The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-03
A RUSH OF TAXPAYERS
ALL RECORDS SMASHED II THE
TREASIRER's OFFICE.
More People Handled and More Money
Paid In Than Ever Before
at This Time.

All records made in the county treasurer
office during tax-paying time sink almost
into insignidcance when compared with the
one made yesterday. Cashier Smith handled
2523 receipts from the time the Office
opened at o'clock in the morning till D
o'clock in the afternoon, which exceeds all
former records by between 300 and 900. OF
the receipts handled, 466 were in the county
and the remainder in the city. Still another
record was made in this one days big bust
ness by completing all the balances by 40
in the evening. In addition to the rapidity
with which the taxpayers were handled
there was not a crush, in recent tax
paying times, due 10 the efficiency of the
clerical force. a better system of handling
the people, counting machines and "A new
automatic cashier at the right hand of
Cashier Smith. When the days work was
done there were but seventeen receipts that
had not been called for
The total payment of taxes up to last
night exceeds that Of last year by sos, 400 49,
The total amounts received up to date and
compared with last year are: County cur
rent. ss4.12O.75. one year ago, sos, 407.52;
county delinquencies, S6,526, one year ago,
$54s2.O5. City current, $59S. 23111. one year
ago. S405.53fS5; city delinquencies. SOS. 112.7,,
treasurers Office for the week Were Mon
day, 81 SOL. %: Tuesday. S3l 1915 Wednes-
day. 81. 025.41: Thursday S1,242.f3s Friday,
$40.TS.s4. Saturday, $65.46ISS. The larger
receipts for Thursday are accounted for by
the fact that several large firms and cor
porations paid their taxes on that day
Yesterday. however, nearly all OF the pay
ments We're in small amounts, many of
them being no more than s. or "a.
The crowd in the treasurers office was
large until about 4 o. clock in the afternoon.
when ii began TO decrease There is a
steam radiator about thirty feet from
Cashier Smiths window. and when he can
see IL he begins to think the rush is over.
As he caught a glimpse of the radiator at 4
o'clock he drew a long sigh of relief and
began to smile. but il waned when "A dele
cation OF laboring men, dinner buckets in
hand and faces besmeaTed with SCOT and
grease, filed in TO pay their taxes. Most OF
these men had but a few dollars TO pay.
After the books were balanced Mr.. Smith
receipts and assisted him otherwise a din
ner at the Grand Hotel.
Perhaps the greatest assistance in hand
ling the crowd yesterday was given by the
automatic cashier. 1t has been in the Office
about thirty days All that is required in
making change with this machine Is TO
press certain keys and dollars and cents
drop into the cashiers hands instantaneous
". Cashier Smith says that he is confident
he can handle 10 per cent. more people with
the machine than by counting out the
change by hand.
There were many amusing incidents dur
ing the day, such as are usually incident TO
a crowd of persons who are either unused
TO paying taxes or GO not know how An
one OF the clerks windows and asked for
her receipt. She also asked II
there was any personal property taxed
against her. The clerk told her there was
none She then Indignantly replied. well,
what the ell did you send an assessor
around fur" and walked away.