Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-24
A DIST RICT DAY
Local Measures Considered in the
House.
BILL REGULATING TAX SALES PASSED
Some Amendments to 1t Were
Adopted.
OTHER MINOR MATTERS

committee in their work during the past
week. there were several bills of impor-
tance on the House calendar.
Mr. Curtis of Iowa took charge of the
District business the floor. He called up
House bill No. 1925
Judge jenkins of Wisconsin expIa ned the
bill to authorize the Secretary of the In
terror to grant and convey by qutclaim
deed to John H Cause and Charles z.
Cause, tenants in common. all interest
of the United States in lot numbered 10.
in square numbered 10I1. This act shall
have the effect only of a quitclaim of all
the right. title and interest of the United
States therein, but shall not affect an ad-
verse title to said land. If any, nor create
any liability on the part of the United
States. nor operate to discharge any taxes
or assessments levied thereon by the Dis
trict of Columbia; but the deed shall not
be delivered until satisfactory proof has
been made that all taxes and assessments.
both general and special levied on said lot
by the District of Columbia, have been
paid
He said: II appears that the United
States was once the owner of the land, and
sold ii tor a valuable consideration and
there is nothing in the records to show
upon what consideration the title to lot 10
was returned to the United States by de-
cree. The decree in question was never
filed or recorded in any other place than
the office of the clerk of the court where
the decree was entered. so as to become
notice OF the rights declared by the decree.
Commencing with the year 1897 the lot
has been assessed by the proper authorities
of the District of Columbia as the property
of individuals named, and never recognized
as being the property of the United States.
The bill was passed.
Taxes and Tax Sales.
MIR. Curtis then called up House bill No.
22S3. lin relation to taxes and tax sales in
the District Of Columbia, and the House
went into committee of the whole, with MIR.
Sherman of New York in the chair.
The report on the bill contains letter
from the assessor of the District, EXPLAIN
ing the necessity for the bill follows:
Under the provisions of the act ap-
proved March -, 1890 property which has
once been advertised for non pa yment of
taxes cannot be again advertised for the
same tax, and consequently when a party
other thar the District is the purchaser the
certificate OF sale issued by the Commits
sioners is for the tax of one year only. al
though twenty years and more of arrears
may be due and unpaid at the time. There
is also d peremptOry requirement in the
law that at the expiration of two years
from the date of sale the Commissioners
must, en- demand of the owner OF the tax
sale certificate, issue deed for the prop
trty, without providing condition pre-
oedent to sach deed that all overdue taxes
and assessments other than those involved
IN such tax-sale certificate shall also have
been paid.
'Under decision of the Supreme Court
Of the District. in the case of John H.
Brewer agt. the District of Columbia Il
ceed OF property made in pursuance of g
sale Tor arrears of taxes for any certain
year passes the property involved to the
purchaser at such sale, discharged of the
liens of all taxes and assessments remain
ing que and unpaid at the time of sale so
iaf as the District is concerned AS tax
oeeu thas carries with il clear title
against any claim of the District for taxes
que prior To its issue. it is a convenient
agency of frequent resort for the evasion
OF the payment of overdue assessments and
taxes. 1890
As the full force and effect of this deci-
slon Is becoming better known many are
tdkihS advantage of il. and instead of paw
ing thelr taxes promptly letting the
various payments go by default, looking
forward TO the fact that each year only
ADDS TO the amount TO be subsequently
cahceIed, and thereby adding additional
puruehs OF expense upon the prompt tax
payer
The bill contains eight sections. carving
out the suggestions of the assessor
Inc hrst section of the bill provided that
she assessor OF the District of Columbia
snail prepare a list of all taxes on real
property in said District subject to taxa
uoh on which said taxes are levied and in
arrears on the 1st day of July each year
hereafter and the Commissioners of said
District are authorized and directed to an
point sufficient clerical force to prepare
SAID list and perform such other duties as
may be assigned to them by the assessor
Mr. Dockery of Missouri insisted unon
striking out the provision for the clerical
force and the amendment was accepted.
Advertising and Sale of Property.
This section further provides for adyertis-
Ing the property upon which taxes are
overdue. and section provides that July 1
OF each year the Commissioners shall pro-
ceed TO sell all property upon which such
taxes remain unpaid, and continue to sell
the same every secular day until all the
real property shall have been brought to
auction and sold. In case no other person
bids the amount due any lot the said
collector of taxes shall bid the amount due
on the same and purchase it for the Dis
trict.
Section provides that every purchaser
other than the District. at any sale of
property sold shall pay the amount of his
lid to the collector Of taxes within five
days after the last day Of sale II any such
purchaser shall rot have paid his bid,
or the same shall not have been collected
from him within the time above mention
&c, the Commissioners may set ASIDE the
sale for which TIE bid was made and all
the rights of the purchaser under such bid
shall thereby be extinguished. Immediate
ly after the close of the SALE upon pay
me mt OF the purchase money, the collector
OF taxes shall issue TO he purchaser a GER
uhcaie Of sale. and If the property shall
not be redeemed by the owner or owners
thereof within two years from the last
day of saie. by payment to the collector of
taxes OF said District. fer the use of the
legal holder of the certificate. the amount
for which II was sold at such sale and Is
per cenfum per anuum thereon deed
shall be given by the Commissioners of the
District. or Their successors in Office to
the purchaser at such tax sale, his heirs
o. devisees. or to the assignee of such GER
tifieates. which deed shall be admitted and
held TO be prima facie evidence of a good
ard perfect title, I'm fee simple. to any
property bought a, said sale herein author
lied.
Provided. That no deed shall be issued
II til all taxes and assessments appearing
upon the tax books against the property
are paid. with penalties interests and
costs, including taxes for the years for
which the District purchased the property
at tax sale; Provided. That no property
advertised shall be sold upor. any bid not
sufficient TO meet the amount of tax, PEN
atty and costs; but IN case the highest bid
rpon any property is Lot sufficient TO NEE.
he taxes. penalties and costs thereon the
(Coutin,Ien On rhir.l