The times., 1899-09-10

The annual report OF E. G. Davis, the
year ended June 80 last was submitted
to the District Commissioners yesterday
afternoon. Mr. Davis devotes particular at
tention to the large sums of money which
passed through his office during the year,
the amount aggregating almost $4,000, 900.
Mr.. Davis says that he believes much of
that increase is due to the general improve
ment in business and the large amount of
money in circulation.
A recommendation is made for a Con-
| gressional appropriation of $1,000 for the
! purpose of revising and correcting proofs.
preparing certificates and statements for
record, and entering the sale on the Col
lector's and the Assessors records, in order
that the delinquent tax list may in the fu-
| ture be prepared with that accuracy which
| its Importance demands. and in order that
| all requirements of the annual tax sale
may be given full and proper effect Col
/ lector Davis wants this appropriation to
| be available at once for the payment of
experienced and capable clerks in the Col
| lector's and Assessors offices, who shall
perform this work after Office hours under
| the direction of the Collector. A recon-
mendation is also made to have the words,
AT this or any other sale, whether hereto
| fore or hereafter made" stricken out Of
the act of 1898, for the reason that they
are regarded as misleading and productive
of unnecessary contention.
| Collector Davis thinks ii very important
/ that the law creating the office of the
| deputy collector of taxes, if it does not
already confer authority upon him TO act
| as Collector during the absence of the Col
lector, be amended so as to leave no doubt
on that subject. 1t is further stated in the
| report that the average daily entries on
the books Of the Office, aside from realty
| bills and water bills have increased about
| five-fold by reason of the new accounts
which are now kept with the Surveyor, the
Sealer of Weights and Measures, the
| Health Department, and the Permit Clerk
| About five hundred receipts were given last
year for deposits for bids, against forty
nine in 1881. A request is made for re-
newal of the appropriation of $500 for the
collection of overdue personal taxes, the
outlay being but small percentage on the
amount collected and it is the only means
OF collecting much money that would
otherwise be lost by the District.
The unexpected and unprecedented large
| tax sale. states the report, has borne
| upon the energies and ability of the Office
| to the utmost limit. sIn consequence of the
| limited time allowed for the preparation
OF advertisements and the sale of prope. ty
| for delinquent taxes and the inadequacy of
the clerical force to perform the wo:k, the
result has not been as satisfactory as could
be desired, and annoying errors have oc-
CURED. For a number of years the tax
sales were confined 10 local purchasers and
were not of such magnitude as TO very
seriously interfere with the work of the
Office, and as consequence the force was
able to do what was necessary, without as
sistance. Now that the sales have at
tracted the attention of purchasers outside
of the District as being safe and profitable
investments, as evidenced by the invest
ment of over S125, ,000 of foreign capital in
our last sale, a different condition of af-
fairs has arisen and which must be pro-
vided for"
The report presents the following figures
showing the amount of money collected
during the past year: Collected on account
of the realty tax, 81, 500, ,S55.72; on account
of personal tax, s195, ,661.5 80; on account of
penalties and interest, S101 ,S4621; on ac-
count of miscellaneous items, S496, ,9S7. 80;
on account OF the water fund, $346, ,S7512;
on account of assessment and permit work
S96, 155. IL; on account of water service con-
nections, s1,560.23; on account of improve
ments and repairs, 81, ,55095; deposits to
credit of the United States, SIT, ,690.3S; de-
posits to credit of the policemen and fire
mems fund, $50, 20S.3S; deposits to the
CT edit of the school fund, $3.50. As; repay
ments to appropriations, s227, ,630.77; de-
posits to secure bids, s225, 600; permit work
whole cost, s104, ,209.S7 Making a grand
total of 81, 832, ,5S201.