Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-24
STANDSbYbUS|NESS TAX RECORD BROKEN tt
Taft Would Not Make the Collections for Year in Dis Blu
Foot Ball of Politics. trct s8,633, 1885.
WOULD GIVE CONFIDENCE INCREASE IS $780,482 33 OP
Unjust Prejudice Lists Show Large
DISCUSSES METAL ROGERS MAKES HIS REPORT
Meeting in Conven Garnering Money.
tion in Atlantic TwoN New Offices
Collections for Year in Dis
trict, $8,633,799.55.
INCREASE is $780,482.33
Realty, Personal and Miscellaneous
Lists Show Large Gains.
ROGERS MAKES HIS REPORT
Recommends Legislation to Aid
Work of Garnering Money.
Wants Two New Offices.

All records for tax collection by the Dis
trict of Columbia government were
smashed during the twelve months that
ended July 1. last. the total receipts being
SS,6S3, 1885. or an increase of $50, 49, 333
In the collection of any previous year.
Increases in the returns of every rev.
enue-producing source are shown by the
annual report of Collector of Taxes
Charles c. Rogers. submitted to the Dis
trict Commissioners today Realty taxes
were greater by $4S6.I39. and personal
taxes by $50. Miscellaneous receipts
recorded healthy increase. amounting
to 52.526OS.
Trust funds collected during the year
amounted to $780,, ,234 81, an increase Of
$19O, O,512.22. while there was collected on
account of miscellaneous receipts credit
ed to the United States $13S, $50. 49, an in
crease over last year Of $1O3, 5000.
Water Fund Collections.
The total water fund collected, includ-
ing rents. etc. was $676. 6.s6s.61. or S45.-
1872 more than was collected during
1911.
According to the report there is still on
the books of the office large balance Of
realty taxes assessed to the Washington
Gas Light Company and the Georgetown
Gas Light Company. on their service
pipes and meters, for the years 1906 to
1912, inclusive. which have not been paid,
assessed to the Washington Terminal
Company and the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company for the years 1910 to
1912, inclusive. for the use of certain
streets. ETC., on which settlement likewise
is due.
When tboso acco,,ptc boye baoo od
justed, it is stated, the balances of un-
paid realty taxes for the last twenty
years will average less than $4,000 a year.
Recommendations are made by Collector
Rogers for legislation providing addi-
tonal means for the collection of real
estate taxes in arrears and a law that
will confer authority for the cancellation
of personal taxes that have not been
paid and have been in arrears five years.
More Offices Desired.
The collector also has requested the
Commissioners to include in their esti-
mates for the next fiscal year provision
for the creation Of additional Offices to be
filled by a chief bailiff and an assistant
cashier.
Under the present law when property
is offered at tax sale and the collector
cannot procure an outside purchaser it is
OlO III Dy tnc 1HStTlCt. ne taxes, tnere-
fore, remain unpaid and the procedure, it
is claimed. is Of no ben eit to the District
In connection with the recommends
ton made for the cancellation of personal
taxes in arrears Collector Rogers states
that 30 per cent of the personal tax levy
Is collected every year.
Personal Tax Problem.
Personal taxes are assessed in July
OF each year and are not due and payable
until the May following. which is ten
months later" he points out. During this
time many persons close their places of
business. transfer their personal property,
leave the city and. in many ways. fix
themselves SO that it is impossible for
the collector to pursue and collect the
amount owing the District Now all of
the taxes of this kind remain on the
books OF the assessor and collector for all
time. l do not consider this good ac-
counting and II authority of some kind
were given us. 1t would enable the Dis
trict to clean up the personal tax books
at given intervals
The report states that the real estate
tax sale last year was the largest the
District has ever had More than 10000
parcels were reported to the collector by
the assessor on which taxes were in ar
rears. After the property was adver-
tised fer sale many payments were
made. The collector finally was compell-
ed to sell 5.637 lots. on many of which
were improvements, and the sale amount
ed to $13O.0eO9S.