Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-20
MR.. DAVIS OBJECTS
TAKES EXCEPTIONS TO SUCCESS
TONS BY COMMITTEE.
Reforms Recommended Not In Har-
mony With the Tax Collectors
Views.

The recommendations of the examining
committee with reference to the proposed
changes in business methods in the office
Of the collector of taxes for the District
evidently do not appeal in favorable light
to Mr.. e. G. Davis. the collector. who today
submitted to Commissioner West a report
relative to the committees suggestions for
his office. Among other things Mr.. Davis
says:
THE recommendation of the investigation
committee. I think. show lack Of knowl-
edge of the requirements and practical
workings of this office. While I am hear
tily in favor Of all reforms that are prac-
teal and tend to the Improvement Of the
public services In any way. at the same
time I think that radical changes in vel!
tried systems should be approached with
great caution. and that in any change in
the manner of collecting taxes. accuracy,
safety and expedition should have primary
consideration
Mr.. Davis concurs with but one recon-
mendatton of the committee, and that Is
the suggestion that legislation be se.ursl
to authorize the deputy collector to per-
form the duties of the collector during the
absence or disability of the latter official
and this recommendation. Mr.. Davis says,
he has repeatedly made himself.
Countersigning of Coupons.
With reference to changing to the old
system of detailing a clerk from the au-
ditor's Office to detach and countersign
coupons. Mr.. Davis says 1t Is question
whether the Office gains any additional
security for its receipts. or enlarged facili-
ties for the transaction of Its business by
d return to the system where a clerk was
detailed from the auditors office for the
purpose Of detaching and countersigning
tUyn
coupon clerks are provided for this pur-
pcse and the service appears to be entirely
satisfactory.
THE recommendation that effort be made
TO secure legislation authorizing the collec-
Tor or taxes to deposit balances in the
United States Treasury. etc, appears to
me entirely unnecessary"
These balances, it Is explained are
usually due to errors by taxpayers in cal
culating the amount of their remittances
and the. collectors office has adopted the
methdo OF notifying the Taxpayer to call
at the Office for the balance due him. or II
he Is out of the city to remit by money or
der or postage stamps.
Clerks Should Not Be Bonded.
Collector Davis says that he admits the
propriety of bonding the bailiff and per-
sons temporarily employed in the collection
OF overdue personal taxes, but he does not
believe that the clerks who are taken from
their regular work and sent out as collec-
tors should be required to give bond Mr..
Davis urges the bonding of all the employees
OF his office for the faithful performance
of their duties, but he does not believe that
the clerks should be required to bear the
expense OF furnishing bonds. He said how
ever that an experience of sixteen years
during which time 10000, coo have been ac-
counted for without loss, has encoura sed
MN 10 believe in the honesty of his subor-
dinates.
Inc collector says that the o ce has pre-
Viousty tried the practice recommended by
the committee that bills for real estate and
water taxes be delivered to the collector
or taxes and by him to the TAXPAYER at
the time of payment This system. he saws.
mas been found impracticable, and to return
to the system he thinks would be unwtse