Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-29
REVENUES OF THE DISTRICT.
Important Statements and Recommen-
datiOns in the Assessors Report.

dations in the Assessors Report.
VALUE OF TAXABLE AND NoN-TAxABLE REAL
ESTATE IN THE DIsTR1oT-PERsoNAL PROP
ERTY-REcEIPTs FROM LICENSES, ETo.-RE-
VISION OF THE LICENSE AND INSURANCE LAWS.
Assessor Williams today sent his annual re-
port for the fiscal year ended June 80, 1889, to
the Commissioners. From licenses the total
receipts have been S157, 7,579.94. In 1888 they
were S13S, ,96S.55, showing a net increase of
S1S,611.39. There were issued during the year
1851 licenses and in addition $50 certificates
for miscellaneous receipts. 82O bar room
licenses and 534 for the sale of liquor by
wholesale were issued, making an increase of
bar rooms 10S and wholesale ITO.
THE LICENSE AND INSURANCE LAWS NEED REVISION.
The report states that the license laws are
badly in need of revision. The need of in
creased protection under licenses is also spoken
OF. The continued growth of our city is in
d!cated by the increase of receipts, says Mr..
"lnams. Every branch under the license
system, he says, is increasing. In regard to
the pawn brokers the report says: ''The pass
age OF the new law in reference topawn brokers
mas had the effect with one exception) of with
drawing the receipts from this source" Four
hundred and sixty-seven hacks. cabs and other
--~O-.c>~
THE CAB RATES.
Mr.. Williams calls attention to the puzzling
character of the printed rates of fare posted in
the cabs and says thorough revision is needed
so that child could understand them. Mr..
Williams renews his recommendation that the
Incense for produce dealers in the markets should
be reduced to S15 and the law made to
embrace in its scope all dealers not country
men bringing their produce to market from
ofC nf
hucksters to wear badges il referred to. The
report recommends the reduction to S15 for
street pedlers licenses.
The insurance question is also referred to,
and the present laws or this subject are charac-
terlsed as crude and unsatisfactory.
TAXABLE REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY.
The report gives the following statement of
the assessed value of the taxable real estate of
the District of Columbia on June 80, 1885,
Washington, Sis, 9,6l3, ,6O3; Georgetown. $685.
vi county, Sl2, ,617 795; total real S137 626 419
Personal property: Washington, $40 231 1893;
Georgetown, S607 7,603; County. S134 171-S11,-
023. 167. Total taxable real and personal, S149,
Gas. 500.
The total real estate tax is s2,O4s, ,97s. SO and
personal tax S165, ,347.51.
NoN-TAxABLE PROPERTY.
'Tn the foregoing statement" the assessor
says, II have departed somewhat from the GUS
tom of my predecessors in emitting to include
the non-taxable property in the District of Co.
lumbia consisting of the property of the United
States, the District of Columbia and that which
has been exempted by Congress, composed of
churches, colleges, schools, hospitals, &c. My
reason for this omission is because the prop
erty In question does not enter into the rev.
enues OF the District. The value placed upon it
does not represent its true value, as the same
property in many instances has been carried
on the books from year to year without regard
to any additional amounts that may have been
expended upon it since it was first assessed"
The number Of tax accounts on the real estate
tax ledgers Is divided as follows: Washington,
1864; Georgetown, lab; county, non-agri-
cultural, 1924 county, agricultural, 96S; total,
22,309.
The number of houses in the District as re-
turned by the sub-assessors at the general as
sessment just completed is as follows: In the
county, 3.SO3; in Georgetown, 2,609; in Wash
ington, 80, ,610. Total, n, ,022. The above list
does not not include government buildings.
The report OF the assessor for the year ending
June 80, 1888, showed that the total number of
taxable houses in the District of Columbia
1856, thus showing an increase as per the new
assessment of ,437 houses, exclusive Of govern
ment buildings.
THE ASSESSMENT LAW.
"To remedy the defects of the present law"
the report says, II would suggest that Congress
be asked to pass a law providing for a perma-
nent board of assessors to consist of five per-
sons, to whom good salary should be paid in
order to secure for the work the best men.
Each OF these assessors should be assigned
district, three for Washington, one for George
town, and one for the county. Given ample
time within which to make an assessment it is
thought that an equitable and fair one could
be i thus made, and the great OBJ
Obviated. From any assessment made by this
board to which any property owner objects
an appeal should be made to board,
composed of the assessor Of the Dis
trict and two other officials of the
District detailed temporarily for such purpose.
Their action should be final. The time for
making general assessment might be in
creased from three to five years. Provision
should be made for an assessment based
on q two-thirds cash value of the prop
erty or on any basis which would make
1t fixed and certain contradistingushed
from the present unsatisfactory method. II
the adoption of any settled basis of assessment
should result in the creation of a larger reve-
nue. than was necessary for the Districts needs
power should be given to the Commissioners to
reduce the rate OF taxation at the time the tax
levy is made in any year."
He suggests that those assessors might also
be assigned the duty Of making the assessment
on personal property, and after referring to the
complaints that the burden of this tax is not
borne equitably he says: If the law cannot be
enforced and all made to pay who are liable,
it would seem that the proper thing to do would
be to ask Congress to repeal it, or if the reve-
nue. derived from it is essential, then Congress
should make sufficient appropriation to en-
force the making of the assessment and its col
lection
He urges the need of an appropriation of
800. 900 for the preparation of new plat books;
also Of an appropriation to prepare system
atically arranged record of property in arrears
for taxes and of provision for room for keep
ing tax ledgers.
Real Estate Matters.
Mary Garfield Stanley Brown has bought of
Rodgers and Stellwagen, trustees, for S5,4OO,
lots 16 and II, block 20, Kalorama.
John W. Easily has bought of Charles w,
King and George E. Emmons lots 157 and 1853, in
square 3S7 for $5, 600.
Lucien Z. Robey has bought of Charles W.
King and George Z. Emmons lot 1877, square