Evening star., 1901-06-01
PAYMENT' OF TAXES
Rush on the.!Mice Of the District
Collector Yesterday.
new SYSTEM = = YES 4 SUCCESS
Those Who Failed to Settle
Yesterday Now Delinquent.
wv
THE RECEIPTS VERY HEAVY


The time for paying taxes on property
in the District of Columbia for the year
ending June 80, 1901, without the penalty
of delinquency, expired yesterday. During
the entire day there was quite rush Of
taxpayers. but the new system in vogue,
as modified about the middle of May.
worked as smoothly as could be desired and
the throngs were handled with the least
possible delay. The offices Of the assessor
and the collector of taxes remained open
until 4:3O o'clock yesterday afternoon for
the accommodation Of those wishing to pay
their bills. The same hour of closing was
observed Wednesday, May %
Belated taxpayers who have called at the
District building today to settle their ac-
counts at the Office Of the collector have
been compelled by law to pay a penalty Of
one per cent on the amount OF their bills.
The highest payment made this morning
was for $244, the penalty being $24
Throughout the month Of June the penalty
on taxes that were payable last month will
continue to be one per cent. Next month
the penalty will increase to two per cent,
and in August it will be three per cent. in
creaSing one per cent each succeeding
month
Mr.. H. H Darneille, the District assessor.
and Mr.. E. G. Davis the collector of taxes,
are both highly pleased with the working
of the new card and prepared-biil system
which was adopted this year All tax bills
were made out in advance. and the 1st of
May were placed in the collectors office.
Memorandum bills were issued from tie
office of the assessor for the accommoda-
tion of those who wished to examine their
accounts. The regular bills We're not issued
until paid.
This feature of the new system was found
a 6na1 Of f,ISin
were called for at counters Immediately ad-
joining the positions of the two cashiers
ana the discussion Of differences, small
mistakes, and arrears in some instances on
the bills rendered. was found to annoy the
takers of money and was likely to cause
a serious Interference with their work. The
issuance and receipt of payment Of tax
bills both in the collectors office congested
business there
Joined in Recon- m e n datiOn.
This fact was soon appreciated by the as
SCISSOR and the collector, and they Joined
in recommendation to the District Com
missioners that the bills be again placed in
the assessors 2tfice and issued from there,
as has been the case in the past.
This was done, and from that time to the
end of the month the system worked finely
The assessors force delivered the bills and
took care Of any complaints that might be
made, having the tax books ready at hand
for reference, while the collectors force
confined itself to receipting the bills and
accepting the money in payment. Thus
each was dealing with it's own specially
and there was no hitch at any point Dur
ing the last two rush days there was hard
ly a cOmplaint-none, in fact in regard to
the workings ST ,iIe system.
Mr.. Davis stated today that while no
figures could as yet be given he was sure
from daily observations that the tax col
lections this year are the heaviest ever
a JjS 10 r,,,if
busy today opening accumulated letters
containing checks in payment Of taxes.
Mr. Davis Is strongly in favor Of the an
nual collection of taxes, in preference to
the present law which provides for a
semi-annual Payment.
The one-payment plan was allowed this
year by Congress on account of the intro
duction of the new system Of bookkeeping
in the offices. 1t has worked to the satis-
faction Of nearly all. the officials declare.
A strong effort has been made during the
past two years to have the law changed
to provide for single yearly pay
ment, but so far 1t has not been successful.
Complaints Respec-Sng Arrears.
Mr.. Davis said today Nhat there are num-
erous instances OF complaints from people
about arrears Of taxes that they did not
know were due caused by the double pay
ment. The taxpayers would pay for the
first half and the six months would pass
second half and would later have to settle
with penalties and interest
Mr.. Darneille called attention today to
the fact that a number Of complaints have
been made to his office in regard to the not
ing OF arrears several years old on tax bills
rendered this year.
Mr.. Darneille has taken this means of
notifying property owners of the charge
against their property in view Of the act of
February 2S, 1898, which provides that the
Commissioners shall issue a deed to an
applicant who holds tax lien certificates
against property after notice Of the appIi-
cation has been published three times in
two daily newspapers and the original own
does not come forward and liuuidate
within thirty days.
rich firm in Rochester, N. Y. owns a
great number Of certificates bought at de-
linquent tax sales and has applied to the
Commissioners for deeds. The owners may
imagine that the arrears are simply "sleep-
ing it is said, but the outside firm own
ing the certificates is quite active Mr.
Darneille has taken the precaution Of no.
tifying owners Of arrears through noting
the same on their bills so that none might
be taken unawares. The law directing .he
Commissioners to issue the deeds upon ap-
plication is mandatory in form. after it's
provisions have been complied with