Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-12
Annual Statement Of Operations for
Past Fiscal Year.
THE VALUATIONS and TOTAL TAXES
Suggested Legislation for the I'M
provement of the Service.
ESTIMATES FOR YEAR 1902


with an estimate of the assessed value OF
taxable real estate and personal property
in the District of Columbia for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1901. He also makes a
few suggestions and recommendations for
the future good of the service as called for
by the order of the Commissioners dated
June Is, 1900.
The report embraces the following figures
relative to the values of property and the
total taxes:
Washington c:ty-Taxable on land, &c.,
737 OS6: taxable on Improvements. $70,S43.-
235: total. s153. $50. 321.
Washington county-Taxable on land at
$50, 81, 643, O67: taxable on improvements
at $780, s.. TOT 100: total. 500. 1850. 1877. Taxa
bic on land at 81, 81, 5O1 ,423; taxable on i'm
provements at 81. 1919 800; total, IS. 421. 1913.
Total assessed value Of taxable real estate,
s179 ,s11.
Personal property. SIC, 326, 5s5: street rail-
ways taxed on gross receipts, s1.s71,3 4s;
total, s11. 697 .a3S
Total assessed value of taxable real es-
tate and personal property in the District OF
Columbia. July l, 1900, s191, 049, IA.
Amount Of tax-Washington city, at $3.50.
s2aOs 7O4 80: Washington county. at $3.50.
s205. 252.51: Washing. on county, at 81, $54,-
213 %: total real estate tax, $2G63. 17O.56;
s10.a265S5 personal property, at $50. $154,-
rs; 81 81 ,24S gross receipts street rail-
ways, at per cent, s54, S53.92
Total tax on personal property. 500. 1872 20.
Total tax on real and personal property.
s2S72 922. 26.
The foregoing estimates" the assessor
says, "are based on the assessment of 1900.
the books for 1901 not having been prepared
for the annual tax due and payable in May.
1901. The deduction of exempt property,
transfer of Baltimore and Potomac and
Baltimore and Ohio railroads assessment
of tracks from personal to real estate, new
improvements. etc, have been carefully
computed, and 1t is assumed the figures are
approximately correct"
Card Index System.
'Tt is with pleasure" the assessor con-
tinues that I refer to the successful inau-
guration Of the card index. The compila-
ton of arrears of taxes has been listed on
cards and affords ready and useful means
for reference, and In facilitating the bust
ness Of the office. The numerical index. en-
bracing about 100000 pieces in the city and
&C. 600 In the county, Is nearing completion
and will be Of valuable assistance, afford
ing easy reference as to owners, square feet
front feet, values and complete description
OF each piece, and besides 1t is contemplated
to note daily transfers on each card. so that
the record Of changes In ownership will be
up to date. A card index is now being pre-
pared of all outstanding tax sales since
1878, which will afford great convenience to
this office and the public generally. Other
additions and improvements to this system
will be made circumstances require.
The appropriation Of $4,000 for improve
ments IN tax departments was apportioned
$1,000 and $1,000. respectively, and said
amounts have been judiciously and wisely
expended for the purpose.
Time for Payment OF Taxes.
''At the last session Of Congress provision
was made for payment Of taxes for fiscal
year ending June 80, 1901. in one INSTALL
ment during the month of May. 1901, in
order to enable this office to install i'm
proved methods for the collection of taxes
This provision of law will result in great
advantage to the office affording special
facilities for the correct listing of tax ac-
counts and in having bills made out In ad-
vance, thus giving the office ample time for
examination and correction prior to time of
payment. The system of one payment is
adopted in all our prominent cities, and
meets with general favor There seems to
be no good reason why 1t should not be in
vogue here. The payment in two INSTALL
ments is, in many cases, embarrassing to
the taxpayers, especially non-residents, and
many letters are received alter the last half
becomes due. complaining of having to pay
penalties, they beng in ignorance of the
fact that the penalty attaches on the first
half. There appears to be no form dable
opposition to this one-payment plan, and 1
feel justified in the assumption that if per-
manentIy enacted into law, 90 per cent of
our taxpaying citizens would consider il
advantageous to their bus ness interests
l earnestly commend this matter to the con-
sideration of the Commissioners and Con-
gresS.
Delinquent Sales.
THE delinquent tax list Is prepared in
this office, assisted by the collectors force
commencing about the latter part of Janu-
airy of each year, in time for completion on
the third Tuesday in March, and subse-
quent sale at least three weeks after the
first publication as required by law. Ex-
perience has shown that many citizens UNI
Intentionally, no doubt, neglect payment of
their taxes and allow them to go to ad-
vertisement and sale, with the attendant
expenses, occasioning petitions for relief
which the office is without authority to
grant. Ii is proposed 10 notify all delin-
quents by mail before sale and subsequent
10 sale, prior to issuance of deed so far
as practicable, to come forward in order to
avoid further expense. 1t would appear to
be in the interest of taxpayers and the
District alike to make an effort to accom-
plish this much-desired reform.
Tax Bills.
The custom has been in rendering cur
rent tax bills to give only such bills as
were applied for. and in many instances
there were unpaid taxes dating back many
years, OF which the taxpayer was not in
formed; but owing to the limited force of
clerks 1t was found practically Impossible
to give the necessary information. 1t Is
now proposed with the aid of the clerical
force embodied in my estimate, to note On
the reverse side of the current tax bill any
arrears of general taxes, 50 ;hat the COM
plants SO often made that they were rot
Informed as to arrears will lie avoided thus
for all time settling the question of To-
tice.
I'm this connection 1 recommend that all
taxes and assessments in arrears prior u
July l. 1899 where the liens ere held bv
the District of Columbia, be received with
interest at the rate of per cent per an
mum, in lieu of the penalties and interest
now fixed by law, provided payment he
made between the list day of May, 1901, aud
December 81, 1901, both dates inclusive
I'm the year 1890 the tax ledgers Of the
District of Columbia, containing an alpha
betical list of all taxable real estate con-
sisted of eleven books, with 3,7T7 folios;
but in 1900, in one decade The compilation
of District property requires sixteen books
and $500 folios. showing a percentage Of
increase of over 81 per cent.
Remission of Penalties and Interest.
I'm the course of a year a great many
cases are presented to this office for the
remission of penalties and interest where
the equities are so strong as to warrant re-
lief, but from the lack of authority at law
to adjust them they have to be acted upon
adversely. 1 would suggest that some pro-
lei ~ To- he tod tSN<v