National Republican., 1883-08-10
ASSESSMENT OF CORPORATIONS
Mr.. Dodge's Decision in the Matter-NVhat
is Said About the Personal Tax.

Mr.. Dodgo's Decision in the Matter-Nvhat
IL Said About the Personal Tax.
The commissioners yesterday had a con-
ference with Mr.. Dodge, the assessor, to
ascertain exactly what course he intended to
pursue in regard to tho returns of stock made
by corporations. He stated that he should
appraise their stock at what he believed to be
a fair market value so the majority of cor
porations will be notified that their returns
have been excepted to, and until the twentieth
instant he will sit as a board of equalization,
as it were upon these personal tax returns.
The commissioners have addressed letters
to the mayors of the most prominent cities to
ascertain if they have personal tax, and, if
so, what amount per capita they collect.
We desire to ascertain, said Commissioner
West, what is the experience in other cities
with the personal tax. If we collect $120,0 900,
that would be II per cent. on $S,000,00O,
which would amount to, assuming population
of 5000, $40 per capita of personal property.
A gentleman who had formerly consider
able experience in district affairs was met by
a REPUBLICAN reporter last night and asked
what he thought of the present action of
taxing corporations according to the market
value of their stock.
They are doing exactly as the law con-
templatcd," was the reply, but the law is
au onerOuS aud .neqNihlhlc one, which should
be repealed This action will probably do
more toward securing its repeal than any
thing else. Had the assessor followed
the advice given in the opinion
Of the attorney for the district in
1879 the personal tax law would have boon
repealed before this but the former cummis-
sioners We're weak -kneed aud thought they
were running along well enough aud they
didn't want to create any antagonisms, and
so they paid no attention to the opinion.
The personal tax law should be abolished,
and trust the commissioners will 50 recon-
mend in their next report. The growth of
Washington during the last twenty years has
been abnormally above tho ordinary growth
of the country and has resulted from tho
large accretion of the force required to prop
erly serve the government, That force has
quite. reached its climax, and there
is no creative wealth and no projected manu-
featuring enterprises here which will induce
people to now make this their home. Conse-
quently, instead of offering advantages for
making money as other cities do, we must
present advantages for spending and living
upon it. Those who will come here now will
be those who seek the advantages, political,
social, and climatic, which Washington
presents above all other cities, and we must
seek to pres ent some inducements to them to
come here and make this their home. If
they find that they are to be taxed heavily
upon their personal holdings, and unequally, +,
here they will not come but if they find that
they can come and only be taxed for their
real estate and not be compelled to pay per-
sonal tax that will be large inducement for
the wealthy to mako their homes here, and
that is about tho only class that we can in
vite hero now. Furthermore this very
class is of all others most restiye under por-
sonal inquisition of their affairs. The tax
upon personal property is the greatest incu-
bus and most unjust imposition under which
Washington now labors, Its removal would
add immensely to the progress Of the capital,
and give powerful stimulus to increasing
population"