Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-07


lowing summary OF the statement shows
the taxes assessed against such corpora.
tons in the District of Columbia for the
year ended June 60 1903:
steam railroads. .................... $34. ~
Sreet raliroads. ..-..---...... lSS.sS1A
Electric lighting company. ............ A1l703
Telephone companies. Standardization. 47,270.37
Telegraph companies. INSTRUMENTATION. $50. s.
Steamboat companies. ............... 10.g29.00
Ndnui company Wal
Total ........................ .t47s, IS
In other words, the public utilities In the
District of Columbia paid about 10 per
cent or the total amount OF taxes on
realty and personality collected in the year
1905
In this connection the Commissioners
desire to renew the recommendation pre-
viously made to Congress that the tax
upon street railway corporations be in
creased from to 6 per cent upon their
gross receipts. with specific provision
that the tracks Of all the railways shall
be excluded from assessment. A thor
ough examination shows that a majority
of the original charters in the District Of
Columbia contain specific provision to
this effect, and 1t has never been the Gus
tom of the assessors Office to regard the
tracks Of street railways as real estate
for the purpose Of taxation this position
being based upon the theory that the tax
upon the gross receipts Of each corpora
ton is franchise tax for the occupation
OF the pubic streets.
Personal Tax Law.
The personal-tax law, approved July 1.
1902, which provides for the taxation OF
public utility corporations and financial
institutions, provides for tax of per
cent upon the gross receipts of the street
railway corporations, per cent per an
mum on the gross earnings OF the gas
companies. per cent per annum on the
gross earnings Of electric-lighting COM
panies,' 4 per cent per annum on the gross
earnings of the telephone companies and
~ per cent per annum on the value OF
vessels. ships and boats owned by steam
boat companies. and per cent per annum
on the gross earnings of national banks
and trust companies. 1t is suggeste cd to
Congress that a more equitable arrange
ment OF these taxes might be arranged.
1t has already been shown that the tax
| upon the gross receipts of the street rail-
way interpretations might well be in
creased from 4 to per cent. and II 10
quite possible that a similar increase
could be imposed without detriment upon
other public utility corporations. On tho
other hand q reduction of the taxation on
national banks and trust companies would
seem to be equitable.
The national banks hold no franchise
for the use Of the streets, nor do they
possess the monopoly which is enjoyed by
| the public utility corporations. One Of
the main features Of trust companies IL
the loaning of money upon real estate
mortgages and upon the earnings from
this source. They are. under existing law,
taxed 8 per cent. On profits from the
same class Of business incorporated saw
ings banks pay 4 per cent. while building
associations engaging in similar lines OF
profit pay per cent. These various rates
tor practically the same class of business
are Inconsistent The Commissioners
have already submitted to Congress q bill
for the reduction OF taxes on national
! banks from to S per cent on their gross
earnings and the tax on trust companies
from 6 to 4 per cent on their gross earn
ings and the enactment OF this measure
| will again be urged.
Designation Of Property.
The new system OF designating county
property by squares and lots instead Of
| by the former method OF subdivisions has
proved to be very efficient, as under the
| new system no duplication OF lots or con-
fusion in the designation thereof is pos
sfble. Many tax sales have been Cancelled
under the old method OF designation, and
| 1t Is considered very necessary that the
method of designation now In vogue In
the county should be extended to the city.
This could easily be accomplished by an
amendment to the act approved March 13.
1899. for designating lots within the city
limits. The Commissioners have under
consideration a proposed amendment to
this act which it is hoped can be passed
during the coming session, SO as to al
low work to be commenced at once. To
carry out the provisions of such an
amendment will require an appropriation
Of 5000. or about half OF the amount ex-
pended on the county work for a like pur-
pose.
| During the bathing season of 1908 two
of the brick-lined pools formerly used
by. the fish commission for fish culture
were modified so that they became adapt
ed for bathing beach purposes. They are
about 20x4O feet in dimension, and about
~ feet deep. They made excellent pools
for teaching swimming They were sup
piled with filtered water. and were in
all respects thoroughly satisfactory. 1t IL
the purpose to confine the use of these
pools to instructions in swimming, and
to construct other pools of similar char
acter adjacent to those mentioned. but
larger and deeper, for more experienced
swimmers.
Deep Water Bathing Beach.
An estimate has been made for the
establishment OF a deep-water bathing
beach on the tidal reservoir; also for the
establishment of dressing houses on the
river front, where skillful swimmers may
have their apparel cared for and obtain
bathing suits and battle in the river I'M
der proper safeguards and surveillance.
The old bathing pool. which is part OF
the old EARTH bordered and bottomed fish
ponds and is supplied with tide water
from the river. would cost so much to
be put in proper condition that its suita-
BILE adaptation to that purpose IL deemed
mpracticable. Its abandonment as q
bathing pool will be recommended on
account of it's marshy and unsightly char
acter. and in order that the space it
occupies may be filled and used for public
recreation grounds.
On the Goth OF March last, the Com.
missioners vested the Washington Play.
grounds Association with general super
vision over the public bathing beach with
the ultimate object Of connecting that
service with the public recreation system.
The Commissioners hope that in the
near future instruction in swimming will
become part of the public school course
and that suitable bathing pools and other
appliances will be provided near or in the
school buildings, for that purpose.
Collection Of Taxes.
The aggregate receipts from all sources
of the government OF the District Of
Columbia through the collector of taxes
during the fiscal year ending June 30
1908, were as follows:
On account Of
Reaity ta1es. %. 100 ~. q
Personal taxes 81 .033.O4
Special reimbursable tax. 44S.GS
Penalties and interest .....-..... 36, 1T. %
Miscellaneous collections. .......... &56, SCI
5,464. 44e.62