Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-16

thus save the District and property owners
the expense Of litigation.
The number OF transfers during the past
fiscal year aggregate 840a. being 3.918 In
the city OF Washington and 2.492 in the
county OF washington, an increase, as COM
pared with the preceding year. of $40. 1t il
estimated that these transfers represent
about 10000 pieces of property. and the du-
ties require the services Of three skilled
clerks. one for the transcribing Of deeds.
Wills and DEGREES in the offices Of the re-
corder of deeds, register Of willis and clerk s
office of the Supreme Court. D. c.; and the
other two dissect the various items for en-
try on the cards and ledgers. They should
receive salaries commensurate with the re-
sponsibility relative to their positions.
1t becomes my duty to again direct at
tention to provisions of law relating to edu-
cational. charitable and ecclesiastical es-
adjustments, increasing the volume Of nom
taxable property to an alarming extent
Some modification Of the law in such cases
is imperatively demanded. The last esti-
mated revenue from taxable property was
about AGO per cent; exempt property, such
as educational churches. charitable insti-
buttons, etc, 265 per cent District Of Co
lumbia, 80 per cent; United States, 51.S0
per cent.
1T would appear it is time to call halt
with view to remedial legislation.
Recommendation Renewed.
II desire to again urge upon the Com
missfoners the recommendation to Con-
gress that the act Of May ID, 1892, be
amended to provide that any tax or as
sessment omitted from a certificate of taxes
shall, upon discovery of such omission, be
cancelled and not, as the law now pro-
vides, barred as to any purchaser subse-
quent to date of said certificate. AS the
law now stands 1t is necessary for prop
erty to change hands before such law be-
comes operative. Again, a property owner
cannot obtain certificate for his own In
formation upon the reliability OF which he
can depend. 1t is certainly in the interest
of public policy and public right that when
the District of Columbia, over the hand
and seal of its appointed officer, gives its
certificate as to the condition Of taxes on
property that such certificate should i'm
port absolute verify.
I'm my annual report Of 1902 the atten-
ton Of the Commissioners was invited to
the growing necessity for accurate county
plats, with the recommendation for the ap-
pofntment OF committee to formulate a
plan for REMEMBERING and describing all
lots and parcels of land in that portion of
the District outside the city of Washing
ton, producing accurate plats, and the
probable cost Of the same.
This committee was appointed by the
Commissioners December 8, 1902, and was
composed of the corporation counsel, the
engineer in charge Of street extensions, the
representative of this Office.
"The report Of the committee was made
February Is, 1903, requesting the enactment
of proposed bill, and asking for an ap-
not treat with the plan in detail, but the
general plan agreed upon seems to meet
the requirements of the several depart
ments Of the District government. and
when carried into effect will be Of the
greatest service to the public in the trans
action of it's business with the District.
Il think that 1t is mistake to amend
the law on this subject. as proposed by the
that it would be much better to submit
new bill to thoroughly cover the matter
and repeal all other laws inconsistent
Herewith.
1T would be greatly to the advantage
of this Office if the new plan could be put
into operation with the new triennial as
sessment. which goes into effect in 1906.
Exemptions Of Art Galleries.
II recommend that art galleries in the
District of Columbia that are of sufficient
value, size and merit as to be Of general
interest. and are kept open to the public
free Of charge, at such time or times as
the Commissioners shall direct, be exempt
from personal taxation.
II beg to call attention to the high per-
centage tax placed upon building associa-
tons and savings banks. Under the act of
July 1, 1902 building associations ara re-
quired to pay per cent per annum on
their gross earnings for the preceding year
ending June 80 1 recommend that para
graph 8, section 6, of said act, be amended
SO that such building associations be re-
quired to pay 2 per cent per annum on their
gross earnings.
Attention is also called to what seems to
be a discrimination as between certain cor
porations and individuals carrying on the
same kinds of business. with view to
remedial legislation. 1 recommend that
all corporations, which by reason of in
corporation, receive no special franchise or
privilege, be assessed and taxed as indi
viduals and partnerships conducting the
same kind of business or enterprise are as
Sessed and taxed.
II recommend that proprietors of bowling
alleys, conducted for gain, which clause
by some inadvertance was omitted from
the recent license law be again classed in
the category of those entitled to pay license
at the rate of SO per alley per annum.
1.-THE Hall Of the Ancients is an institu-
ton which has for its object the exhibition
of ancient Egyptian architecture and GUS
TOMS and is instructive and educational In
its character. The property Is listed on the
records as sublots 43, A and 49, square d.
and is assessed on its real estate and per-
sonal property. An annual license, under
the head Of Exhibitions is also charged. l,
therefore, recommend such LEGISLATION as
Will exempt the property from personal and
Incense taxes, provided the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia have full au-
thority at such times as they may see fit to
direct the free admission Of the public"
Summary Of Annual Return.
The following Is summary of the an
nual return Of the board of assistant asses
sors for the year ending June 80, 1904:
City. County. Total
buildings. e. $40 600 s. s12 900 S. 7e1 600
Additions and Inn $4,000
provements. ...... QS4 900 % GOO OOs sOo
Gas, electric light, '
conduits. etc. 127945 ~ 1o7 a45
Total assessment So 962 445 81 1856 600 SO 1893 O45
Total assessment of 3O5, PAS 10 100 400 34S
Remaining asmt. 81, 657, 200 81 800 500 Sc SIT 100
Number of new brick buildings. :. sol 49S 900
Number Of new frame buildings 10 200 SI0
Total number Of new buildings. 81 e9s 200
har MI o,fId