Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-05
Attachments to Be Issued in
Key Cases to End De-
linquenCies.
UNPAID LEVIES COVER
PERIOD OF rs YEARS
Corporation Counsel Bride Reveals
Plan in Report on Activities
to Clear Dockets.

the corporation cOunSeIS ONCE 10 col.
lect delinquent personal property
taxes totaling more than 100000
Corporation Counsel w. w. Bride re-
vealed today in a report to Commis.
sioner Sydney F. Taliaferro.
Attachments will be issued very
shortly in a number of "key" cases
selected by Chatham Towers, collector
of taxes, and 1t is believed that this
action will serve as means Of forcing
other delinquent taxpayers to make a
remittance.
Mr.. Bride pointed out in his report
that serious consideration has been
given by his office to plans for coll
lecting the unpaid taxes, which cover
a period of about 25 years, and that
the decision to issue attachments in
certain cases was reached only after
conference with a committee COM
posed of Tax Collector Towers, Will.
liam P. Richards and Auditor Daniel
j. Donovan.
Promises Vigorous Action.
'I have assured the committee that
this office Is ready to take prompt &C.
ton just as soon as the collector re-
ports his inability to make collection"
said Mr.. Bride. 1.-THE course of pro.
cedure in such cases Is mapped out.
1t is believed that vigorous action,
coupled with some publicity of the ac-
ton taken, will bring in much Of the
outstanding taxes"
Mr.. Bride prepared the report at the
request of Commissioner Taliaferro az
a review of the activities of his office
since July 1, when he became Corpora
alton counsel. In addition to the plan
to collect delinquent taxes, Mr.. Bride
also described the progress made In
Police Court toward the disposition OF
accumulated jury cases and the steps
taken to settle the long.standing
Washington Terminal tax case.
''My work has been very largely
taken up with the administration Of
the office. in trying to bring 1t up to
date and in mapping out methods and
plans for that purpose" said Mr..
Brides report. First of all, I found
that the assistants had never been
brought together as body for the
purpose of working out coordination
in the office or for an exchange OF
views. I have arranged Tor weekly
conferences at my Office on Friday OF
each week at o'clock for these pur-
poses. Problems confronting each Of
ficer are brought to the attention OF
the body for such assistan nee and con.
structive criticism as can be obtain
ed. If one officer Is overburdened with
work another one less busy Is assigned
to assist him. If one officer Is in doubt
upon any question Of law, procedure
or policy, the views of the others are
obtained for his assistance. In short,
it is felt that these conferences VIII
be of very material assistance In keep
ing up the work, in determining poll.
cies and in finding out exact situa-
tionS.
Has Special Docket.
"a docket has been prepared and Is
being kept up-to-date for my especial
use. so that I may know the condt'
ton of each case in the office and so
that may be sure the work Is being
done. This docket lies on my desk
and ought to insure that pleadings
are filed within the times specified
and that the rights Of the District OF
Columbia are protected and its obliga'
tions compiled with in these regards.
"I requested and obtained a list or
all pending references. found many.
many such references which had not
been completed. a number OF them
having had no action taken upon them
for periods of upward OF four years.
Each reference was referred TO the
particular assistant having It In
charge and a written report requested
from that officer. These requests have
been complied with, a number OF
references closed and the assistant In
charge of each reference left with a
complete understanding that unreason-
able delay will not be tolerated.
.I have visited Police Court. con.
ferred with the judges and assistants
to the corporation counsel In charge
of our work there with the idea OF
securing prompt action upon out
standing jury cases. 1 know the
Congress and the Commissioners are
greatly interested in facilitating the
early disposal of these cases. The as
sistants there have been made to
realize the great public interest in
this feature of our work there. Since
July /, 145 jury demands have been
disposed of and juries are hearing
ca ses on Thursday and Friday Of each
week. Since July / but 55 jury trials
have been requested by defendants;
thus IL can be seen we have 80 less
cases pending today than we had on
July 1.
Expects to Reduce Cases.
'There are now pending $50 cases.
1t is believed we will be able to re-
duce this number. Judge Mcmahon
called me to the bench on one Of my
visits to the court and told me that
my office should be congratulated on
the way it is now functioning and
that the assistants were working with
vigor and ability.
"Judge Mcmahon has requested this
office to assist in the securing OF
prompt attendance Of witnesses in the
Police Court, and a conference has
been held with the Police Department,
as result of which orders have been
issued by the acting superintendent Of
police which it Is believed will great
ly improve the condition about which
there was complaint. This situation
will be watched carefully and results
noted"