Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-07
Collection Of Taxes.

lumbfa through the collector of taxes
during the fiscal year ending June 30.
1909, were follows:
On account Of
Rsnldy take. s4la5s s
Special reimbursement ta1es... 7e4.ss
Penalties and interest. ..-........ 80
Miscellaneous collections. $50 bl22l
Total general fund ..... 6Ot0 IOl IL
Special and trust funds. .......... 1,28S 80
departments TO appropriations. 194, 1850
miscellaneous receipts United
Aggregate. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1853. 2lb.1s
This amount is 1886, 3s8O2 greater than
was collected during the last fiscal year
The total amount credited to the gen
eral fund. which is strictly revenue, is
5000 701.11, an increase over any pre-
vious year Of 1854. SO3.96 The collector
of taxes inaugurated a vigorous policy
for the collection OF the revenue OF the
District which resulted in the collection
of an amount far in excess of any pre-
wious year. The system pursued has
been firm but courteous, allowing every
facility for the adjustment OF unsatis-
factory accounts and granting conces-
sions not inconsistent with the strict en-
forcement of the law in the matter Of
payments. The balances charged to the
collector at the beginning OF the hscal
year were thus materially reduced. in ad-
diton to which there was collected
ever before.
There was collected on account of
personal taxes for the fiscal year 1909.
1881 1901, and of this amount $s4. 1906
was collected from 1851 delinquents.
No account has been taken of the un-
paid balances Of real and personal taxes
for the year 1909. for the reason that
they were not in arrears until the close
of the fiscal year. Since then there
has been collected on account OF realty
taxes, 1909. $4,000: on account OF per-
sonal taxes. 1902, $4,000
Results have shown that over % per
cent of the collectible personal taxes
levied for the lest six years, from 1909
to 1909, were paid.
Changes in methods-Many changes
have been made during the year look
ing TO the betterment of the administra-
ton of the office. new system OF in
dexing and filing of all official papers
and the keeping of card records of all
correspondence received and sent has
been installed, and the records of the
Office have been put in proper shape,
enabling the public to promptly and ex-
peditiously secure information in regard
to tax matters. The bookkeeping meth
DDS have been moderniZed and changes
have been made in the numerous books
Of entry.
The reforms in the accounting methods
of the office have proven Of great value.
the coupon and stub system now in use
in all the departments and offices OF the
District being especially satisfactory. The
receipt end. as we'll as the coupons and
stubs of all bills payable at the col
lector's office, are countersigned by a
representative of the auditor. and, not
withstanding the fact that auditors
clerks are constantly on duty in the
collectors office checking mp and audit
ing the accounts, the work is done with
no friction, and with the least possible
delay to the public, and the result is that
every safeguard is used and the chance
of loss of the peoples money has been.
reduced to a minimum.
Disbursements.
The record of the disbursing office for
promptness and accuracy is apparent
from the fact that it's total disbursement
of $40 90. 1875, involving expenditures
from more than 1875 appropriations. trust
funds and special funds was effected in
manner emphasizing. by several i'm
provements in detail of operation, it's es-
tablished standard of efficiency.
The expenditure of every penny of this
sum is evidenced by vouchers which have
received careful auditing and keen scrut-
my, and the unexcelled record of the dis
bursting. officers accounts in passing
through the final audit by the experts of
the United States Treasury indicates the
degree of care which they have received
by the District financial departments. the
steady growth and importance of which
are shown by the increase in the amount
of work accomplished by these offices,
During the past fiscal year the total
number of vouchers upon which the va
rious payments to contractors for work
and supplies and for pay rolls were made,
aggregate A.55o nearly 1,JOO In excess OF
the number for the year previous. Checks
aggregating So S92 in number were signed
and delivered by the disbursins omcer.
an increase of 1897 over the number for
1908, and while a large proportion of
these checks were transmitted through
the mails, the fact that but one was re-
ported as undelivered speaks well for the
accuracy of the office in its clerical rou-
tine.
The number of checks paid to employees
during the year, including school teach
ers. policemen. fremen, etc, was 46,SOe
while the approximate number OF pay
ments to employees in cash was ~, 400,
and among all OF these transactions. the
latter class including many 1aborfng
gangs upon the public works. not cent
was paid out through error in Identity or
calculation.
During the year $500 police court wit
nesses and nearly 1900 other witnesses
AMI jurors received their fees at the dis
bursting office.
The disbnrsing officer reports that ap-
1900 written communica-
lions were received i'm his Office, about
one-half of which required written replies
The above abstract of the work OF this
financial office OF the municipal govern
the Office force consists of only the dis
bursting officer and Ave assistants, and
the further facts that the work OF the
depa rtment is uniformly up to date, that
every modern method for the keeping of
the records and accounts Is maintained.
such as daily balance, monthly alb
stract, statement OF subsidiary cash ac-
cash books. etc, indicates the
character of the administration of this
branch of the District service.
Relating to Supplies.
The property division is charged with
the purchase Of all supplies and con-
struction materials used by the District
During the fiscal year end
ing June 80. 1909, the expenditures for
and materials aggregated 81 .232.
9st. - based upon 1904 acquisitions.
which required the issuance of 23,58S
orders.
The Office which is charged by law
with the duty of disposing of old ma
terials, sold during the year at public
auction, after due advertising, property
condemned as unfit for further use. re-
ceiving for the same $643l.34. which
was paid into the Office Of the collector
of taxes, to be deposited to the credit
Columbia 1t is also the duty OF the
Office to supervise the inspection of all
fuel purchased by the District govern
ment During the year %. sos tons of coal
and 623 cords of wood were inspected, OF
which 500 tons of coal and 3 cords Of
wood, respectively. were rejected.
The duty of keeping record OF the con-
ditions Of various appropriations and out
standing obligations. also the preliminary
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