The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-13
AFTER THE COLLECTOR
or DELTSOCENT T1NEs-HIs Or
FJCE RIGTDLY TNyEsTfGfItD
Nv the Retrepcb,nent and Reform Com
Inittee-The sale of Delinquent Prop
crty Also Looked Into.

The subcommittee Of the Council COM
ynittce on Retrenchmont and r. form APP
| pointed TO look into the affairs OF inc
| departments OF water and gas, OF the
! city Collector. and Of the Collector Oh
Delinoucnt Taxes. met yesterday morn
! ing AT 80 O'Clock at the lower Gas-NorNs'
There were present Messrs. Rountree'
/ Jones, and zimmerman, OF the COM
mittee. and Mr.. william +. Knowles the
superintendent Of the Gas-Works. Inc
y,or.s were thoroughly inspected ana 'he
| members EXPRESSED much pleasure anu
satisfaction over the state Of the worKs'
and COMMUNICATED the superintendent WY
highly.
The committee again met last evening
at o'clock IN room No. II OF the lily
Hall. when all members were present
namely. Mossrs. II M Noble, Jones
Rountrce. and zimmerman. There were
also I'm attendance from the Water De-
partrncnt. Mr. Charles i. Boiling. the
Superintendent: Mr.. Eugene +. Davis
the assistant superintendent. ana Mn
Gary. the clerk City-Attorney Charles
V. Meredith. and Mr.. Walford. the Col
lector Of Delinquent Taxes, We're also
! on hand.
WATER INSPECTORS DUTY.
Srperintendent Boiling stated that the
four water inspectors and three meSsen-
gers were paid 81 a day. but they were
only paid for actual time served. The in
spootors go through their districts TO as
certain any extra charges TO be made
besides the ordinance charges. They also
have 10 examine fixtures, and II is their
duty 10 report where repair are 10 be
made. 4 week later they go over their
territory again 10 see whether their In
structions have been carried out. Very Of
ten inspectors are not Immediately admit
ted and there Is then ample opportunity
given 10 tho tenants 10 close any fixtures
that were loft running. The inspectors
also have 70 20 10 shut-on premises. where
water bills have not been paid About
twenty-five per cent. ~ the bills become
delinquent Many bills are paid as soon
as the water IS shut of. and 1t has then
"a be turned on again.
MY own duties arc manifold" he said.
land while my Office hours are from
A VI. 10 =. NJ. yet I am very little
IN my office. T have 10 lcok after street
work the two pump-housos and reser-
voirs. and the race ways which 90 from
the new pump-hOuse as far as Bosher's
dam Nearly every summer some re-
pairs TO the canal are necessary in that
locality"
Mr.. Boiling thought that some small
charge should he made I'm case Of de-
llnquont water bills. where the water Is
10 be turned on after st has been
shut off
Mr.. Eugene r. Davis. the assistant
superintendent. stated that he is en- charge
of tho office work and represents the
Superintendent in tho latter's absence.
lie is also navmaster for the department;
ne pays of twice month. and IS also
clerk 10 tho Committee on Water and
book keeper fer the department. This
latter work takes M about six days every
month. lie spends about nine hours I'm
the Office every day. lie receives
silar. OF $50.
Mr. Cary. the clerk Of the department
Is I'm the office from A. NJ TO II. NJ,
and his salary is S900 q year.
Mr. Noble then asked Mr.. Meredith
whether the Council has the power 10
abolish tho Office of Collector Of Delin-
Quont Taxes.
CREATED Ply LEGISLATURE.
Mr. Meredith stated that the office was
created by am act Of the Legislature. In
1~-. when Mr.. Glasgow was chairman Of
the Finance Committee. he suggested tho
creation Of the Office Of Collector of De
inoucnt Taxes. An amendment 20 the
charter was adopted. and then an ordi-
nance was drawn up amending the char
ter with n view Of fixing the duties Of
the new office. The Collector Of Deln-
qucnt Taxes has 20 report all delinquent
property i'm February. The new ordi-
nance was drawn hv Mr. Carlton Nc
Carthy who was then assessment clerk.
with the assistance OF Mr.. Glasgow.
The measure was then revised by Mr..
Meredith The collector has the right
10 levy or distrain property for taxes.
For amounts under Slcn the summons IS
90 Doe issued bv the Police Court. and
fer larger amounts by the Hastings Court.
The Office is created by the charter and
can only be abolished by an act Of
the LEGISLATURE.
4 long discussion followed as 10 the sale
Of land for delinquent taxes. and Mr.
Meredith explained that the original own
or shall have tho right 10 redeem his
property within two years after II shall
have been sold for dollquont taxes. and
after that time the purchaser is 20 re-
ceive clear title.
LOOK INTO TIE METHODS.
Mr.. Walford stated that according 10
tho information given him. a list OF tie
property about 10 be sold for delinquent
taxes IS made out and properly adver-
ti7'u us prescribed 10y law. on the day
fixed for the sale the Collector OF Delin-
quent Taxes reads out the list from the
Steps Of the City Hail. and no bidder ap-
pea-ing the property is turned over 10
the city for the amount OF taxes due.
Mr.. Meredith was then requested 10 look
into the methods that have been applied
IN turning such property over 10 the city.
ana 10 report 20 the committee whether
the provisions OF the ordinance have been
complied with
SIN PER CENT MORE.
Mr.. Jones took the ground that II
would hc well for the committee To- rec /
onmcud the passage Of an ordnance |
which provides that besides the penalty !
or Two per cent. for delinquent taxes |
twelve per cent. interest is 20 be paid |
ON motion OF Mr.. Jones. the City Attor I
Ley was directed To- draw up an ordi- |
nance embracing the various suggestions |
providing FOR AN addition Of six per cent. /
interest 20 tho five per cent. penalty. and I
compelling the city 10 acquire title of /
AN property bought In. two years after /
the purchase The ordnance is 10 90 |
into effect by January l. 1891 person /
is 10 he appointed 10 take charge OF this /
property.
Mr.. Walford explained that all tax
bills prior 20 1907 arc now In the hands
OF the Auditor. for the collection OF such
bills the collector Is TO receive two per
cent. as commission. He pointed out
that IL was very difficult 10 collect de-
liaquent taxes on personal property
The City Attorney stated that the col
la ne 4, m On I. 10