The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-09-03
REAL ESTATE MBN ASK
TAX SALE CHANGES
Desire Note of Irredeem-
able Sales on Certificates.
NOTICE OF ISSUE OF DEED
Property Should Be Advertised in the
Name of Owner of Record-AnsweI of
Assessor Darneille Says Present Sys-
tenn Is Considered Satisfactory.

The Washington Real Estate Ex-
change. through its secretary, Mr. John
E Mitchell. has written to the Commits
sioners of the District making certain
requests relative to tax sales, tax deeds,
and the advertisement of property.
These requests are substantially the
same as made in q communication OF
the exchange under date Of July 10, The
secretary takes up the reply then made
by the Assessor and seeks to show that
the interests OF the public would De
subserved by following the suggestions
made These are:
That tax sales. whether redeemabIe.
or irredeemable, be reported OF tax Ger
tificates.
THAT prior to the execution of deeds
for property sold for taxes notice Of
the intention to issue such a deed be
sent to the owners Of the property af-
fected.
That property be advertised for sale
for taxes in the name OF the owner Of
record.
Report of Mr.. Darneille.
Mr.. Il. Il Darnelle. the Assessor, TO
whom the letter had been referred. by
the Commissioners. reports as follows.
in part:
Full information concerning tax sales
IS OF record IN the Office of the Recorder
Of Deeds. as required By law. which rec
ord is consulted by title companies and
others having use for such information.
The title companies. to which at least
% per cent OF the tax certificates are
issued have signifed their satisfaction
yg-14 = -.
deemable tax sales.
Although there IS no requirement
that TedeemabIe sales should be cited
on tax certificates, this is done for the
accommodation Of the public. as such
citation is com arat!eyly an easy mat
ter. IN citing irredeemabIe sales how
ever, it would be necessary In the ma
jority Of cases to trace the area OF the
property back for many years. in order
to ascertain whether there are outstand-
ing sales on the ground out Of which it
originally came.
Work Took Too Much Time.
When it was the practice 10 report
irredeemabIe sales this work took at
least one-third of the time expended in
preparing such certificates. and was
found to be cumbersome and OF so little
utility that it was discontinued by order
Of the Commissioners.
It IS self-evident that the furnishing
Of this information from the records OF
the Office, n the isolated cases in which
1t IS desired, would take vastly less
time than to undertake to MAKE these
searches IN the case Of every certificate
issued.
Turning to the second request OF the
exchange, Dir. Darneille says that il is
the policy Of his Office to send notice
10 owners before issuing tax deeds
against their property whenever il is
possible TO locate them
Residents Outside District.
He says the practice was inaugurated
some time ago, and that every avail
able means is used TO secure the ad-
dresses Of owners Of such property Tor
the purpose Of sending out notices Con
siderable property is owned by per
sons living outside of the District.
whose names are not in the directory.
and whose whereabouts are not OBJ
tainable- These, the Assessor says,
they cannot reach.
In regard TO the third request. Mr.
DaFneille states that it is. and has been,
the practice 10 advertise property for
sale for taxes III the name of the owner
Of record. except where property which
Is transferred after the beginning Of the
tax year IS carried on the ledgers both
in the name OF the owner Of record and
the owner Immediately proceeding him,
and IS so advertised
The report of the Assessor has been
approved and the Real Estate Exchange
Will be advised accordingly