the utmost the capacity of the office and
&c understanding the fnadequacy OF the torce
the work was accomplished without fric-
ton and in a correct and satisfactory man
rer. but In order to do this, 1t was neces-
sary for the entire force Of the Office to
work before and after hours for several
A Good Policy to Continue.
Experience has taught Us that it would
be an advantage to continue this method
Of payments. as this pracdcal illustration
has fully demonstrated that much Of the
time required for the duplication Of collec-
tions can be utilized for other office work.
ard that errors incident to Two payments
In one year can be materially reduced: l
therefore renew my recommendation that
taxes be received in one payment.
1.-The work of the Office Is steadily and
rapidly increasing, not only are collections
Increasing in amount, but sources from
which deposits are received are multiplying
by division of old. and the addition of new
accounts. No increase in the force has been
allowed to meet the requirements imposed
by the additional work. In July, 1885, an
additional clerk was allowed. Since that
time the receipts Of the Office have nearly
doubled, and the work of the Office has
more than doubled, and yet Congress turns
a deaf ear to our numerous requests for
additional clerks. In all my annual reports
attention has been called to this def
cheney. l have explained and urged the
adoption of my recommendations for an
Increase of force. end the committees of
Congress have appeared TO acqnlesce In
my views as to the needs Of the office,
but for some reason the additional force
has not been granted. I again earnestly
recommend that deputy collector he al
lowed this office. I consider this Of para
of this office to our efficient force the first
and most important step toward perfecting
the proper organization and increasing
the efficiency Of the office.
The Collector Feels Discouraged.
'It is very discouraging. to say the least,
that recommendation, dictated by exper-
ience and thorough knowledge of the
wants Of the Office entirely reasonable
and consistent, should receive so little con-
sideration. l have also asked for an as
sistant cashier, two additional clerks and
a horse and wagon. The position of CASH
Ter is not only one OF great responsibility,
but 1t requires unremitting attention, the
duties are very exacting. and during the
busy months 1t is impossible for one man
to attend promptly to the requirements of
the office. The appointment of an assistant
to share the responsibilities and duties
would greatly facilitate the business of the
office, and would be of great advantage to
the public, who demand and should have
prompt service. The appiintment of two
additional clerks Is necessary to complete
the proper working force of the Office and
to place 1t upon a business basis, SO that
q long and tedious wait In the transaction
of business.
I'm order to promptly make collection of
checks received in payment of taxes. ETC.,
in time for deposit IN United States treas
ury, as required by law. it is necessary that
we use horse and wagon. Up to the pres
ent time we have been able to secure the
use of the horse and buggy used by the
license division of the assessors Office dur
ing the busy months. but this we find is
serious inconvenience to that Office, besides
the rapid increase of business renders the
continuous use of q horse and wagon neces-
sary, not only for the collection of checks,
but to attend to other necessary outside
business The bill prepared in this office,
which received your approval after exam
ination by the district attorney in relation
to tax sales, known as H. r. 1898, should
again be brought to the attention of Con-
gress. 1 submit herewith a copy of said
think will meet the objections urged when
the bill was last before Congress.
Delinquent TAX Sale Law Needed.
terests of the District Of more Importance
than comprehensive law for the sale of
property for delinquent taxes. AS has been
repeatedly pointed out the law under which
we sell property is defective, there Is hard
ly provision of the present law which has
not been the subject of litigation. and as
rule at the expense of the District. 1 am
at loss to understand why a law vulner-
able at all points is allowed to remain un-
repealed, and that an expense should be
annually incurred to enforce it with no GER
tainty of conveying any rights or prvi-
leges sought to be conveyed under its pro-
visions. Much time and thought was given
to the preparation of the bill above referred
to, and L tnlnk It's adoptlon would cure
many of the evils of the law now in force.
and thus prevent much of the litigation
that the District is called upon to defend.
II earnestly beg that you will urge the
passage of this bill during reNt Congress.
Far better for the interests of the District
If we had no tax sale law at all. l can see
no benefit to be derived from the present
law, only loss. litigation and veNation. 1t
takes much time and labor to prepare the
list for tax sale, and after all is done, and
the list duly advertised. the sale scarcely
realizes sufficient to pay expenses of sale,
and as the result of each sale, thousands of
dollars in taxes honestly due to. the Dis
trict are cancelled and thus lost to the
revenues.
II hope that the Importance Of this mat
ter will be fully impressed upon Congress-
and that the present ur satisfactory condi-
ton of our tax sale laws will not be allowed
to continue"
To Manufacture the Lee Rife.
The NAVY DEM rtmant has con,pIated a