Evening star., 1877-11-20
A Startling Exhibit.


Elsewhere will be found a document of
impressive importance at this Juncture-:he
report OF the Committee on Taxation and
Assessments, OF the Citizens Committee of
One Hundred. The showing OF the amount
of burdens resting upon the citizens OF this
District is not a pleasant one to contemplate,
but 1t Is well always in such matters TO
know the worst. II appears that the aggra-
gate assessed value OF real estate In this
District is so .CC9, 500; personal property,
s9,052, ,3S5. The committee find that the as
sessment is very much above the present
actual value OF real estate, and does not fur
nish the equitable data to determine the pro-
per proportion as against the real estate held
IN the District by the General Government.
The committee conclude that q deduction OF
twenty-five per cent. from the aggregate
amount furnished by the assessor would ap-
pToximate proper maximum basis in de-
termining values between the property held
by the citizens of the District of Columbia
and that held by the General Government.
BY comparing the rate OF assessment in this
District with that adopted elsewhere
throughout the country, 10 appears that
ours is very much higher, and taxes based
on our high standard OF assessment are
really more oppressive than nominally
higher taxes elsewhere, based on a lower as
sessment rate. This fact should be borne in
mind by Congress In levying taxation on the
real estate of the District for the support of
its local government, or in estimating the
proper proportion 10 be paid by the General
Government. In regard to the present per-
soEal tax levied by Congress, the report
points out very cOnclusively its offensive
and impract;cabie character, and the fact
that II does not produce as much revenue as
the cheer;ully paid tax upon licenses. which
II replaced. This view is sustained by the
report OF the present board of assessors, as
the readers Of The STAR will remember.
On the point Of the proportion of the area
OF real estate owned by the General Govern
meDt in the District of Columbia, as agsins;
that held by the citizens, it appears that the
area OF the PARKS and reservations held by
tie government contains 3l,i59.32O square
feet, and is valued at S25.5S2 IA; an average
asst ssmenf OF only about - cents per square
foot. In STREETS and avenues there are
H2,41oCi3 square feet valued at 80 cents, or
S33, ,I41,CI2. The public buildings are valued
at S35, ~ ,207; the value OF government prop
erty In the county at S39O, 900; in Georg getown
S35.55s. The aggregate of government prop
erty on this valuation is about s9j 5j,Oo0
and i'm the Opinioo OF the committee this as
sessment is a lower standard than is applied
10 the property Of the citizens for the purpose
oftaxation. As showing the special hard
ship of requiring the tax payers of Washing
ton 20 bear the expense OF improving the
immense street area of the national capital,
a comparison is made as regards the area
occupied by streets of several large cities.
From this IL appears that Washington city
has the largest area reserved for streets OF
any city in the world; being 5iO5 per cent. OF
the whole area of the city. The street area OF
New York city is 35 O3; of Paris, 25.Os; Phila-
delphia, 29.Os; Boston, 26.0o. For the improve
ment OF this large proportion OF streets the
private property of the citizens of the Dis
trict has been loaded down with special taxa
ton.
The data presented showing the enormous
burdens of debt and taxation pressing upon
the taxpayers of the District, and the utter
hopelessness of sustaining them short of con-
fscation of their property, is startling; but
coming as IL does from official sources and
compiled by q committee well versed In
matters of assessment, and taxation, and
the values Of property in the District, there
is no reason TO doubt its accuracy. 1t ap-
pears that the sum of taxes now in arrears Is
81 s1,e46,Gs9, which amount represents In value
of assessments about SO, 900 zoo. The ap-
palling statement is made that orer t,Oo-fnhs
OF the whole real estate property of the citi-
zebs of the District is now held by the Dis
trict government, purchased at tax-sales for
arTearages of taxes,
The data In regard to special taxes shows
: u, S66 standing on the books OF the Dis
trict against the private property of the citi-
zens, bearing interest al the rate of ten per
cent. per annum. In view OF the fact that
the arrears in the general tax are carrying a
penalty for non- payment of two per cent.
per month (ftceElty. .fotu per cent. per oulplJ
and the special tax ten per cent. per annum,
with heavy costs for court proceedings. IL is
moi surprising, the committee think that the
owners should elect to abandon their prop
erty, altogether, in many cases. This state
ment Of the situation of our Taxpayers un-
pleasant as IL is, does not show the entire
extent of the burdens pressing upon them
We understand that at the time the report
was made, the committee had not been able to
get the data Of what is known as the tax-lien
certificates that were issued for the general
tax in arrears for the fiscal year ending June
so, ISIS, many OF which are still outstanding;
nor the amount OF special Ia x levied for put
ting down the water mains. The latter how
ever, will appear in the report of the Water /
Register.
This report OF the Taxation Committee
merits a careful perusal from all members of .
Congress who wish 20 inform themselves in /
teliigently concerning the affairs Of the Dis
trict OF Columbia. over which Congress has (
exclusive legislation"
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