The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-06-08
REMISSION OF TAXES.
Two Applications Denied by the Dis
trfct CommiSsiOners.


The Commissioners had before them this
morning two applications for the remission
Of taxes. both ot which were decided
against the applicants.
One Of these vas from Charles A Hart
mann. OF Sos G STNeet southeast. who
wrote in behalf Of his claim that be called
at the District Building OF certain date
20 pay his taxes and was greatly surprised
10 learn that his property had been sold
in 1892 for delinquent taxes He claims
that he asked for his tax bills that year in
the name If A c B. Dennis. and was Civ
en- the certificate which he enclosed in The
letter 10 the Commissioners. and he as
serts that he paid the amount that the
certificate calls for, having just then pur-
chased the property
Supposing that the taxes were paid and
the property clear. Mr. Hartmann says Re
made no enquiry about any taxes due IN
I'll April /. 1886. when he obtained loan
OF the property and called for a tax cer-
uGcate s-EWiuE that there Eas no tax
unpaid 10 that date. n view Of these facts
Mr. Hartmann asks the Commissioners 70
relieve him from the payment Of the
taxes and penalties. on the ground that the
selling OF the property was a mistake due
to errors in the Tax Department.
The matter having been referred to the
Assessor. that Official reported to the
! Commissioners that il had been found
Epon examination Of the records OF this
case that Mr.. Hartmann paid the tax cn
part OF lot 9 Of square ST7, on which the
house was erected, and failed 70 pay the
balance of 45 cents on lots 10 ard II. 1T
/ is scarcely pOsst stble that an enpl0ye would
give out a BILL" the Assessor continues
''for any lot or part OF lot in an account
where there was tax on other lots due
/ tn he q
balance, without being specially requested
| 20 do so.
Referring 10 the certificate under date
| Of April I. 1886. given from thi- Office and
/ showing no tax due on sub-lots To and II
for the year 1892, IL is found that Nr.
Hartmann became the owner of this prop
/ erty in April, 1891. and is still in possess
Ton Of the same, no transfer Of said prop
/ erty having been made upon the faith of
| the certificate given But in view Of the
/ certificate Of April l, 1886, on which this
| tax was omitted for the yeaT 1892 rec
| onmend that penalty and interest be
charged only to date Of said certificate
| Commissioner Ross moved that the ques-
| tiOn be referred 10 the Attorney Tor an
| opinion on the same, in which his asso-
| ciates agreed.
| The other application was tia: Of John
| Farrell of 2519 I Street northwest who
asks o. the Commissioners that he be al
lowed to pay the tax On sub-lOt b. square
1e. for TIE year 1897, without penalty and
\ interest On the ground that he was served
with the tax bill of 1898, when he should
lave received that OF 1887. He assigns the
| failure to pay the tax promptly 10 az e.
Tor in the Tax Office In reporting on this
case the Assessor says:
The tax iedgers for 1895. 1881. 1895, and
1899 show payments on property owned by
! Mr. Farrell as follows. The tax on sublOt
"A square as. for the years 1886, 1891, 1895,
and 1888 was paid in half yearly install
ments at the exact date when due. In
1896 the tax on the four parcels of proper
| " belonging TO him were paid at different
dates. all bearing q penalty. For 1857 he
presents bills given him for taxes due for
| exemption from penalty and interest, that
/ if paid would still leave sublot T. square
16. unpaid for that year. In 1855 and 1899
the take son sublo; 4, squar 90 were all
paid with a penalty attached
Considering the record OF irregularity
/ in the payments for former years il would
| not be consistent TO hold this ONCE re-
| sponsible for the neglect TO pay the 1887
tax when due. Therefore, am constrained
| to submit an adverse recommendation on
the application.
The Commissioners have approved the
recommendation Of the Assessor.