The times., 1899-12-06

Personal property .................s .slsIss,7o7 90
Street railways taxed on gross re-
celPts s.......-.--.....-.--.-. Aty4- -tJi I'd
Total assessed value of tax
able real estate and personal
properly I'm the District q
Columbia on July ], ls,"-- Sla'97-, - a9
Amount Of tax
Washington City at sI-50.--.--... S2.272, AZ IS
Washington county at Sl-59------.- s",ss. p
Washington county az sl----.---.. 566's Is
Total zeal estate tax-..-..... S2.62o,I6a s.
$40 SAC 66g personal property atSl 50. SIS I99 %
2.G4f.0ft capital stock street rail-
WAYS less realty az Sl-50.----.-. a9,515 81
1l95,5Sl gross receipts street rail
ways at per cenr--.----.----- $3.50 20
Total tax on personal property ssI5.sl4 So
Aggregate tax on real and
personal property ty-,..-.---. s1,sr5-sl- 20
The rate Of general tax for the year was
fixed at $50 on each S100 for all taxable
personal property and for all real property
except that used solely for agricultural
purposes, the rate of which was S per 800
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 g. 1899 which established a
system designed 10 give to each parcel Of
land a designation TO distinguish it from
every other parcel But, through a mis-
understanding. the scope OF this law does
not fully cover the subject. in that &C. 0mits
10 make any provision for specifically des-
iguating 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, q section
as follows: section 3. That hereafter, be-
fore any instrument Of conveyance Of land
in said District shall be recorded in the Of
fee Of the Recorder of Deeds, such instru-
ment must bear conspicuOusly endorsed
thereon 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 70
the Surveyors records, as provided IN sec
tiou / 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 a dis
tinctive designation upon the Surveyors s
and Assessors records may, in fact, con-
sist OF 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 a full description Of the
bounds Of such parcels. and thereby en-
tail a vast and unreasonable amount OF
work and expense.
The section was stricken cut of the bin
while IL was in the Senate during the clos
ing hours Of the session. when there was
not time 10 deliberately consider the force
of certain objections which had been made
10 il by a number OF real estate firms in
the District. These objections were essen
italy that the proceeding set forth in the
section might entail material delays in the
recording of deeds But, as the routine
prescribed would not require made than
few minutes Iu any instance, the Oppozi-
tfon was based or a misapprs heUsion OF
the situation. The Commissioners recon-
mend the enactment of this section as early
/ as practicable
\ Municipal BuiIdiEG.
The Districts resources were never iu
better condition than now to justify Con
gress in making provision for The consIruc-
/ tion Of municipal building, consistent in
design and location with the prominence
OF the District as the seat OF the National
I Government.
! The Commissioners can imagine no ne
! cessity for further argument 90 demon
strate the necessity and advantage OF pro-
/ viding a suitable structure for the accom-
modation of the District government and
courts. and as il is no longer q question OF
/ financial eXpediency, and encouraged %
hope that this often deferred subject VIII
receive the favorable and adequate action
/ Of Congress during the coming session
New business Methods Proposed.
( Since the Commissioners made their re-
I mort OF the fiscal year 1898 the COMMITTEES
| 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 10 improve the manner Of
conducting the municipal business The
/ change recommended consists 20 a great
extent Of the adaptation Of card system
/ to large portion Of the records now kept
in books; and it is believed would result
I in a saving of time. labor, and material TO
1 the District and cOUduce 10 the public con-
I venieuce by the greater accessibility and
I facility for reference il would afford The
/ Commissioners were so impressed with the
/ advantages Of many OF those recOmmenda-
tions that they ordered their adoption. ana
hope in the early future to have them in
/ practical application.
The recent transfer Of Police Headquar-
( ters 10 the Harper BuIdiuE nu = Street,
/ between Four-and-a- half and sixth
/ Streets northwest, win allow the
/ Commissioners 10 give more Of
4 fee room 20 Jhe Collector Of Taxes and
enable him and the Assessor to bettsr arr
] range their forces and methods for the
| couducr Of the Office business auJ the ac-
| commodatiou of the public Additions to
/ the force of the Collector have not Kept
/ pace with the great increase in the office
work due to the growth of The District
/ in material prosperity and for other reas-
/ sons set forth iu the Collectors report, bus
/ the Commissioners have reason 10 believe
/ that with the rearraugement or business
/ which the increased otlce capacity VIII
lhord and the increase lu the Office force
/ commended much % the emb3rrls- ulenL
| existing on that account may be ohvia-ed
The Commissioners are still impressed
with the conviction thar the civil service