The Washington times., 1910-10-14
Recommends to Commission
ers That Regulation of
1902 Be Re-enacted.
EVADERS OF DEBTS
COULD BE STOPPED
Department Would Be Empowered
to Bring About More Ready
Settlement.

That the law of February. 1902. maxi
ing all arrears in taxes receivable for
a specified time with per cent interest
In lieu Of all other penalties and costs
be re-enacted, is the recommendation
contained in the annual report Of
Charles c. Rogers, Collector Of Taxes,
submitted TO the Commissioners to-
day.
The opinion is expressed by Collec-
tor Rogers that this would be the
means Of collecting a large amount of
arrears, as taxpayers who are delin-
quent would avail themselves of the
benefit Of such a law.
There are persons who eVade the
payment of taxes says the report,
and at the same time are enjoying the
position of incomes from their property
and are sure In possession from the
fact that the accumulated taxes and
costs deter purchasers at the tax sale
of the property, and the District is
powerleSS 10 act farther IN Sucn cases,
having exhausted all the means the law
provides for the collection OF the taxes
due except sale of property at private
sale. Here for the same reason the
investment has little or no attraction
for purchasers. This office can devise
no method for the collection OF these
taxes, and consequently recommends
legislative action
Gas Companies Unpaid.
With the exception of the assessments
Of Sl634A27 made against the Washing
ton Gas Light Company and the George
town Gas Light Company for services,
pipes and meters, there will be practi-
caIly no balance OF unpaid realty taxes
for the fiscal year, 1910, according to
the report
by an understanding between the
board OF aSSlSIunt assessors and the at
tOrneys for these companies, this matter
mas been taken Ito the courts OF the
District for a decision as TO the legality
Of the asSesSm= says. Mr. Rogers
pending the courts decision, these
taxes cannot be collected. But when the
decision is rendered, these taxes will
be collected, or the assessors will re-
duCe the levy"
A change in the personal tax law so as
TO provide for the collection Of taxes on
personal property in the event that IL
changes hands after the assessment is
made, is recommended. AT present"
the Collector states. lit is impossible in
such cases to exercise the authority 10
collect the tax by utStraint or sale, for
the reason that he cannot enforce the
collection from the party TO whom the
property Is transferred, and the party
VINO has been assessed, though refuses
70 pay, resulting in a considerable loss
IN revenue TO the District"
Would Cancel Taxes.
It is recommended also that all IN
paid personal taxes charged TO the
Collector Of Taxes for the fiscal years
1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907. and 1908
be Cancelled.
1t is safe to assume that after per
SCnal taxes become over one year
oeunquenI, collections practically
cease Balances have been carried
since 1903 with little or no possibility
Of their collection, owing TO death.
retirement from business. removal
from the District, inability to locate.
and other causes, and IL is clearly
manifest that they should be elimi-
mated from the records Of the office -
The total collections for the fiscal
year ended June 30, were S7,7lS,OO5.22
an increase over the preceding year
of S269,612.27.
The total amount credited 70 the
general fund, which is strictly reve-
nue., and upon which the Commission
ers base their estimates, is $e,275,-
625.3S.