Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-19
o REC0PY RECORDS
RECc2DER OF DEEDS REPORT ON
HOUSE BILL FOR THAT PURPOSE.

Recorder of Deeds John c. Dancy sent to
the House District committee this morning
a report on the bill to authorize the re-
cordeI to have recopied the records in his
Office that may be needed. Many details
of general interest to citizens OF the Dis
trict are contained in these reports.
Mr.. Dancy says that the records extend
back to 1892, the title of every parcel OF
real estate in the District of Columbia pos
sessed by private citizens or by the gov
eminent of the United States or the Dis
trict of Columbia depending OH the preser-
walton of these records.
Having beea in practically constant use
for ia years, handled through eXamlna-
tons almost daily during that time, the
record hooks have become SO worn ana
otherwise damaged" says M Dancy, That
time and time again Ii has Been necessary
fcr the office 10 nave them rccoVeTeu re-
bound and otherwise repaired. But so
ofte- have they ncaI repaired that II is
seriously doubtet whether it can be done
again. Thereto | earnestly recommend
such legislative authority as will permit
this office from irae to time to have the Oh
records recopied, so that the originals may
be retired, as it were, from active service
and examination restricted as far as posi-
BILE to the examination Of the copies VI
course it may happen that later or even
current records may reed recopy1ng IN Or
der to preserve them. and therefore rec
ommend that the bill be amended so as 10
provide the recorder with authority 10 re-
c,py any of the records of his Office that
may need IT.
Mr. Dancy calls attention to the second
section of the bill, which provides Tor a
ca asher for the Office, and recommends, IN
view of the fact that no salary Is men
toned. that he does not consider $l,6vo
year excessive.
Increase in Five Years.
The recorder. SAYS that five years ago,
during the year ending December 81, 1871
there were filed for record in the office or
the recorder of deeds 15,2i9 papers, ex-
elusive of incorporation. while during the
present calendar year it is estimated tnat
the number will reach If not exceed Il $50.
an increase in five years of more than
6,U0O papers.
This increase has been steady. healthy
one" said Mr.. Dancy, "evi1encing a like
steady growth in the real estate business
of the District of Column ia. This growth,
there Is every reason to believe, viii con-
tinue and it will mean. as it has devel-
oped, like increase in the business or the
office of the recorder of deeds. Indeed
this increase has during the past year or
two so increased the work of. the once
that it has been necessary to employ ad-
ditional help every month to assist the
comparer of the Office.
with the increase of business during the
past five years there has been correspond
ing increase in the ba 'ances turned INTO the
treasury. For instance. at the close OF the
fiscal year of 1901 the balance turned into
the treasury was s19l.9S; 1902 stab; 1903,
81 ,O33 81 1904, 3,0S7.64; 1903, G.1s49O, and
1906, sS615O3, while that for the current
fiscal year will, if the present rate of in
crease is maintained. be about 10000.
The balance of last year turned into the
treasurers office was the largest in the his
tory of the office. and / submit that an
office which In five years has increased its
unexpended balance not twofold, or three
fold. but made it more than forty-five times
larger, is justly entitled to the additional
employee the bill proposes to provide"
In his letter Mr.. Dancy also urges an an
nual payment by every concern incorporated
under the District co.e of nominal fee for
registration and making penalty of for
fixture of corporate rights for violation of
the provision. He adds that the wisdom of
the legislat ton of two years ago providing
that every corporation formed here shall
pay 40 cents thousand as a charge has
been clearly demonstrated.
mo longer" he says, is the District of
Columbia known as the place off easy and
unrestricted corporation, capable of being
organized by the payment of one dollar