The times., 1897-09-23
TAXES DURING PAST YEAR
Collector Davis Renders a Re-
port TO the Commissioners.
REFERS TO HAWKINS THEFT
Suggests That Time Clock BE
Placed on the Recommends
That an Assistant Cashier and a
Clerk BE Appointed nnd Depnty
Collectors Salary Raised.

The collector of taxes, Mr.. E. G.
Davis, yesterday afternoon submitted to
the District Commissioners his annual re-
port en- the workings Of his office.
The realtv tax for the year was So,
Ia0,o44.60, with arrears which brought
up the total TO So SOC 3s4.e5. The
personal tax was STAG, s67.54 Penalties
on realty tax were ST.I15.s4, and on
personal tax S3I7.s4. The total amount
OF taxes Of all kinds collected was $3,-
593, ZAP 80 Added to this the assess
ments and permits, water service and
other items made the total collections
for the year So. 3.99S, ,302 OF.
Mr.. Davis makes long comment on
the urgent need Of legislation in regard
to the sale of property for delinquent taxes.
He urges the adoption Of Senate ldll 916
by Congress as very nearly meeting all
the requirements for changes in the de-
linquent tax law. He says in part:
1t is extremely urgent that law IN
relation 10 tax sales which viii in
measure protect tie interests OF the District
and provice a sure and prompt means OF
collecting delinquent taxes shall be passed
without delay. as, under the present law,
thousands OF dollars of delinquent taxes
are annually canceled, upon application,
and the District seems powerless TO pre-
vent it, and this state of affairs must
continue until reiief il granted by Con-
gress.
Under the present conditions our tax
Gales are principally attractive from the
fact that = safe means is thus afforded,
under cover Of law, for tile cancellation
arrears in taxes.
'.It has been tue custom of this office To
collect the surplus bid al tax sale, upn
issue OF deed TO purchaser, in accoudauce
with scctiauS I6I and 162, Revised Statutes
OF the District of Columbia. In recent
opinion by the attorney for the District he
decides that these Sectiols We're repealed by
section Df the act of 1877 and that pur-
chasers at tax sales, who bid for the prop
erty more than required for the payment
or tile taxes, interest, penalties and costs
are requirrd 30 pey the surplus TO tue col
hector o. taxes before the close of the sac
and The issuance of the certificate think.
in view OF the fact that this Surplus draws
no interest il would be well TO Te-ehac1
sections I6I and 162 OF the Revised
Statutes Of the District of Columbia -
OF the matter OF the payment by the
street RAILROADS OF per cent OF thei-
gross revenues TO the District, he says:
The dej Of incorporation Of The street
railway companies, with few exceptions
requires them To pay To the District, In
icO OF personal taxes, 4 per cent Of their
gross receipts. My attention being called
TO the compliance with the Law On the
part of several Of these companies, ] noti-
fled then OF their delinquency and in
formed them that they should without
delay make some satisfactory arrange
ment for the liquidation of the sane,
otherwise 1 w8aIG take such action as
IS authorized by law 10 enforce collection
Before tie arri sal OF the day set TO distrain
ore OF tie roads obtained from the supreme
court OF tie District a writ Of injunction
upon a petition attacking the cOnstita
tionality OF the act, and thus suspending
all proceedings in the matter Unit: the
case can be called and acted upon by the
court The decision in this case viii
act as a precedent, and, If adverse, the
District will lose a large amount OF money;
therefore l. uphold its legality no efforts
should be spared"
The collector recommends that an as
lie employed. and suggests an addition
of $500 10 the salary OF the deputy col
hector.
1t is also recommended that q horse
anG wagon be purchased for the use OF
the messenger who handles the funds to
minimize the safety of the handling and
transmission OF the money.
or the great increase in the work Of
the office Mr. Davis gives a detailed
statement. Tie average daily entries
on the several books of the office, aside
from the realty and water tax bills, have
increased five fold. In this connection
the collector makes an urgent request
for more room. He says the cramped
condition al the office causes delay
and makes errors possible all the time
As To the Hawkins robbery. Mr.. Davis
reCites the weil-EROwn facts, cOInmending
Major Moore and Inspector Mattingly, and
paying compliment tG the Canadian a l.
thorities He concludes:
In view Ct the recent robbery in this
office would suggest and recommend
that a time lock be placed On the safe,
which can bc done at an outlay of $500"
Collector Davis ends his report with the
following commendatioh of his own clerks
In conclusion / desire to acknowledge
the hearty cooperation and faithful sery-
ices Of the clerks employed in this office.
Their duties are onerous and eXacring, yet
they have never failed TO promptly and
cheerfully meet all requirements working
continuously. in season and out of season,
often afUeT hours, aud by close confinement
TO their desks endangsring health and sac
rificing pleasure 1 have confidence in their
integrity and appreciate their faithfulness.'