Evening star., 1901-12-30
BILLS OF LOCAL INTEREST
COMMISSIONERS MAKE REPORT UPON
NUMBER OF MEASURES.
Approval of PrOvisnons Regarding
Arrearages of Taxes-AIso as to
Collection of Taxes.

The District Commissioners today framed
reports on a number of bills which have
been introduced in Congress affecting the
District Of Columbia and will forward them
to the chairmen Of the District committees.
On motion of Commissioner Ross it has been
decided to make favorable report and to
recommend the enactment of the bill ito
receive arrearages Of taxes due the Dis
trict to July 1, 1900, at 6 per cent per an
mum, in lieu of penalties and COSTS
1.-THE recent improvement in the method
of keeping the record of overdue taxes
the Commissioners state, has enabled the
assessor to furnish the taxpayers informa-
ton respecting their Indebtedness, which
was previously so difficult of ascertainment
that a large amount of taxes was in ar
rearsS mere through the inability of the tax
Office to furnish a correct statement Of the
accounts than an indisposition on the part
Of the property owners to pay them. The
Commissioners and the tax officers are of
the opinion that the legislation contemplat-
ed by this bill would not only be an act of
deserved leniency in a great many in
stances, but would results in an immediate
payment of a large amount of bank taxes
that might otherwise be deferred through
the inability of the taxpayer to meet the
great additional burden Of accrued penalties
and costs, and materially facilitate the cur
rent business Of the Office by clearing the
tax records of large number of long
standing accounts.
To Regulate Collections.
The Commissioners also make a favor
able report upon House bill 1872, ito regu-
late the collection Of taxes in the District
of Columbia. The bill provides that the
present system of receiving taxes in No
vember and in May shah continue in force,
but that payments semi-annually shall not
be compulsory In other words, no PEN
atty for delinquency will occur until June
Of each year, thus allowing those who wish
to do so to defer the sefni-annual payment
In November and make an annual payment
In May. The Commissioners state that the
purpose of the bill has been the subject Of
many approving expressions from taxpay-
ers in the District, and that 1t is approved
by the officials of the District government,
who would be most intimately concerned in
giving it effect in the event of its enact
ment: while the proposed legislation"
they say, would permit payment of the
general taxes to be made semi-annually
yet it would have a tendency to encourage
the payment of those taxes in one INSTALL
ment. which, in the opinion of the District
tax officials, would facilitate the perform
ance Of their duties and otherwise conduce
to economy of administration and the con-
venience Of the tax-paying public" The
Commissioners quoted from the annual re-
port Of the collector Of taxes, in which he
recommends such legislation.
Disposal of Dead BODIES.
The Commissioners will report to Senator
Mcmillan, chairman Of the Senate District
committee, respecting Senate bill 1858. "re-
lating to the disposal of dead bodies in the
District" that they are informed by Health
Officer Woodward that bill having SUBJ
stantialIy the same object in view, and rea-
sonably satisfactory to the professional in
terests involved, has been prepared and will
probably be presented to Congress by a
representative of the medical colleges in
the District. The Commissioners prefer
that the legislation on the subject should
take this course, as 1t will enable them to
frame their report upon 1t in the light Of
such expressions Of public opinion as the
Introduction of the measure they may
elicit. Unless the Senate committee should
take different view of the matter. the
Commissioners will make no further report
upon the bill until that time.
The Commissioners recommend with re-
spect to House bill 313T, ITO change the
names Of certain streets in the city of
Washington" that no action be taken upon
the bill, as they have under consideration
a system of street names for the entire
District, with the view to the treatment Of
the subject In a comprehensive manner.