Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-03
TAXES DUEAN UNPAID
PROPERTY OWNERS IN ARREARS
EXCEEDING 100000.
Method Whereby It is Expected
More Than Fifty Per Cent
Will Be Collected.

The amount of unpaid taxes iIr the Dis
trict of Columbia have attained such large
proportions and are of such a nature that
there Is considered to be little possibility
of collecting them by the customary meth
DDS Of the collector of taxes, and extraor-
binary steps have been decided upon Ac-
cording to the Commissioners report to
Congress, in which they recommend the
inauguration of some drastic methods of
collecting the outstanding taxes, the
amount Of money due is more than
$4,000. This sum, however, covers a
period of over twenty years.
An amendment has been included in the
appropriation bill for the District Of Co
lumbia for the next fiscal year which pro-
vides for $500 to be used by the Com
missioners in employing special counsel to
effect the collection of back taxes. This
special counsel will enforce, by proceed
lngS in the proper courts, the liens of the
District on property the owners of which
have failed to pay. At the various sales
of property, because of the non-payment
of taxes, the District has been compelled
TO take lien on properties which property
is held in the hone that some day the
owner will pay the back taxes with In
tereSt
At the end OF each year all those who
have failed to pay their taxes are notified
that the District will force sale to obtain
the necessary amount due and the interest,
and if at the end of thirty days the taxes
are not paid the District advertises the
list of delinquent properties for sale, and
lien on the same is given to the highest
bidders. In this way the District man
ages to acquire about so per cent of the
outstanding amounts, but they have their
own troubles in collecting on the remain
ing 90 per cent. Mr.. E. Y. Davis, collector
of taxes, is. however, very enthusiastic
over the appropriation secured with which
to make possible the collections and be-
lieves that more than so per cent of the
outstanding taxes will be collected through
that means.
Although the District makes no attempt
to collect taxes dating back further than
twenty years, detailed account Is Kept,
showing just how much is unpaid each
year, as far back as 1877.
Amount Outstanding.
The balances of unpaid taxes recorded
in the collectors Office are as follows:
1905, $5.425.O1; 1904, $3,521.94; 1908,
s3.193.21; 1902, s5so.sS; 1891. s2,6oo47;
1900, SO 6S9s6; 1899. s3,s95.24; 1898, 81
524.5s; 1897. $5.3s5.4s; 1895. se,s4s.7s:
1895, s457s.60: 1894. $4,754.6S; 1893. 81
sss.37; 1892, s2.5255l; 1891, s2.572.29;
1890. $2.214.04; 1889. s1,731.52; 1883, 81
5ssss LEE s1 ISL ,sss 49, 81
42152; 1881, s4,1S5.99; 1880, $10.59O. 40;
1877, ss77221; special reimbursable tax
Collector Davis has for several years
realized the importance and necessity OF
improving the laws governing the coilec-
ton Of taxes, real and personal and last
year recommended remedy In the form
Of LEGISLATION, but It was not approved. He
has renewed the recommendation and It
is now before Congress with the commas
sioneps' recommendation for enactment
He predicts that it will effect much good
Proposed Enactment.
The bill provides
That within twenty days, exclusive Of
Sundays and legal holidays, after the last
day of sale herenbefore provided for as
aforesaid the collector Of taxes shall pre-
sent to the recorder of deeds, for record
in his Office a written report. in which
he shall give a statement of the property
sold, other than that sold to the District
Of Columbia, to whom assessed, amount
due, to whom sold, the amount paid, the
date of sale the cost thereof, and the sur
plus if any. Provided, that said written
report shall be returned to the collector
of taxes after the same has been recorded
Any surplus remaining after the collection
of taxes, penalties and costs on any real
estate shall be collected as hereinbefore
provided for, and shall be deposited by the
collector of taxes to the credit OF the sur
plus fund, to be paid to the owner or
owners, or their legal representatives, In
the same manner as other payments maze
by the District. Provided. that II any
property sold for taxes. as herein provided
is redeemed from such sale, within two
wears from the last day of sale, any sur
plus paid at the time of sale shaH pc
maid by the District of Columbia to the
legal holder of the certificate of SALE"