The evening times., 1900-09-20

sary for the better and more efficient
transaction of the business of the Of
hce. The collections of taxes for the fls-
cal year were:
| Realty tax .............S 90, 756. .9G:l. 30
Personal tax ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. lI9.217.a1
Penalties and interest ........,... s5, ,35LS7
Miscellaneous sources ,..-.-..-...-.,. 5i2ooD vi
Water fund ................. $40 339.0i
Assessment and permit work s., ,s9l.91
Water service connections l,l2s.5Z
Improvements and repairs 1Gl3232
On account of United States -..-...-.. 16.S9s.72
mcntS) .................... 49, "a
Permit work (yyhole eost) .......... 1885, 095. 80
Total ........-..-.-..... 4.62s. .662. IS
Z have renewed my recommendation,
says the Collector, '.for an increase in the
force Of this Office which is made more ur-
gent by the proposed change in the sys-
tenn of collecting taxes The increase
asked for, namely, an assistant cashier,
two additional entry clerks, and q coupon
clerk, will be necessary in putting into
effect the changes we propose to inaugu-
rate, and the advantages gained viii, we
hope, more than compensate for the ex-
pense incurred. The office has been en-
tirely rearranged, new counters put i'll
place, an additional cashiers desk added,
and more counter room for the conven-
fence of the public.
II Is proposed TO nave ali IaA plltS pre-
pared and carefully arranged in cases, in
alphabetical order. prior to the time of
payment, May, 1901, so that upon appli-
cation the taxpayer will find his bill
ready for delivery, and upon payment of
the same he obtains his receipt from the
cashier, and thus avoids, in a great meas
ure. the long, vexatious delay incident to
obtaining and paying tax bills during the
| busy seasons under the present system.
BY this same arrangement, we hope, also,
to prevent duplicate payments, as no reg
| uIar bill will be furnished. unless receipt
ed which must necessarily be after pay
ment has been made In order that tax
payers may have an opportunity to exam
inc and adjust their accounts before pay
ment. memorandum bills viii be furnish
ed the regular bill being substituted
therefor at the time of payment.
For the successful operation of the
new system it appears to be necessary
that a change be made from semi annual
10 annual payments of taxes in order that
| sufficient time may be obtained for the
/ preparation in advance of payment, of all
( tax bills. The necessity of the passage of
n law authorizing the collection OF taxes
! in one instaIlment has often been urged by
! this office. and it gains additional force at
| the present time. for the reason above
stated. l therefore earnestly recommend
that the annual payment OF general taxes
Dt ulddt 45OIIlldIISuI ne SlOlll vi SNAA'-
annual payments, which has been IN prac-
tical operation ia this city for years, has
developed no advantages 10 the District
or taxpayers. 1t has been the fruitful
cause of many errors on part of taxpayers
overlooking payment of the second half OF
the taxes and subjecting them to the pay
ment of heavy penalties, and many small
taxpayers through preference or neglect,
who pay in one installment in May are
cOplupllad n L fha first half
During the fiscal year of 1900. this office
collected in penalties alone SS4 ,220-T5, a
large percentage OF which was due to the
two-pa yInent system. Business suffers also
/ from the present system as over one mil
lion dollars are taken out of circulation
! when most in demand in the transaction
| Of the fall business. when COAL heavy
| clothing, and other winter supplies are
/ needed.
| The tax sale of 1900 was but a repe-
! tition of the unprecedented sale of 1899,
! which exceeded all prior sales in its mag
! nitude, the certificates issued being sew
eTal thousand III excess of what were issued
! at any time heretofore I have no reason
| to anticipate any decrease in the amount
of future sales and this fact compels US
! 10 renew our recommendation for an ap-
! pTopTiation for the purpose of preparing
! fer the sale hereafter and encourages US
| with the belief that no argument we could
/ necessity Of such action than calling atten-
/ ton To the fact above stated. The prepa-
ration. examination. and comparison OF
! 5000 sale certificates involves a vast
amount of labor; in order to accomplish
! This, and prepare a statement for record
/ in compliance with law additional force
must be provided. and TO meet this con-
| ditio1 l respectfully recommend that Con-
! gresS be asked for an appropriation of $500
! the same to be available at once, for the
! payment of experienced clerks to be Sc
| lected from the force of this and the AS
! SCISSORS Office, who shall perform this work
| after office hours, under the direction of
| the Collector Of Taxes
L ask the renewal of the appropria-
! tiOn of $1,000 for the collection of over
| due personal taxes. the outlay being but
! 4 small percentage of the amount co..
| lected and il is the means of collecting
much that would be a loss to the Dis
trict. During the fiscal year of 1909
| there was collected on this account
So 1S9.S4.
Il have again included in my estimates
! an addition of $500 to the salary of the
| Deputy Collector, the amount originally
asked for being 81, eco. which I consider
! only a fair compensation for the duties
! and responsibilities of the position
The necessity for an appropriation
/ for a horse and wagon is urgent and
| should be promptly allowed. The amount
| necessary is so trifing In comparison
with its Importance. and the fact that
il would greatly lessen the liability from
loss, favor such action. l again beg to
to invite your attention to a suggestion
made in a previous report that Congress
be asked for authority to divide and ap-
portion all charges for special assess
ments against an original lot among its
subdivisions. According to an opinion of
the Attorney for the District such as
sessments cannot De charged in full
| against each subdivision of original lot.
| as is customary, consequently these as
sessments if collected, in this way, are
Illegal, and are subject to refund, and
are lost to the District. In view of the
| fact that there are some thousands OF
dollars of unpaid assessments on origi-
nal lots, which have been subdivided
collection of which is jeopardized by the
method Of advertising, it is very impor-
tant that some action be taken In the
matter
ORIGIN OF THE TERM MOB.