The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-06


were confined to local purchasers ard we're
not of such magnitude as to very seriously
interfere with the work of the office. In
consequence, the force was able to do what
was necessary without assistance Now
that our sales have attracted the atten-
ton of purchasers outside of the District
of Columbia as being safe and profitable
investments, as evidenced by the invest
ment of over $685. of foreign capital
II our last sale, a different condition of
Affairs has arisen that must be provided
for
The increase OF over 800 per cent in the
number of lots heretofore sold means O
large increase In the work of the sale and
this has impressed me with the fact that
the time has come when adequate provi-
sion must be made and d sufficient force
provided whereby this Important work can
be separated from other duties OF the Of
nee, in order that sufficient time and at
tention can be given to Il to secure ac-
curacy as well as promptness. Comrenc-
ing in January of each year with a pre-
liminary examination of the tax ledgeTs-
thirteen in number-the sale is not finally
completed until the ensuing May. Our
working force is sadly curtailed in the
busiest month OF the year preparing the
certificates and statement for record OF the
property sold in April, and the office is
thus embarrassed and subject to unfavor-
able comment by our inability 10 despatch
the regular business promptly.
The accounts, when prepared for pub
LEGATION, contain on an average 5000 pieces
OF property subject TO advertisement and
sale. Il is necessary TO give location, own
ership. description, tax deliquent, penal
ty, ETC., of each piece of property, and this
information has to be verified and revised
by the clerks of this office, in addition TO
repeated comparisons of the list in order to
prevent the publication as delinquent
property on which the tax may have been
paid pending its preparation.
Larger Force Needed.
Mr.. Davis stated that the working force
of his Office was assigned years ago when
ii was sufficient for the work required. In
July, 1883, two clerks were added to his
staff, and he stated that he is now trying
to get along with an assignment OF help
which was inadequate ten years ago. lie
called attention to the cramped quarters
of the Office, to the fact that he had ante
diluyian furniture, and was not allowed
even a typewriter for his correspondence.
The Collector enumerated some o: the
changes which. he thinks, necessitate an
enlargement Of his office facilities, saying:
THE accounts of the city and county re-
quired In 1881 ten tax Iedgers. while now
nineteen are in use, and each one a third
larger than the old ones. Transfers of
property have increased f5om about 500
annually TO nearly 5000. There are now
IS 600 accounts on the Assessors books to
about 5000 in 1881. The increase Is &C
counted for by the many subdivisions
made, especially in the county, in the past
ten years. Two books Of entry were suffic-
lent In 1885; six are now required. The
advertisement of the delinquent tax list OF
1887 required pamphlet of 800 pages; that
of 1899 required one of 600 pages and SO
columns of newspaper advertising. For
the sale of 1857, 600 certificates were is
sued: for the sale of 1896 100 certificates
were issued: for the sale OF 1897, 1865 GER
tificates were issued; for the sale of 1898,
5 1893 certificates were issued and for the
sale of 1899 there were $500. These GER
tiicates must be written, compared, re-
corded. and entered on the records of this
and the Assessors Office. Water bills have
increased from ,314 in 1881 to about As,
600 in 1888 This means about $1,000 more
bills TO enter, receipt, and return, and ne
cessitated an increase in the books OF en-
try from two to six, and in addition to this
there are goo water-metre accounts. the
rents for which are collected quarterly.
THE average daily entries on the sew
,ral books, aside from the realty and water
bills, have increased fvefold, by reason of
new accounts kept with the Surveyor.
Sealer of Weights and Measures, Health
Department permit clerk, and for PERI at
work and changing the deposits of Police
Court from semi monthly to daily requir-
ing all permits issued by the Building In
spector to be paid by the holder Instead
of depositing the same in one amount at
the end OF the day, and requiring occu
pants Of market stalls to pay rent 20 the
Collector of Taxes instead Of as hereto
fore. to the Market Master. and requiring
payment to the Collector of fines assessed
against policemen and hremen.
More Room Needed.
1.-The business OF the Office could be per-
formed with much more satisfaction TO
the public and ourselves had we the space
necessary for the purpose. Vexatious de-
lays occur because we have not the room
to open all the books needed in our daily
routine, and for the same reason errors
In entering the bills, while infrequent,
are liable to occur at any time. Books
are piled upon each other, causing the loss
Of much time and annoyance in finding
those which may be needed. Desks and
tables, while insufficient, take up nearly
all the floor space, making it difficult TO
move around. the narrow passageways Of
fering distractions to try the patience and
temper In a word, the room is inadequate
and does not afford sufficient space for
the furniture necessary for the proper
transaction of the business Of the Office !
We have no facilities for filing valuable
papers and receipts and no room for file !
cases where they could be easy OF access
for reference and secure from loss and !
mutilation. More room, properly equipped |
with modern furniture and appliances. is !
an absolute need to meet the require
m, nts OF the growing business Of the Of |
ice"
Mr.. Davis has repeatedly implored Con-
yress for an assistant cashier, q coupon
clerk, and two additional clerks This, |
ne thinks, would man the office so that |
he many Yexatious delays. OF which the |
public justly complain. would be avoided
Mr.. Davis stated further that II was |
to neglect correspondence be-
,ause there was not time to attend TO il. |
He pointed TO a pile of letters in the safe |
foot deep received at the Office with re- |
nttances for water rent which had not |
been answered owing TO the rush outside. |
Mr.. Davis said that when the office again |
settled down TO the accustomed routine II |
would take ten days to make out the re-
,eipts and enclose them to those who had |
paid their rents by letter. Meanwhile the !
ng complaints that their receipts are not |
After making the above statement in de-
all Mr.. Davis laughingly repeated the old |
adage. I'VE all have troubles OF our own"