Evening star., 1903-10-19

tion to clerks to enable them to be proficient
and accurate. hence the necessity of eml-
ploying only clerks familiar with the meth
OdS and detail incidental to this work.
The renewal OF the appropriation of 81. 500
Tor the collection of overdue personal taxes
is earnestly recommended. A much larger
appropriation Is urgently needed, as this
office Is charged with the collection of this
tax by distraint or otherwise, and 1t Is
necessary that sufficient facilities should be
provided for the purpose
The close Of the fiscal year finds us
with several thousand unpaid personal tax
bills which this office is charged, under
the law. with collecting. by distraint or
otherwise. and with very limited facilities
for the purpose. The only means at hand
Is an appropriation of 800. which has
been annually made a sum entirely made
proven. and now, under a new law. a care
ful assessment has greatly increased the
number taxable. and has also increased the
number who will only pay under duress.
and being unable to put II force in the field
Immediately after the tax becomes deltn-
quent. it will thus be readily seen that the
difficulties and embarrassments OF enforc-
ing payments have greatly increased.
Much valuable time is lost before de-
mand can be made; in the meantime op-
portunity is given to many engaged IN
business to escape payment by retirement
or disposing of their property, or exchang-
ing location. Many of them reside in the
county, from five to eight miles from the
city, and in order to reach them the use
of a horse and vehicle IS Often necessary
Due to Lack Of Facilities.
"Our inability to reach this class of de-
linquents before they have taken the means
to avoid paymer is caused by the lack OF
facilities. and condition can only be
remedied by placing the office In position
to put in the field a sufficient temporary
force of collectors to enforce the law with
out delay.
THE regular force of this office cannot
be used for this purpose without seriously
Interfering with the regular business. as it
is busily engaged from the 1st of July un-
til the 1st OF September in the annual col
lection of water rents, hence, being unable
to utilize the regular force, the small ap-
preparation of 81 800, which has been al
lowed. will not permit the employment OF
force sufficient for the purpose.
THE success attending our efforts mere
tofore with an appropriation or $looo unoef
a defective law. has been of such charac-
ter as to warrant us in earnestly recon-
mending to your favorable consideration
larger appropriation believing that the rev.
enues of the District will be greatly In
creased thereby.
II therefore respectfully ask that an
additional appropriation of $500 be al
lowed for the collection of overdue per-
SERIAL taxes in arrears, by dlstralnt OF
otherwise, with authority to employ a
temporary force of collectors, furnish
necessary transportation for collectors, for
conveying goods seized and for other
necessary purposes.
Il beg to suggest that the salaries paid
the clerks of this office are not commensu-
rate with thu duties, nor in proportion 10
similar positions of less responsibility under
the District government. l therefore nave
recc mmended increases that will, in my
judgment, improve the efficiency of the
office and which / sincerely hope will re-
ceive your favorable consideration