I heard Tax Day was on April 17 because the 15th fell on a Sunday, when there’s no mail, and because Monday was a federal holiday. What holiday was it?

The District of Columbia last Monday marked the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s signing of a law that freed the district’s slaves in 1862.

“According to federal law, District of Columbia holidays impact tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do,” the Internal Revenue Service said, so it pushed back the federal income tax filing deadline.

The District of Columbia Emancipation Act was signed almost nine months before Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which many media outlets confused with the district’s law in their reports on the Tax Day move.

“All persons held to service or labor within the District of Columbia by reason of African descent are hereby discharged and freed of and from all claim to such service or labor; and from and after the passage of this act neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except for crime, whereof the party shall be duly convicted, shall hereafter exist in said District,” reads the law.

The Emancipation Act promised up to $300 in compensation to former slave owners loyal to the Union and set up a three-person board to investigate claims.

According to the National Archives’ website, the board “approved 930 petitions, completely or in part, from former owners for the freedom of 2,989 former slaves.”

Additionally, the law offered up to $100 each — taken from any remaining money — for former slaves who wished to emigrate.

It also set board members’ pay at $2,000, which they were to receive after filing a required report nine months later, and fixed the pay for the board’s clerk at $200 a month.

Online: www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured_documents.

Parish, state contacts for road concerns

Who do I contact for information concerning road strips or a flashing red light on High Hope Road when approaching La. 27?

“If the traffic control devices are within the right of way of La. 27 (such as a flashing beacon or stop sign at the intersection), they would contact La. DOTD District 7 Traffic Department at 437-9100,” parish engineer Tim Conner wrote in an email forwarded to The Informer.

“If the strips they are referring to are rumble strips at the approach to La. 27 on High Hope Road, they would contact the Parish Engineering Department at 721-4100.”

Online: www.cppj.net; www.dotd.la.gov.

The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098, press 5 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com

(Special to the American Press)