Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-21
NEW LAW IS FAVORED
Plans for Forcible Reimbursement
in Some Cases Suggested.
DISCUSSED IN ANNUAL REPORT
Corporation Counsel Also Wants
Payment of Personal Taxes.


| lieves the District is in the easy mark
class in regard to a great many cases
where the public is maintaining patient:
| at the Government Hospital for the In
sane. In his annual report, submitted tc
| the Commissioners today, Mr.. Thomas
hints that a law which will allow the
District to forcibly collect from the
families of patients who can pay for sup
| port might be advisable.
Mr.. Thomas writes:
There is now no provision of statute
law whereby the District can be reim-
bursed for the care and maintenance OF
such persons out of their property or es-
tate. and such property is Usually INSULT
cient to meet the whole of the expense
incurred by the public. 1t is believed that
the District should be authorized to col
lect and receive income and principal
and to be reimbursed to the extent of the
money expended in such cases.
Provision might be made by law au-
thorizing the property clerk to collect and
receive such property during the lifetime
giving the District the right as creditor
to be reimbursed out of the deceased per-
sons estate.
O4CCA x4dVC 3XOpSItys
I'm the administration of the law re-
iating to the commitment and care of
the INDECENT or dangerous insane or pro-
ceedings instituted by the Commits
sioners 1t is not unusual to find
that such persons have or acquire
property which should be charged with
their care and maintenance. Under the
present system of amounting Independent
committees much difficulty has been ex-
perlenced In relmburSing the District. 1t
is thought that in the cases mentioned it
may be beneficial to provide by law for
the appointment of a public officer who
shall be charged with the duty of ad-
ministration
Hospital for the Insane, it seems, has no
machinery for enforcing collection against
the committee or trustee for the care of
insane wards and desires to place the
names OF these patients upon his bill
againse the District. If such action is
taken by the superintendent of the Gov
ernment Hospital for the Insane 1t will
be necessary to determine whether the
District is liable after the appointment Of
such committee Of the person and estate,
during the existence Of the estate and if
SO, to provide more adequate means
whereby the District can protect itself and
collect from the committee. Legislation
plainly fixing liability in such cases and
proV-olng means Tor collecting against
the estates of such insane persons may be
advisable"
Legislation that would prevent the Dis
trict losing a certain proportion of per-
sonal taxes is also limited at by the cor
poration counsel. He tells the Commits
sioners that 1t may be advisable to ask
Congress to enact law to prevent a
personal taxpayer from selling his chat
tells in order to escape distraint 1t fire.
quently happens that when the bailiffs
en IN ko
owner who refuses to pay his personal
tax bill they find the delinquent armed
with bill of sale. Mr. Thomas believes
that If a law were passed which would
make the tax lien on the goods It might
have a salutary effect.