National Republican., 1883-11-15
TAXES AND AssEssME MENrs.
Interesting Facts and Figures In the RE-
port OF DIatrIct Aaseasor Dofrc.

port OF District Assessor Dodge,
The district assessors report for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1ss3 is a highly inter
esting and valuable document. Dealing as it
does with the basis of taxation II presents an
array of facts and figures that will be largely
sought for. The report states that tho num-
Der of licenses issued during tho year was
$3.50. Total amount paid, S12S, ,43S.7S.
Nearly every business paid an increase on
last year. Net increase of amount oyer last
year, $5,261.26.
The assessor referred to the fact that there
are on file over 1000 permits to manufac-
turers and owners who pay only 81 each,
against seven commercial agents who do the
same business and pay 500 each. He says
that If clause 3, section 81 Commercial
agents." was changed by striking out the
word agents" the license might be reduced
to $50 instead of 5000, giving more satisfac-
tion and bringing more money into tho
treasury. A few brokers havo paid $500 each
for licenses, under clause IL, section ~, but
nearly all this class has taken advajitAke of
the proviso in that clause and paid, as
bankers, as low as from so cents to $iQ when
it seems evident that hisproviso was Intended
for the banks of discount and deposit, who
pay their regular bankers license under
clause 4, section 81. There has been an in
crease of thirty-eight bar room and forty-two
wholesale liquor dealer licenses. He says
that IL the liquor license was made large il
would probably result in n decrease in the
number of dealers and an increase in the rev.
enue. In referring to the new assessment he
states that 918 appeals were referred to the
assessors, of which 2S2 were allowed And,
in addition, the board made of its own mo-
tion 2,547 changes from the original returns,
resulting in an increase of half a million dol
lars above the aggregate value as returned by
the assessors. He states that the time al
lowed for the assessment was too short, and
the assessors were too much hurried, and on
that account the assessment was not as salts
factory as it should have been.
He says: 81 recommend that at the next
assessment the number of assessors be re-
duced. each of them to have an assistant,
who will be competent to aid in measure
ments, and make up the books correctly, so
that more correct examination may be made
as to values, locations, &c. They should also
be continued, us far as practicable for future
assessments, that they may correct any errors
Of judgment in their previous returns"
A statement of the assessed value of the
real estate of the District Of Columbia on
June 30 1883. shows Washington, taxable,
$50, 0,051 ,054; Georgetown, taxable, $4,0l3,6 ,61O:
county, taxable at $3.50, $500, 141; taxable
at 81, $3,771, ,526. Total, 800, ,496.331. Amount
of tax 1sS3-'Si: Washington city, Ss0,051 ,O1i
at $1,50, 81 200 765.01; Georgetown, $4,0l3,6lO
at $1.5O, S60,2O4.15 county, $266O, 14l at l.5O
$39,902 12; county, agricultural, 1871, ,526 at
81, $37,715.26 Total real estate tax, 81, ,33S,.
5S7.34. The assessment for 1SS3-'94 on per-
sonal property is SIC, ,9S7, ,4l3, the tax on which
is $164, ,S11.6i.
The assessor states that he is having the
plats OF Georgetown put in proper shape at
the surveyors office, as the data have been
limited for properly assessing them hereto
fore, &c. He also recommends that the squares
in Georgetown be numbered from No. 1901
upward, instead of from No. aud upward
SO as to prevent the confounding OF these small
numbers with those of Washington.
He closes by saying there still remain,
about 81, 900 OF uucolected taxes in George
town for Lighting streets and pump tax, which
will not be paid unless the property changes
hands and the purchasers dem and a settle
ment with other arrears of taxes. There ar,
also delinquent corporation taxes for nui
sances, sewers. and paving footways.