Evening star., 1939-10-13
Changes Due Soon
In Work Of Assessor
And Wafer Registrar
EorIy Modernizotions
Will Shake Up Billing
And Record Work

District officials anticipated to-
day they soon would be able to
begin modernization of the opera
tions of the assessors Office and
the water registrars Office, entailing
considerable changes in records of
assessments and the reading and
billing by the Water Department.
Funds for the long g-proposed
changes were included by Congress
in the current Appropriation Act.
Ideas were crystaliZed about two
years ago, on the establishment OF
central billing system for the
assessors Office in a report of the
Tax Delinquency Committee, bead
ed by Auditor Daniel J. Donovan
and including civic leaders as we'll
as District officials.
The need for changes in the
Water Department record and bill
ing and meter-reading system was
emphasized in a report about a
year ago by special board of sur
vey on the total water system,
which was headed by Riley E. Elgen,
chairman Of the Public Utilities
Commission.
Hebbard Given Control.
In Connection with the changes
in the Water Department system,
Ralph L. Hebbard, for many years
assistant registrar, has been given
control of the division because of
the i'll health of Col. Edwin H.
Grove, veteran registrar. Mr.. Grove
was on sick leave for several months
recently, and officials of the Water
Department felt he should have
aid in the task of wholesale re-
vamping of the billing and meter
reading work While he has been
relieved of "all responsibility he
retains his title and will serve in
an advisory capacity, officials said.
Col. Grove, who will be 81 in Decem-
Der, has been registrar since 1926
and an employe of the District for
81 years.
Edward A. Dent, assessor newly
appointed to succeed the late Fred
D Allen, announced today that or
ders already have been placed for
Modern office machinery needed to
perfect the central billing plan. He
said he hoped to have the system in
operation some time in January
Under the new system when a pro-
spective taxpayer goes to the asses
sor's Office, officials there will be
able to pull out one card which will
show all bills. including special as
sessments, which are due, except de-
linquent bills more than four years
old.
Installation of the new system,
aside from the increased service to
the public, was expected to result
in economies by lessening the re-
quired number of employees. How
ever. MIR. Dent has advised his staff
not to be alarmed, since the staff re-
duction would be accomplished only
gradually, as automatic separations
take place through retirements,
death and transfer to other agen-
cies. He emphasized that plenty Of
help would be needed during the
transition period especially since
the load of work on the Office would
be tremendously increased this year
by reason Of the adoption of the
income taxes.
Machinery Orders Placed.
Orders also have been placed for
the new machinery needed in the
Water Department for moderniza-
ton of its system. It is proposed
that all bills be rendered twice a
year instead of once. This involves
a development of an entirely new
system of accounts as we'll as bill
ing, and 10 temporary employees will
get permanent jobs as a result. One
additional employees will be hired to
operate the new office machines.
Maj. John B. Gordon, director of
sanitary engineering, who super
vises the Water Department, antici-
pates considerable savings will re-
suit for the reason that many water
users, receiving a bill but once a
year. frenquently protest 1t is too
high and agents must be sent back
over their routes for re-readings.
The large users Of water now have
their bills read more than once a
year, but the great body of average
consumers get but one bill a year
and one reading, except when re-
checks must be made.