Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-22

increased from few hundred annually to
6Oo0 There are today $4,000 accounts on
TIE assessors books to about IL, 600 in 1881.
| The increase is accounted for by the many
subdivisions made, especially in the cou:i-
ty, In the past ten years.
For instance. Petworth. formerly one
| tract OF land, was subdivided into ], 1856 lots
| In 1889 Two books of entry were sufficient
| In 1885; 1--WE are now required. The adver-
| tisement of the delinquent tax list of 1857
required a pamphlet of 800 pages; that of
| 1896 rec utred enc of 80 pages. Fer the
| sale of 1887 60 certificates were issued:
| for sale of 1896 1, 100 were issued to pur-
chasers. These certificates must be writ
/ ten, compared, recorded and entered on
the sales book of this and the assessors
| office. 1t viii readily be seen how enor-
| mous1y this work has increased. Water
bills have increased from 1884 in 1881 to
| 6,466 in 1897. This means 2S.152 more
| bills to enter, receipt and return, and ne
| cessitated an increase in the books of en-
| try from two TO six, and In addition to this
| there are $40 meter accounts the rents Tor
which are collected quarterly.
Increased Five Fold.
''The average daily entries on the several
| books, aside from the realty and water
tax bills have Increased five fold by rea-
son Of new accounts kept with the sur
| veyer, sealer of weights and measures,
| health department, permit clerk, and for
permit work and changing the deposits of
| the Police Court from semi-monthly to
| daily; requiring all permits issued by The
| building inspector to be paid by the holder
| instead of depositing the same in one
| amount at the end of the day, and requir-
ing occupants of market stalls to pay rent
| to the collector of taxes instead 'of as
heretofore to the market master. Four
| hundred and thirty-three receipts were
| given last year for deposits for bids,
against 40 in 1881; COS refunds of erroneous
| iy paid taxes were examined and reported
| upon, against e3 in 1881; 100 pieces of
| property were sold in 1897, against 50
pieces sold in 1881; 4a3 receipts for deposits
| for permit work. whole cost, were given
| in 1897 none in 1881; detailed daily and
| monthly abstracts were furnished the
| Treasury Department in 1897, formerly
| only daily abstcarts; additional work ma lie
necessary by various acts OF Congress.
| such as issue Of Pc 'mits for ratings. fences,
| &C., and transcripts from record of health
| department of births, deaths, &c. Receipts
of surveyors fees. rent of houses in Rock
| Creek Park, rent of market stalls, and
| permit funds, half cost, under twenty-one
| different acts of Congress. formerly all
| under one act, and many other services are
| required of the office, such as special
| ports, which, though small in themselves,
take the time and services of the clerks.
More Space Required.
THE business of this office could be per-
| formed with much more satisfaction to the
| public and ourselves had we the space nee
| essary for the purpose. Vexatious delays
| occur because We have not the room to
! open all the books needed in our daily rou-
| tine and for the same reason errors in en-
| tering bills while infrequent, are liable
| to occur at any time. Books piled upon
| each other, causing the loss of much val
| liable time and annoyance in finding those
| that may be needed. Desks and tables,
while insufficient, take up nearly all of the
| noor space, making it difficult to move
around, the narrow passageways Offering
distractions to try the patience and tenn
! per-
sTr
does not afford sufficient space for the fur
| niture necessary for the proper transac-
| ton of the business of the office We have
+. no facilities for filing valuable papers and
| receipts and no room for file cases where
/ they could be easy of access for reference
and secure from loss and mutilation.
The Hawkins Robbery.
You are familiar with the details of the
| robbery of the safe in this office by
| trusted but faithless and dishonest mes
| senger, T. V. Hawkins, having robbed the
safe of sS,9I5 the afternoon of Tuesday,
August 81, at once left the city. The rob-
berry was not discovered until 8 o'clock
Wednesday morning, when the detective
! office was at once notified, and prompt and
| efficient action taken. Every point of
| cape was covered, and too much praise
! cannot be given to Major Moore and In.
| spector Mattingly for their intelligent and
| successful management of the case, which
| resulted IN the capture OF the criminal IN
! the city of Toronto, Canada Saturday,
| September 4, with $S,S3S on lis person.
AT the suggestion of Major Moore 1
| went to Toronto. where l met Detective
| Helali, who proved to be the right man
in the right place. and accompanied by DR..
Jones of The Washington Evening Star,
who endered valuable service, We visited
! the Jail.
Hawkins was brought down and prompt
| ly admitted the robbery, and finally con-
sented to accompany us to Washington
| without the Formally of requisition papers.
| In all of our efforts we had The prompt
| and hearty cooperation of the Canadian
| authorities, and desire to extend our CRATE
| full acknowledgment to High Constable
Grasett, Inspector Stark and the governor
| of the jail for numerous courtesieS.
Recommends a Time Lock.
'Tn view of the recent robbery in this
| Office would suggest and recommend that
| a time lock be placed the safe. which
| can be done at an outlay of $500.
| Il also ask the renewal of the appro-
| priation of 81, 500 for the collection of over
due personal taxes. the outlay being but
a small percentage of the amount collected.
During the past year s13,391.:s6 was COL
| lected. due entirely TO the efforts made pos
| sible by this appropriation.
| "In conclusion 1 desire to acknowledge
| the hearty corporation and faithful Serv-
| ices of the clerks employed in this Office.
| Their duties are onerous and eyacting, yet
| they have never failed to promptly and
| cheerfully meet all requirements, working
| continuously, in season and out of season;
| often after hours and by close confinement
| to their desks, endangering health and sac
| rfficing pleasure. l have confidence in their
| Integrity and appreciate their faithfulness"
Summary of Collections.
General fund. 81, 593, 742 90
Assessments and permits. $3.50 81
| Improvements and repairs. 6SSS -
| water service. .....................- 1,26S 30
| special assessments. 2,71O o.
| Deposits to credit of United
States ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 14,21T 20
| Sundry deposits. q, 45S 81
| Deposits to repay appropra-
lions ..-...................... 1896 81
Permit work whole cosD........ 465S3 40