The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-25
Act Permitting Payment at
This Rate Now in Force.
REDEMPTION OF PROPERTY sold
All That bought in by District at
Tax Sale Can BE Redeemed Mt Six
Instead OF Ten Per Cent Until End
of The Present Year.


to when the law recently enacted by Con
gress permitting the payment of back
taxes, with interest at per cent, would
become operative. replied:
Now is the time
Mr. Darneille stated that since assum-
ing the duties OF his Office it had been his
aim to serve the interests OF the tax
payers by every means in his power and
to keep them advised of ali Legislation
concerning The payment of taxes. With
that OBJECT still in view. he said that he
wished particularly to impress upon own
ers OF property the full significance of the
law referred to.
Property Sold for Taxes.
Under the law" continued Mr.. Da.-
nellie, there is held every April by the
Collector of Taxes an auction at which
Is sold all property upon which the tax
for the preceding year has not been paid.
At this sale the majority CT the property
offered for sale is bought by individuals,
who, if the same it not redeemed within
two years. are entitled to a deed.
"A large amount OF the property put IN
at auction, however, is bid off By the Col
lector of Taxes in The name of the Dis
trict of Columbia The amount for which
the property is bid OF for the District is
the tax for the preceding year. together
with penalty and costs of advertising.
This amount is carried on the books OF
this office as a charge against the prop
erty, and there is accruing on the same
interest at the rate OF 10 per cent per
annum.
The purchasing in this manner CT prop
erty by the District OF Columbia, at tax
sale, has heretofore amounted to little
more than a cloud en- the title TO such
property, making it difficult for the own
ors to negotiate loan upon or sell the
same. Many persons, having no expecta-
ticn CT mcTtgaging or selling their prop
erty, have permitted it to be sold for
taxes, in the hope that the District would
buy it in. resulting SIMPLY in cloud on
the title, as before stated
Some persons have gone further than
his and have bid on and purchased their
GIVE property at tax sale. but failed to de-
posit within the required time the amount
Ct purchase money, thus compelling the
District to assume the purchase and pre-
venting the sale CT tie property to indi-
yiG-a!s.
Act Intended as n Kennedy.
The act CT Congress approved Feb
Tuary IS, 1855, was intended to cure these
evils. This act authorized the Commits
sioners CT the District of Columbia, in
cases where property was bought in by
tie District md rot redeemed by The own
ers within two years from cate CT sale.
10 issue deeds for the same to any per-
sen paying TO the District the amount for
which the property was sold, together
with 10 per cent per annum thereon,
placing the purchaser in the same posi-
tion as if he had originally appeared at
the sale and bought the property
an addition TO the provisions Of this
act, the Commissioners have recommend
ed, at the request OF this office, several
amendments thereto, which have been in
troducsd in the House o? Representatives
by Mr.. jenkins, OF Wisconsin, and. in all
probability, will shortly be enacted By
authority of these amendments, the Col
lector of Taxes, may, at any time before
the expiration OF the two years allowed
for redemption, issue to any person who
will pay the amount for which property
was sold with penalties costs. etc.
certificate OF sale, which certificate will
place the holder thereof in the same
position as he would have been had he
appeared at the sale and bought the prop
erty.
Six Per Cent Act.
THE per cent act, recently passed,
i-ives to all persons whose property has
ha rtriI
sale for taxes of any year prior to 1900,
IN opportunity to redeem the same, at 6
instead OF 10 per cent. This opportunity
holds good until the 31st Of December
next. After that time all property which
has been bought in by the District and not
redeemed within the two years required
by law, will be sold by the Commissioners
at public or private sale. For property in
arrears for taxes more than two years
old deeds will be issued. For property in
arrears for taxes less than two years
old, certificates OF sale Will be issued.
This sale will radically differ from the
usual tax sale in these particulars: the
owners of property sold at regular tax
sale, have notice that such sale is about
20 occur. The owners of property sold at
this sale Will have no notice. Owners OF
property sold at regular tax sales are
given two years in which to redeem the
same before deed is issued: at this sale
all the property upon which the District |
has held tax lien for two years will be |
sold outright and deeds issued inmedi- |
atcIy: property for which the District |
has held tax lien for less than two years |
will be sold and certificates of sale is |
sued thereon, and the owners given, TO |
redeem the same, only the balance of the |
TWO years from the time the original |
sale was made to the District.
Warning to Property Owners.
1T will be well for owners of prop |
city in the District to at once ascertain |
at this office whether there stands Oh the |
books any charge for arrears OF taxes
against their holdings. In case such ar
rears exist. opportunity is now given
them to discharge such debt at reduced |
rate of interest. This opportunity holds
good until the last day OF this calendar
year II the delinquent taxes are not
not paid by that time the result will be
great deal of expense and annoyance
To the owners of the property"
The Best Remedy for Group.