Evening star., 1901-10-16

That all public records which have any
reference or In any way relate to real and
personal property in said District shall be
open to the public for inspection free of
charge
This law has been found by experience
TO be too broad in Its provisions, giving to
the public privileges and access to the rec
ords in many instances detrimental to the
proper conduct of the business of this Of
flee. and affording temptation to evil-dis-
posed persons to tamper with said records.
The assessor is required to bond for the
faithful performance of duty, and neces-
sarily the preservation Of the records, and
he is powerless at all times. even with the
assistance of the clerks, TO give lhai sou
tiny and watchfulness required. 1t is es
sential for my own protection and my
trusted corps of employees that some modi-
fcaton Of this law be enacted, by investing
the assessor with discretion in allowing only
those who are recognized attorneys or the
agents or owners of property to have free
access of the records.
Summary.
I'm submitting this report / have en-
deavored to bring to the attention of the
Commissioners all the details of the office,
with the assurance that during my admin
istration I have labored earnestly and
faithfully to fill all the requirements Of the
position and to carry out to the best Of my
judgment the views and wishes of the Com
missioners, pledging continuance Of the
same, so that the assessors office of the
District of Columbia may reflect credit
upon its administrative officials"
Estimates Submitted.
The estimates for the office call for a
total appropriation Of $50. 100. OF this
amount $500 is for the assessors salary,
s., 500 for first assistant assessor, $1,000
for an assistant assessor and the remainder
for clerical employees and messenger In
regard to the estimates Mr. Darneille says:
I'm the estimates there are two important
recommendations for increase over that OF
the preceding year, namely, one of my as
sistants from 81 600 to $500, which it is
hoped may meet the views Of the Commits
sionerS and Congress-, not only as just
recognition of merit and efficiency, but
what is demanded by the responsibility at
tached to the position, involving executive
ability. honesty and integrity, the duties of
assessor devolving upon said official in the
absence or disability of the assessor. In
this connection it is submitted that there is
probably not an official under the District
or general government who receives such
a meager salary for duties of like charac-
ter.
THE other is that Of a clerk, now rated
at 81 400 to chief clerk arrears division at
81 900, a position imperatively demanded,
owing to the volume Of business under that
head involving great care and scrutiny In
it's performance, and the additional super
VlSlOn anu management Ol the CdTu iiioSA
Of arrears of general taxes, water mains,
special assessments, county ledgers, trans
fers Of county real estate, certified state
ments of taxes, arrears of tax records, &c.
I'm submitting my estimate the board of
assistant assessors office is not included,
which is recommended be carried as sep
arate establishment, which 1t is, and only
on the assessors pay roll, which is a draw
back in getting the necessary requirements
of my Office by having it appear the ex-
penditures of the assessors Office