Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-25
URGES new METHOD
Auditor Favors Change in Han
ding Tax Accounts.
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
Alleged Error Regarded as Result Of
an Improper System.
AIMING TO AVOID MISTAKES
Assessor to Prepare Tax Rolls for
the Collector to Use as
Basis for Bills.
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
AIMING TO AVOID MISTAKES

Radical changes in the methods of han
ordered by the Commissioners as the re-
suit OF the discovery of an alleged error
in the current personal tax levy, amount
ing to several thousand dollars, from &
cause, it is said, which may have pro
duced mistakes of similar nature In
levies made for previous years.
Reorganization Of the Offices of the col.
lector of taxes and the assessor for the
District Is contemplated in a plan which
has been submitted to the Commissioners
by Auditor Tweedale and was turned over
today by the District heads to specia
committee. which will give it immediat,
consideration.
To prevent the occurrence in the flu
ture of errors similar to the one recently
said to have been discovered the auditor
recommends that hereafter tax ledgers
and bills be prepared in the Office of the
collector of taxes rather than in the Of
flee of the assessor, as at present. 1t also
is recommended that the clerical force
of the assessors Office, which is charged
with the duty of preparing the ledgers
and bills, be transferred to the collector s
office.
Committee Appointed.
missioners to consider the proposed
change consists of Assessor w. p. Rich
ards, Auditor Alonzo Tweedale, Corpora
ton Counsel E. H. Thomas. Assistant
Assessor James T. Petty, Collector OF
Taxes Charles c. Rogers, DR.. William
TindaIl secretary to the board of Com
r chlQ1
clerk of the engineer department..
AS soon as 1t has conducted thorough
investigation of the recommendations o,
the auditor the committee will prepare
report for presentation to the Commits,
sioners. 1t is likely that the matter viii
be the subject of several board sessions
before a decision finally is reached.
Although no information has been given
out concerning the details of the mistake
alleged to have been found, the error Is
said to have resulted from an improper
accounting system, which officials OF the
District are anxious to correct. Auditor
Tweedale's plan cOntemplates reorganiz
ing the system to the extent Of abolish
ing the divided authority that now exists
with respect to the handling of tax ac-
counts and placing this municipal func-
ton upon a better business basis.
The Alleged Error.
1t was learned today that the error
which is said to be at the bottom of the
investigation, was discovered by Col
lector Of Taxes Rogers. This official. il
is understood. recently reached the con-
cluston that the balance charged to him
was In excess Of the total amount of the
bills to be collected. The matter was
taken up with Auditor Tweedale and ar
investigation followed, which showed, l,
is said. that the collector had beer
charged with several thousand dollars toe
much.
Mr.. Rogers brought the matter to the
attention Of the Commissioners, who II
turn referred it to Assessor Richards
After considering 1t Mr.. Richards recon-
mended to the Commissioners that it b.
turned over to the auditor, and this cOurs'
was followed.
In making his report to the Distric
heads Auditor Tweedale suggested thu
changes which would lead to reorgani
zation Of the Offices of collector of take
and assessor for the District. The mat
ter was again placed in the hands of thu
assessor, that official finally re6 ommend
ing the appointment of q committee t,
make an exhaustive study of the ques-
ton.
That Auditor Tweedale, in his report t,
the Commissioners, brought out the fac
that similar mistakes may have occurre'
in past levies is the feature Of the situa
ton which Is said to have convinced Dis
trict heads that the matter is one de
serving immediate attention.
It il understood that the auditor pointed
to the fact that, although June 30, 1910
the books Of the District showed there
was no balance remaining on the 100:
levy, yet during the last fiscal year
there was collected $324.SO on this levy
and during the present year $1S.35 on the
same lew.