The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-20
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
A Hearing on the Proposed Change
in the Payment Of Taxes.
Real Estate Dealers and Property
Scmi-AnnunI Plans Before the
Comm issi toner's Complaint Mnde
About Poor Street Car Service.

The District Commissioners yesterday
gave hearing to a number of real eslaCe
dealers and proper holders who are in-
terss ed in the proposition to provide for
the annual payment of taxes instead Of
two semi annual payments.
The first speaker was NJ. /. Weller. lie
was bitterly opposed TO the proposed
| change 1t would be, he said, in the inter-
est OF the wealthy class and against the
| small property holder. He favored semi
annual payment of taxes. Philadelphia,
he said, was known as a city of small
pI operty owners. but that title really be-
longed to Washington, where there were
over 20, coo Government clerks the major
ity of whom owned their homes. And
these property holding clerks. he said IA
yorCd continuance of the present tax
system of two semi-annual payments.
Commissioner Macfarland sta ed that
John Joy Edison, President of he Board
of Trade, was unavoidably absent. but his
views in the pending proposition were
known to the omm.ssioners. Mr.. Edison
favored the payment CT taxes in two in
slallments as at present.
DR.. A. p. Pardon SPOKE in favor of the
best interest of all that the taxes be
paid annually. Those who pay taxes
semi annually, he said. were in
clined to be careless and MAKE
mistakes, and to require the payment Of
taxes once year would simplify the sys-
ter of bookkeeping in the Assessors Of
hce. 1t would be in the nature of econo
my and really in the interest of all con-
| cerned. Taxes should not be paid i'll
M han h., 4
circulation and locked it up in the Treas
ury. 1t was only building associations and
the money lending class he said. who ad-
Yocated the retention of the semi-annual
payment OF taxes. Ii was outra geous. ne
said, to demand the payment Of taxes be-
fore they were due and yet that is what is
done. he said, under the semi-annual pay
ment. He was opposed to the penalty at
tached for the non-payment OF taxes when
due in November.
T. h. hais,ou STATED that the Board OF
Trs de and the Business Mems Associa-
tion had voted in favor of the two-pay-
me1t system. The semi-annual payment
of taxes had been in vogue for some years
and it had worked satisfactorily. So fer
as he could learn the general public SEN
timent was opposed to any change. The
banks. he said. favored the payment OF
taxes semi-annually. The effect of paying
taxes annually in one lump sum would be
to withdraw from circulation three or
four million dollars in one month ant.
thereby cripple business.
Irwin B. Linton, representing the North
east Citizens Association, advocated an
nual payments. He was opposed to pay
Ing taxes in advance, and said that was
what the property holders had to do under
the present system of two payments.
Belya A. Lockwood said she spoke for
the women taxpayers. 1t would be bur
densome TO pay taxes annually in one in
stallment. The present system of semi
annual payments was conducive TO the
best interest of the city.
l. NJ. Saunders was opposed to any,
change. He favored the payment OF taxes
in two ins:allments.
Y. Baldwin Johnson did not agree with
the proposition that taxes were paid in
advance. He advocated the retention of
the two payment system-November and
May
Thomas G. Hensey said the matter could
be settled to the satisfaction of all by
continuing the present system.
Leo Simmons opposed semi-annual pay
ments. He was in favor of the Tax As
SCISSORS proposition 10 make the taxes
payable in May. He said that 90 per cent
of the citizens favored one payment of
taxes.
E d. Clark said it was easier to pay
taxes in two installments rather than one,
therefore he opposed any change in the
present system.
ID. 0'C Callaghan endorsed the manage
ment of the Assessors Office and strongly
urged the adjustment OF the semi-annual
tax payment system. The Commissioners.
he said, had full power under existing
law to make the change and 1t was IN
necessary to call on Congress for author
ity. Mr.. Callaghan was so earnest in his
support of the proposed change that Mrs.
Lockwood enquired If he had been en-
pioyed as counsel by the Commissioners.
S H. Walker endorsed Mr.. Callaghan's
position and said he believed that the an
nual payment of taxes was better than
the semi-annual system. especially when
under the present system the taxpayers
we're required to pay more than the legal
rate of interest on the taxes if they failed
to pay the tax when due.
The hearing was closed by Jesse b. VIII
sen. who simpliiied somewhat the argu-
ment advanced by NJ l. Weller. The best
interest of the people, he said. was sub
served by the payment of taxes semi-an-
nually The Commissioners said they
would take the matter under Amusement.
In compliance with the request OF z. B.
Fountain clerk OF the East Washington
Heights Baptist Church. Thomas J. Fisher,
Inspector Of Electric Lighting. has recon-
erected on the Bowen Road at an estimated
cost of Sl2 TO be charged to appropria-
ton for street lighting. The Inspectors
recommendation has been approved by the
Commissioners.
Representative Babcock, Chairman of the
House District Committee, has forwarded
to the District Commissioners q letter
from F. Menefee, President of the Wash
ington College complaining of the service
of the City and Suburban Railroad and
requesting the Commissioners to investi-
gate the complaint and report to the Dis
trict Committee the result of the investl-
cation, with any recommendation the
Commissioners may see At.
David Gillin, OF Congress Heights. has
been given permit by the Commissioners
to erect a lamp in front Of his residence at
his own expense.
Mrs. Julia VI. de Thauar has written a
letter to the District Commissioners. re-
questing that one of the FIVE lamps TO be
erected In Congress Heights be located at
the corner of Ninth and Philadelphia
Streets southeast.
CARL JONES UNDER ARREST.