Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-20
REPORT OF THE COLLECTOR
MR.. DAVIS TELLS OF LOCAL TAX
SITUATION LAST YEAR.
Extent of the Business Transacted.
Various Sources Of Revenue-Re-
newal of Appropriation.

The extent of the business transacted
through the tax Office of the District of Co.
lumbia during the fiscal year ended June 80
last is shown by the annual report of E. g..
Davis, collector of taxes, submitted to the
Commissioners. His report shows that the
total amount of money collected by him
was $6,426, 1920, an Increase of S1S9, 552. II
in the general fund anG s112 256.S7 in the
trust and other funds, and compared with
the collections of twenty years ago, an in
crease of So, COB, $50 IL
In summary showing the various
sources from which the taxes were de-
rived 1t is explained that $4,000, sos. SO
was on account of realty taxes, 1882
49Z.o9 on account of personal taxes 81 ,236
on account of special reimbursabie tax
500, G36.43 from penalties and interest
1865 $3.50 from miscellaneous collec-
lions, S959,0495S from special trust funds
$l69,650 repayments to appropriations
and $2O,Is miscellaneous receipts.
Miscellaneous Receipts.
In a detailed summary 1t is shown that
the receipts classed as "miscelaneous"
came from the following sources in the
form of fees: Sealer of weights and
measures, $6,3424J; surveyor, $15 1O2. 70:
health department, 1857; justice of the
peace. S2S,21O.43; pound, 1904 %: inspector
or gas meters (one-halD, $1,459.75; sewer
and gas permits, $1,000. 30; water permits,
Sl,63l; ratings, etc, 1928; tax certificates,
S3,91l; building permits, $S,OS4; electrical
permits, S3,30s; landing and storage OF
wood, S164.96; public comfort stations,
$500.
On account of fines S1O7, 1913 was derived.
More than $4,000 was collected from the
lquor trafflc. The revenue from some of
the more important other licenses were:
insurance, $s1 ,020 and dog tax, $20,093.
More than $4,000 was turned into the
District treasury from the Districts mar
kets in the form of rentals. The rents
from water service amounted to $4s4 G31. 80
and water main taxes $49,259.1i.
June 80 last was S56S, 295 unpaid realty
taxes, dating back to 1877. The total
or unpaid personal taxes amounts to $1T0,-
40, dating from 1903.
Laws Said to Be Defective.
The laws governing the collection of
taxes are defective and insufficient, accord
ing to Mr.. Davis who urges that the Com
mlssioners take steps to have measures
adopted that will improve and make the
service more effective in order that the best
results will be produced.
Mr. Davis is anxious to have the laws
governing personal taxes amended so as to
give the collector authority to bring claims
against persons In arrears for personal
taxes and authority to file suit here in the
name of the District whenever in his judg-
ment 1t Is ineXpedient or impracticabIe to
collect the personal taxes by distraint and
sale, and in cases where the delinquent
cannot be found in the District to file suit
in any state or federal court in the United
States.
The personal tax law, wise measure of
great benefit to the District revenues, is de-
fective, we think" Mr.. Davis says 'inas-
much as the provision relating to the col
lection of delinquent taxes by distraint IS
difficult TO enforce equitably with satisfac-
tory results.