The times., 1898-01-25

are letting the various payments go Dy
default, looking forward TO the fact
that each year only adds to the amount
to be subsequently Cancelled. and there
by adding additional burdens of eX-
pense upon the prompt taxpayer.
The bill provides that on the third
Tuesday in March of each year the
Commissioners shall give notice which
shall contain the name of each and
every person in which each piece OF
property is assessed. together with the
amount of tax against each, by adYer
tising twice a week for three successive
weeks in the regular issue of two or
more daily papers published in the Dis
trict, that said pamphlet has been pre-
pared and that a copy thereof will be
delivered to any taxpayer applying
therefor at the office of the collector of
taxes
1t also provided for the employment
by the Commissioners of sufficient
clerical force to prepare the list and to
perform such other duties as may be
assigned to them by the Assessor.
Mr.. Dingiey. of Maine, objected TO
this provision and amended the bill by
striking it out The amendment was
accepted by Mr.. Curtis.
The bin further provided that the
District Commissioners should adYer-
tise in at least two daily papers pub
Iished in the District that pamphlets
containing a list of property TO be sold
may be obtained at the District build
ing, and that July / of each year the
Commissioners shall sell all property
upon which the 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 on any lot the said col
lectOr of taxes shall bid the amount due
on the same and purchase it for the
District. Any purchase other than the
District shall pay the amount of his
bid TO the collector of taxes within five
days after the last day of sale.
Immediately after the close of the
sale upon payment of the purchase
money the said collector of taxes shall
issue to the purchaser a certificate OF
sale. and if the property shall not be
redeemed by the owner thereof within
two years from the last day of sale. by
payment TO the collector of taxes, for
the use of the legal holder of the GER
tificate, the amount for which il was
sold at such sale and 10 per cent there
on. deed shall be given by the COM
missioner of the District to the puT-
chaser at such tax sale or to the as
signee of such certificates, which deed
shall be admitted and held 10 be prina
facie evidence of good and perfect
title in fee simple.
The bill continues TO say:
Provided. That no deed shall be is
sued until all taxes and assessments
appearing upon the tax books against
the property are paid with penalties,
interests ard costs. including taxes for
the years for which the District pur-
chased the property advertised at taE
sale. Provided, That no property ad-
vertised shall be sold upon any bid
not sufficient to meet the amount of
tax, penalty and costs; but in case the
highest bid upon any property is not
sufficient to meet the taxes, penalties
and costs thereon the property shall
thereupon be bid of by the said collect
or of taxes, in the name of the District
of Columbia: but the property so bid
off shall not be exempted from assess
ment and taxation, but shall be assess
ed and taxed as other property. and
if within two years thereafter such
property is not redeemed by the owner
or owners thereof, or their legal rep
resentatives. by the payment of the
taxes. penalties and costs due at the
time of the sale, and that may have
accrued after that date. and 10 per
property, two years after having been
so bid off at any sale in the name of
said District. under this or any other
law whether heretofore or hereafter
made, is not or has not been so re-
deemed as aforesaid (unlesS it shall be
shown that the sale for taxes was ir
regular and void). then the Commits
sioners of the District shall. in the
name of and on behalf of the District
of Columbia, sell said property at pub
lie or private sale and issue to any
purchaser OF such property a deed.
which deed shall have the same force
and effect as the deed hereinbefore pro-
vided for in this section for property
sold at the regular annual sale;
Provided however. That no such deed
shall be issued until all assessments,
taxes, costs, and charges due the Dis
trict of whatsoever nature, shall have
been paid in full and that before the
deed is issued notice shall be published
three times in two daily newspapers
published in the District that a deed
has been applied for, and that unless
the owner comes forward within thir-
ty days from date of said notice aud
pays all arrears of taxes, general and
special. then due, the deed will be is
sued in accordance with the provisions
of this act. And provided, also, That
minors or other persons Under legal
disability be allowed one year after at
tanning full age, or after the removal
Cf such legal disability, TO redeem the
property so sold, or of which the title
has, as aforesaid. become vested in the
District of Columbia, from the pur-
chaser or purchasers. his, her. or thei'
assigns, or from the District of Column
bia, on payment of the amount of pur-
nI1 so hnr -. .,~ftI Al
per centum per annum interest there
on, as aforesaid, together with all tax
es and assessments that have been
paid thereon by the purchaser or his
assigns, between the day OF sale and
the period of redemption. with 10 per
centum interest in the amount of such
taxes and assessments. Provided, how
ever, That failure on the part of the
District, from any cause whatsoever
to enforce the liens acqui-ed shall not
release the property from any tax
whatsoever that may be due the Dis
trict''
The bill further provides that the
owner of any property sold for unpaid
taxes may redeem the same from such
sale at any time within two years at
ter the last day of the sale by paying
to the collector of taxes for the use of
the purchaser the sum mentioned in
the certificate of sale with interest
thereon at the rate of 15 per centum a
year. Minors are given until one year
after they become OF legal age to re-
deem such property
The House also passed bill for
the protection of birds. preservation
of game. and for the prevention of its
sale during certain closed seasons in
the District of Columbia" The object
of the bill is to cure defects in the ex-
isting law with a view TO preserve