The evening times., 1899-12-05

4
Total tax on personal property. ssij.sli -
| Aggregate tax on real and
| personal property-.......-. s2-stNj.9's 20
| The rate of general tax for the year was
| fixed at $50 on each 500 for all taxable
| personal property and for all real property
| except that used solely for agricultural
purposes. the rate of which was 81 per 500
OF assessed valuation.
very important advance was made in
the matter of designating parcels of land
for convenience of reference in making as
sessments, by the passage of the act ap-
proved March 3. 1899. which established a
system designed TO give to each parcel of
land a designation to distinguish il from
every other parcel. But. through mis-
understanding, the scope Of this law does
not fully cover the subject, in that-it omits
TO make any provision for specifically des-
ignating parcels OF duly designated lots
when the title 10 such parcels passes by
metes and bounds
Legislation Wanted.
The bill prepared and submitted by the
Commissioners contained, in addition TO the
provisions in the law as enacted, section
as follows: Section g. That hereafter. be-
fore any instrument of conveyance of land
in said Distrie; shall be recorded in the Of
fee OF the Recorder OF Deeds. such instru-
ment must bear eonspicuously endorsed
thereon a certificate from the office of the
Surveyor of said District showing the
proper designation, for the purposes OF this
act of the land so conveyed, according 20
the Surveyors records. as provided in Sec
tion 1: and such certificate shall be entered
upon the records OF the said Recorder as
a part of the record of the said instrument
OF conveyance
At present a parcel OF land bearing dis
tinctive designation upon the Surveyors
and Assessors records may, in fact. con-
sist of a number of parcels of different
ownerships- In case it should become nee
essary 10 advertise any OF these parcels for
sale for taxes in arrears. the advertisement
must contain full description of the
bounds of such parcels. and thereby en-
tail vast and unreasonable amount of
work and expense.
The section was stricken out OF the bill
while II was in the Senate, during the clos
ing hours OF the session, when thsre was
not time 10 deliberately consider the force
of certain objections which had been made
to il by a number of real estate firms in
the District. These objections were essen
TALLY that the proceeding set forth in the
recording of deeds. But. as the routine
prescribed would not require made than a
few minutes in any instance, the opposi-
tion was based on a misapprehersion OF
the situation. The Commissioners recon-
mend the enactment of this section as early
as practicable.
a Municipal Building.
The Districts resources were never in
hatr han
gress in making provision for the oonstruc-
tion of a municipal building, consistent in
design and location with the prominence
of the District as the seat of the National
Government.
The Commissioners can imagine no ne
cessity for further argument to demon
strate the necessity and advantage of pro-
viding suitable structure for the accom-
mediation of the District government and
courts. and as it is no longer a question Of
financial expediency. and encouraged 10
hope that this often deferred subject will
receive the favorable and adequate action
of Congress during the coming session.
New Business Methods Proposed
Since the Commissioners made their re-
port of the fiscal year 1888. the committee
appointed to examine the business methods
in operation in the District Offices and
recommend such changes therein as might
appear advisable, has submitted an account
of its doings, and suggested certain modi-
cations designed to improve the manner Of
conducting the municipal business. The
change recommended consists to great
extent of the adaptation Of a card system
to large portion of the records now kept
in books; and It is believed would result
in a saving OF time, labor, and material to
the District and conduce to the public con-
venience by the greater accessibility and
facility for reference it would afford. The
Commissioners were SO impressed with the
advantages of many Of those recommends
tions that they ordered their adoption, and
hope in the early future to have them in
practical application.
The recent transfer Of Police Headquar-
ters to the Harper Building, on C Street.
Four-and-a-half- and Sixth
Streets northwest, will allow the
to give more Of
fee room to the Collector Of Taxes and
enable him and the Assessor to better ar
range their forces and methods for the
conduct of the Office business and the ac-
of the public. Additions to
the force Of the Collector have not kept
pace with the great Increase in the ONCE
work due to the growth Of the Distriea
In material prosperity and for other reasr
sons set forth in the Collectors report, but
the Commissioners have reason to believe
that with the rearrangement Of business
which the increased office capacity will
afford. and the increase IN the cf1ce force
much OF the embarrassment
existing on that account may be obviated
The Commissioners are still impressed
with the conviction that the civil services