The Washington times., 1910-09-21
Corporation Counsel Says
Delinquents' Property Not
Always Available.
OFTEN DISPOSED OF
BEFORE HE ACTS
Other Recommendations In Annual
Report Submitted to Com
miSSione7S.

The enactment Of a more stringent
law for the collection OF personal taxes
is suggested b Corporation Counsel
z H Thomas in his annual report sub
mitted 10 the Commissioners today.
An act approved July I, 1872, provides
that the Collector of Taxes may dis
train sufficient goods and chatteIs be
longing 10 the person or corporation
Charged with the tax. If the personal
tax is not paid
IT sometimes happens says the
Corporation Counsel. that before dis
traint the goods and chatteIs Of the de-
hnquent taxpayer are sold. and that no
other property exists from which the
taxes may be collected The goods sold
Cannot be levied in such cases. Whether
the law ought TO be changed 50 as 10
make The tax a lien on tie goods. and
the taxpayer made personally liable
for the payment OF personal taxes. Is
sQ' mitted for your consideration"
To Reimburse the District.
Corporation Counsel Thomas recon-
mends also that provision be made for
reimbursing the District for the care Of
persons VINO are committed TO various
institutions under the regulations Of the
Commissioners by the Board Of Chart
ties
such persons are sometimes found 70
be entitled 10 property by inheritance
or from pensions and Insurance, and
there IS now no provision OF law where
by the District can be reimbursed for
their care.
The remedy suggested Is that provis-
ion be made by law authorizing the
property clerk 10 collect and receive
such property during the lifetime OF
sslch persons and. in the event OF
death, giving the District the right as
CreditOC 10 be reimbursed out OF the
estate.
The appointment Of q public officer
who shah be charged with the duty OF
administering the estate OF insane per
sons who have been committed on pro-
CeediugS Instituted by the commission
erS Is rerowueude5-
The present law provides that in case
any person ad1udCCd 20 De insane has
property real or personal, the equity
court of the District shall have power
70 appoint committee OF trustee Of
ahe person, and SUeH committee or tTIS-
Tee shall reimburse out OF the funds
q tia lUnayc. the District of Columbia
Tor all court costs end for ali money eN-
.-.l-cd in caring for the insane person
To Determine Liability.
--The Superintendent Of the Government
H0sDital for the Insane, says the re-
por-, has no machinery for eufOrcins
collection against such committee or
lgust ee Ior the care Of insane wards,
ami desires 10 place the names Of ,hest
sBtents upon his bill against the Dis
tic
sIf sUCn action Is taken by the SUI
per +uteudeut OF the Government Hos
ui,al for the Insane, IL VIII be neces-
saTE 20 determine whether the Dis
Of such committee Of the person and
estate, during the existence Of the
estate and II so TO provide more ade-
qIate means whereby the District can
rro1ect itself and collect from the
Committee
eE-egIslatiCn plainly fixing liability in
such cases and providing means for
collecting against the estates of such
insane persons may be advisable
Pointing out the increase Of work
in the Juvenile Court. Corporation
Counsel recommends the appointment
OF an assistant corporation counsel.
10 be detailed TO that court
Comment on the situation is maze
"Seri0Cs enhancement has been
caused by the omission 70 provide an
assistant for this work
This defect IS now temporarily SUD
piled by assignment TO that court Of the
only clerk allowed this Office. and If this
condition Is not speedily renpdied, il
must result in injury TO the public
Provision should be made also for a
law which viii authorize the assignment
Of counsel in charge Of alley conderaua-
ti0Hs 10 this and other work Of this
offce--
The report or the Assistant Corpora
ton Counsel Gus A. SChUldt, who Is as
signed TO the Police CourS shows that
1881 iuformations were fled during the
year resulting IN fines collected BY the
District 20 the amount Of s57,117.7I