Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-15
DISTRICT IS RICHER
Tax Collections Show In
crease of $3.50, $4,000.
REPORT FOR YEAR 19O7-08
Real Estate Is Greatest Source
of Revenue.
LIQUOR LICENSES $46s,197
Former Collector Davis Believes
There Should Be Greater Effort to
Collect Personal Taxes.

From its various sources of revenue the
total income of the District government
during the year ended June 30 last was
$6.116,3S1 II. according to the annual re-
port submitted to the Commissioners to-
day by E. G. Davis. who up until a week
ago was collector of taxes. This was an
increase of s2S9, 5000 over the collections
of the year before.
Realty taxes were the greatest source of
revenue. They amounted to s., 100 400 81
an increase of $50 1888 over the proceed
ing year. The personal taxes amounted
to $s21 933.O4 an increase of $54.S165S;
the collections of the special reimbursable
tax amounted to $44S65: penalties and in
terest amounted to $}6 777G6. an increase
of 81. 'o453, and miscellaneous collections
amounted to Sso6315.91, an increase OF
s17,52766
to H,060.915.SS; repayments to appropria-
lions. Sal. 26S.SS and miscellaneous re-
ceipts from the United States. so, 74S.SS.
The last day of June the total amount
Of unpaid taxes in the District was
Ss70.35O4 S. OF this amount $685., 2O7 ~
is for realty taxes and saO7 143 personal
taxes. However. the taxes for the last
fiscal year were not overdue until the last
day of June, and since that date % per
cent of the unpaid taxes for that period
have been collected.
Eliminating the unpaid taxes for the
post year, the total amount of delinquent
taxes on the books of the collector is
S224,J0S. In reporting upon this part of
his department Mr. Davis said when he
entered the office of collector in 1883 the
balance of unpaid taxes, exclusive of
1883. aggregated $7O9, 9S9O9. and in 1903
the balance, exclusive of the year 1908.
which was 1924, jOS.53. shows the arrears
of taxes to be s4S5,477.56 less than when
he assumed the duties of the office, a re-
duction of nearly one-half million. This
act he points to with pride and says it is
all the more important when it is con-
Sidered that the assessments have been
steadily increasing until the amount is
now more than double what it was in 1888.
Where Money Came From.
OF the revenues collected under the head
of miscellaneous sources. which amounted
in the aggregate to 1856, 1856, the sum of
$2S,C06 was paid in from the justice of
the peace courts; $6,OO6 from the Office of
the sealer of weights and measures.
$13.2O1 from the surveyor, S442 from the
health department., ST. from the pound
service, 81 400 from the inspector of gas
meters. $121 from the bathing beach,
s1O1. 105 from the Police Court on account
of fines. $2,6e6 from motor vehicle tags.
S. $40 from electrical permits, 1864 from
building permits. $3.50 from tax certiti-
Gates $1,000 from other permits, such as
gas. sewer, water and ratings.
The sum of s46S.197.S0 was collected
on account of liquor licenses, of which
amount s42o. 34S 10 was paid In for
retail licenses and $42,S9 for wholesale
The sum of s75.359 was collected in the
form of insurance licenses and fees. The
dog tax produced revenue of SCI, 452.
Wants to Collect Personal Tax.
He concluded his report by saying that
work justify increasing the salaries Of
the employees of the office and the en-
ployment of additional workmen. He
says:
1.-THE renewal of the appropriation Of
s.. 500 for the collection of overdue per-
sonal taxes is recommended. The facili-
ties obtainable by means OF this appro-
priation are necessary for the collection
of this tax when delinquent. and, while
a larger sum could be used to advantage
the method proposed for permanent ap-
pointment will make an increase In this
unnecessary.
1.-The amount appropriated for the prep
aration of tax sale certificates, $500, has
heretofore proven inadequate and should
be increased to $1,000. The increase Is
necessary, and it is hoped will meet with
your approval.
1.-The object sought to be obtained by
the creation of the position Of chief ba1liff
is that there may be inaugurated sys-
taxes with a responsible head who has
the time to make Investigations, and
with proper facilities at hand 10 enforce
at