Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-13

slight modification. The report opposes the
proposition to make annual collection of
taxes. instead of Semi-annual. as at pres
ent reasoning that the latter is more con-
venient and economically beneficial for the
taxpayer and produces prompter payments.
Moreover, semi-annual payments are not so
disturbing to the financial conditions in the
District annual payments. which would
require the withdrawal of double the
amount of funds al one time, and would be
sure to unfavorably affect business gener
ally and the best interests of the city.
The assessor in his annual report recon-
mended the annual payment of taxes
stating there is no good reason why 1t
should not be adopted that 1t is the rule in
all other cities, that there is no formda bic
opposition here, and that 80 per cent of the
taxpaying citizens approve of the PROPOSE
ton. The board of trade takes issue upon
this proposition and statements made by
the assessor, and will all its influence
to prevent authority being given for annual
payments.
The report of the committee as adopted
recommends the repeal Of the personal tax
law, at present on the statute books. disap-
proves of personal tax bill as proposed by
the Commissioners. and also dsapproves of
the perpetuation of a variety of occupation
taxes or licenses, giving convincing reasons
therefor.
Against Personal Tax Law.
Numerous citations against a personal tax
law are made from the official reports of
The resolutions recommended by the COM
mttee and adopted are as follows:
Resolved That if it is desirable, as pro-
posed in the bill under consideration, to ex-
empt church property from taxation. with
equal reasons should charitable Institutions
conducted not for gain, be exempted
Resolved That taxes should be collected
semi-annually instead of annually as pro-
posed by said bill.
Resolved. That, believing a tax on per-
sonal property inimical to the best interests
of the District. we are opposed to the en-
actment of any law providing therefor.
Resolved. That If any special tax be lev
led on corporations not enjoying public
franchises, such tax should be levied on
net earnings
Resolved. That occupation taxes should
only be levied to secure identification and
for police purposes, or only in the event Of
| the said bill should be so amended as to at
tain this end, and no other"
The committee on taxation and officers of
the board of trade will be expected to rep
resent the views of the board of trade to
Congress next session. with special refer
ence to time Tor paying taxes and personal
and occupation tax.
Protection to Property Owners.
The efforts of the assessor to avoid tax
sales by notifying delinquent taxpayers by
mail before sale and prior to issuance of
deed, so far as practicable, will prove a
great protection to property owners and
his efforts are to be highly commended
The proposition to note arrears of general
taxes when current tax bills are applied
for and rendered will avoid, many times,
unintentional delinquency, and prove salts
factory to the taxpayer 1t is maintained
that the system of exemption from taxation
has been largely abused and should be cor
rected. Exempting from special assessments
and water main taxes any other than
property belonging to the government is
disapproved. Upon both of these subjects
| 1t would appear that the board of trade
may readily concur. The revision of the
present license laws Is suggested Reasons
therefor appear to be ample. Such course
will undoubtedly receive the support of the
board. The assessor and collector properly
ask for an increase of assistance and cier-
| ical force sufficient to properly transact
the business of their respective Offices 1t
| is not only in the interest Of the govern
nent, but the citizens. and justice to the
officers and employees of these bureaus
that Congress should provide for the in
crease of force asked for. We well know
| that the volume of work has doubled and
trebled in these bureaus since 1881, with
out additional help, overworking the pres
ent force and injuring the efficiency OF the
service. AS compared with the assessors
and tax officers Of other cities of the same
population, the force and total cost is far