Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-12
IMPORTANT CONSOLIDATION
OF DISTRICT ASSESSOR
MATERIALLY BROADENED.
Special Assessment Dfvision and
Water Main Tax Records Now
Under His Charge.

The District Commissioners today d.
rected that the special assessment division
and SO much Of the water registrars office
as pertain to tho records of water main
taxes be consolidated with the office of the
assessor They also ordered that the spe-
cial assessment division and SO much of the
force of the water registrars office as is
engaged in keeping the records of tho water
main taxes SO transferred shall hereafter
be subject to the supervision and direction
of the assessor, Mr.. H. II. Darne;lle.
1t will bs recalled that the Commission
ers the 18th of last August, appointed a
commission. consisting Of the deputy aud
itor of the District. Mr.. Alexander Mchen-
zie: the superintendent of property. Mr.. r.
d. Simms. and the disbursing officer, Mr.
Chas. C. Rogers, with direction and author
ity to inspect the operations of the special
division and it's methods, and to report
what, if any. changes should be made TO
facilitate the public work. and what, If any,
addition to or reduction OF the force en-
ployed might be in the public interest.
This commission submitted its report the
Sth of the following month, explaining that
it felt constrained to say, in justice and
fairness, that the records of the special as
sessment division, presided over by Mr.. j.
W. Daniel, had been found by 1t to have
been kept in a neat, systematic and busl-
nesslike manner. practically up to date at
all times, and that any information per-
tanning to these records could be promptly
given. The commission, whose report APP
peared in full in The Star at the time, eX-
planned at great length the methods pur-
sued in the special assessment division.
stating that it sometimes happened that
taxpayer would ask for his tax bill and
after receiving it would pay 1t with the
impression that he had then paid all the
charges existing against him. only to find
later on that his property was advertised
for sale had been actually sold for
special tax or some other charge OF winch
he ignorant at the time he paid MS
taxes, and the existence of which he should
have been informed of at the time he re-
ceived his tax bill, and would have been,
the commission added, had the proper
methods prevailed
Other Cases Cited.
Other cases were cited by the commission
where purchasers of real estate had APP
piled for and obtained a tax certificate. or
inquired if any taxes were charged against
a piece of property, which tax certlhcate
showed no taxes or assessments due or
charged, and that in consequence OF this
infOrma ton made settlement or the pur-
chase money on such basis, only to discover
subsequently that the cost of improvements
to the purchased property had not been
assessed, although the improvements mao
been completed some considerable time, ana
had entered into the fixing of the value OF
purchasing price. All this, the commission
pointed out caused the taxpayer not only
unnecessary annoyance anu NCAaI4pi pA'
in effect. made him pay for the betterments
a second time.
Consideration Recommended.
The commission, therefore, earnestly rec
ommend the consolidation made by the
Commissioners today, also recommending
that every officer of the municipality hav-
ing charge of the execution of any law or
order the enforcement of which results In
a charge against property be directed ana
required to report to the assessor as speed
fly as possible any and every act or pro-
ceeding resulting in or likely to result in
lien or charge any piece or pieces OF
real estate. 1t was further recommended
by the commission that copy or all orders
of the Commissioners authorizing work the
cost of which any part thereof would be
charged as a special assessment to the
abutting property should be Immediately
sent to the assessor for such record as
would best enable him to give prompt in
format lion to any one desiring 1t.
There are other defects, reported the
commission, .'in the present unallied and
diSjointed methods, such as sending citi-
zen from one Office to another In q hap
hazard. get-it-if-you-can trip, seeking in
formation about his taxes by piecemeal
which should be furnished to him promptly
at one central office. But these effects
must be apparent to any one who will take
but a short time to consider the subject.
The chief protection of the citizen from
like errors and annoyances must be in the
intelligence and faithfulness of public Of
ticerS and good administrative methods. We
do not believe the system good one, nor
is it based sound businesslike methods
that will permit such unmethodical condi-
lions to continue. The citizen or taxpayer
is entitled to the fullest information about
his property. including not only any bur-
den or taxes that may exist but any order
issued proceedings taken which will I'LL
timately become charge upon it, with the
least possible delay and with a minimum
of inconvenience to him, always keeping in
mind. of course, the general good to the
community at large. This can be done, in
our opinion. by consolidation. 1t is not only
achievable but. we believe, very pracu-
cable, and certainly compatible with mod
ern business principles.
Another recommendation made by the
commission was that the proper officer or
officers of the engineer department be di-
rected and required to send to the assessor
with the least possible delay, after compile
ton Of any work the cost Of which would
be charged to abutting property, state
| ment of its character. limits and cost and
such other information in connection there
with as would enable him to make the as
sessnent. In making this recommendation
the commission explained that several
months sometimes elapsed between the time
of completion of a piece of work and the
time it is certified to the special assess
ment division, adding that if it is possible
to avoid such delay it should by all means
be required in the interest Of good admins
trat!on. In concluding its report, the COM
mission said:
Order of the Day.
Permit US to say that We are bound to
recognize that concentration or consolida-
ton of business methods is the order Of the
day, and essential to efficiency and econom-
ical management. gives more masterful
and comprehensive grasp of supervision
and unities and harmonizes administ ra-
ton -
This report of their commission the Com
missioners, after giving long and very care
full consideration to It, finally approved the
result being their order today. Such a con-
solicitation has also been recommended by a
number of prominent citizens who believe
as the commission explained. it was de-
manded in the interest of good administra-
ton and businesslke methods.
ONE MEMBER OMITTED,
HfDI, SchnnJ (.raAuate Whn nosarra.