The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-25
Anticipated District Methods as
to Delinquent Taxpayers
BY BILL PRICE.

BY BILL PRICE,
Practically ali States in the Union and all cities and towns
Of size have sensible and just methods advertising
properties of delinquent taxpayers taxpayers will be
given much protection possible against sales of their
homes or their unimproved lots.
The laws and methods in in the District of Columbia
are not only anqated but cumbersome be confusing
and lacking in proper aid to property owners.
needed of legislative revision of existing
laws and careful revision of the rules and regulations
adopted by the Commissioners Every member of Congress
personally familiar with the laws in their respective States
for the sales Of properties upon which have been
paid.
It is the custom in many States for example that de-
nqent taxpayers shall be duly notified by other
wise and that the properties upon which unpaid
shall be advertised in the newspapers sufficient of
times to attract the attention Of denquents These adver
easements usually carry the Of the property owners
the lots acreage and the that is of
this advertising is apporoned among those who have been
negligent in their duties
At any rate the effort nearly everywhere to give den
quen taxpayers the fullest notice of their delinquency and
prevent their properties falling into the hands Of land sharks
thereby becoudng titles putting heavy
expenses.
Ignorance poverty and carelessness
the failure Of of property pay their The
penalties for these failures fall heaviest upon widows and
orphans and upon those who have been visited by misfortune
Lack Of information is responsible for most tax difficulties
In the District of Columbia the only advertising required
Us general Of sae without the Names or
acreage that will identify the proper
ties And since the tax payments put into effect
by Congress- notifications sent to taxpayers In fact
the tax collectors office here does not have the addresses
property year ago Congress would ap
propate sufficient money for the District buy
stamps carry inquiries of citizens
ters Of notification to anybody.
BY order Of the Commissioners adopted about years ago
the tax collector longer keeps alphabetical list of
payers and there requirement to addresses The
collector keeps his lists in the numerical order Of lots sy
tenn that increases the work Of that office many fold BY the
old method Of tax bills received BILL when he asked
for it, with all of his real estate single BILL which
tanned the total sum due the various lots Now the
gets bill for each separate lot. Some get many
300 and 400 tax bills This is unquesonably confusing
and puts upon the collectors office much unnecessary
In the matter of penalties imposed upon delinquent
payers the District laws are not They probably
too easy
Some cities have found that drastic methods with due
warnings taxpayers Of dequency result in curtang the
number of delnquents In Detroit reasonable time given
for payment of overdue taxes there continued failure
to respond careful notification given penalty of
100 per added This has been effective there
is comparatively little property put up at tax sales
The District government gives property two
years before advertising properties for sale The penalties
increase from per cent each month to per and
Even after the properties bought in by professional pur
chasers who have become wealthy at the business the de-
quens have two years for redemption before the Commits
gone give actual deeds of ownership. Once these
given the must the taxes plus heavy interest
and such bonus as is required
There not be any sound argument against giving clear
and definite notices to property owners that injustice may
not be done those who ignorant thoughess in
financial difficulties Human such that the strongest
safeguards should be thrown around the sales of homes
lots to land gbbers who profit by the msforunes Of others
The greatest should also be used in giving sufficient
notice to lot who assessed for and water
construction for Improvement benefits.