Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-07
THE ASSISTANT ASSESSORS

They Formally Organize and Adopt Certain
Rules-A Talk With MIR. Dawson.
The board of assistant assessors met in reg
ular session this morning in its room at the
District building and formally organized. with
George Francis Dawson president and John +.
Cook secretary.
The first business which came before il was
the opinion of the assistant attorney for the
District on the scope of the power of the board
The opinion was published in full in yesterdays
SrAP, and each member of the board had
copy of The STAR containing the opinion be-
fore him during the discussion.
After the opinion had been discussed at con-
siderable length the following rules were Of
fered and unanimously passed.
MEANING OF TRUE VALUE.
That in making the assessment of real prop
erty in the District of Columbia foi the
triennial period beginning with the fiscal
year 1898 the terms value and true
value" used in the existing law gov
erning it shall be regarded as meaning
one and the same thing to wit: true OF intrinsic
value, and that the measure Of such true or
intrinsic value is that amount in lawful money
which such property would probably bring at
forced sale under adverse circumstances.
That the above rule of 'value" and true
value" shall be adhered to equally In all parts
of the District in making said assessment"
Mr.. DAwsoN's WINS.
In an interview with a reporter Of The STAR
this afternoon on the opinion of the assistant
attorney President Dawson, speaking for the
board, said: Il think the opinion is, for the
most part, very clear, correct and able. As to
that part of it relative to acting ns board
think there is no doubt that is correct one;
that each and every member OF the board
of atant
and pass upon each and every piece of real
property in the District, and do so as a board.
Of course minds may differ rs to what .actua.l
view" means, but ~ all law liz the essence Ut
reason, 1t cannot Sn,. mean such
as would defeat the very purpose Of the assess-
ment law, but must mean such actual view"
as can reasonably be made in the very limited
time given.
ACTUAL AND TRUE VALUE.
''Now as to that part Of the opinion which
interprets the words value and true value
found in the assessment law. am inclined TO
think the opinion is somewhat lame. The rule
of value therein laid down might very
properly apply In other matters. Nor
might be just and tair. Where land
is condemned what persons generally,
IL those desiring to purchase were found.
would be willing to pay for it would be q true
valuation NO doubt, but in assessing the
true value for purposes of taxation It seetns
to me quite clear that it can only mean the
intrinsic value. the basic value, the amount or
price which the assessed property would bring
under unpropitious circumstances. Aud
when later ON the opinion declares that
true value means what thing is
reasonably and fairly worth and NOT
factitious or speculative value. it comes mach
nearer in my estimation to correctness o.intsr-
probation. The rule the board Of assessors has
adopted I think the right one and
the only reasonable construction of the
Law, and while il 10 not within the
scope Of our powers e. q board, perhaps, 70 cou-
slider the effect upon the future OF the District,
yet tor one am glad on that account that
making it rule Of value the marxst value"