Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-25

Theprcrosifion made by Senator Mcmillan
and approved by the Senate District committee,
TO be inserted In the sundry civil bill, giving
the Commissioners power to reduce the rate OF
Taxation, was informally discussed by the Com
missioners this morning. No result, however,
was reached In q conversation with q
Star reporter upon the subject this afternoon
ICounmissiouer Douglass said: THE Commits
sioners have taken no action yet in relation to
the matter OF the new assessment for the reason
that under the law We have no control until
after the appeals now being heard are deter
mined Then, and not until then, can the exact
amount of increase be known and the consequent
necessity for decrease Of any in rate. The
Commissioners are Just anxious that no
change should occur In the general policy es-
tablished BY the act of 1878 any other of the
citizens. ard that no incidental harm shall
come to the city's growth in Improvements and
, values. There always has been o differ
ence Of opinion as to the right Of the
Commissioners to change the rate by reduction.
Tho Law provides that there shall be no In
crease above S1.50 As taxation Is always
scrutirized closely by the courts and
should haze its origin and authority IN
unquestioned legislation by TePresen-
executive powers, we are pleased with the ac-
ton of the Senate District committee Of yester-
day looking to determination of the question
by law rather than by executive reasoning or
inferred powers-"
COMMISSIONER Ross.
Commissioner Roes said: s'The Commissioners
have always believed that they have the power
to make the rate of taxation adjustable to the
necessities Of the District They have there
fore thought that a higher assessment
could work no harm to our people,
-1.<I II
equal and proPortionate among property own
ers- We heartily approve the proposed clause
In the sundry civil bill, which VIII leave no
doubt as to their power to reduce the rate"
HE TOWER OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
Mr.. s. T. Thomas, assistant to the attorney
for the District, stated that il was generally be-
ieved by the people Of the District that the
Commissioners had the power 70 reduce the
rate of taxation. They imagine" said Mr..
Thomas, that the law of 1878 gives
the Commissioners such power. But, after
carefully examining that act and also the act Of
1877, / discovered that the Commissioners are
poverless IN the matter. The act of 1877 says
that the rate of taxation shall be S1-50
per s100. The act Of 1878 says that the rate
shall not exceed $3.50 per Sl00. Il is
from a reading of this latter act that the people
became Of the opinion that the Commissioners
had the power to reduce the rate. But
that act Is merely declaratory of the
act Of the previous wear, and
while 1t plainly says the rate shall not be
more than s1.5o, 1t does not say il shal, or even
may, be less. Therefore. the present rate
be changed only BY the passage of the law pro
posed by Senator Mcmillan or by the passage of
. similar one"
THE ASSESSORS VIEWS
Speaking 70 STAR reporter today in relation
to the proposed decrease of the rate Of taxation
h. a. s.T
favor of it, although think the Commissioners
have the power under existing laO to make the
reduction 70 such an amount as will meet the
appropriations. From all appearances the new
assessment viii give sufficient for all purposes
If the nate Of taxation was reduced from S1.50
to Sf"
'.wbst do You think Of the new assessment?'
AS chairman of the board of equalization
do not think il would be proper for me to criti-
else The work of the three gentlemen who have
made the assessment"
Are you in favor Of high assessment"
Positively, unqualiiedly, Internationally
and uncompromisingly no. believe that orr
assessments should be fair, reasonable and
equitable that it viii attract capital here for in
, vestment and not drive it to other cities. The
Chairman Of our board Of trade, in his last
annual report, 1 think struck the key
note when he intimated that our reasonable as
sessments was the prime cause Of the great and
growing prosperity OF our city. / trust that
this prosperity will continue. and 80 far "a I am
individually concerned and a public official I
will do everything in NV power to maintain it"
The proposition made by Senator Mcmillan
caused considerable discussion among citizens
today, some Of whom talked to STAB reporters.
MR. JANIS L. BARBOUR
Mr.. JAMES L. Barbour of James L. Barbour
4 Son, wholesale grOcers, expressed himself
being delighted with the law proposed by Sena-
81 suggested a few GAYS ago to some friends
of mine. But I imagined that the Com
missioners Of the District had authority
to reduce the rate of taxation Now that
know that they have no such at thority. Senator
McMilan's amendment meets with NV thorough
the rate Of taxation at such figure
viii provide just the amount
necessary for the expenses of the District. And
] am quits certain that should this be done
there would be little. il any, serious objection
to the assessment just made"
GEN. BIRSEY APPROVES THE AMENDMENT.
Gen wn- Birney Of Birney Birney. for
merly attorney for the District, remarked that
the amen 3ment was excellent But" he
added, ..ths seeming ambiguity relative to the
date when he proposed law shall apply should
be removed so e. 10 make the estimate apply to
the fiscal year beginning July l, 1892. such
hw as this IS imperatively demanded. Here Is
. piece Of property owned by me,
the taxation on which under the new
assessment at the old rate of Sl.50 per
$lO0 viii equal just one-seventh Of the rental
received from IL. The new assessment seems to
be a generally good one, but the amount which
would be received through maintaining the old
rate would be entirely too large. There would
be too much revenue. Therefore, am heartily
In favor OF Senator McMillan's amendment"
Nh 9. II. WALKER.
Presiden. s. II. Walker of the National Capital
Investment Company said: Eyes, sir; / think
the amendment is good one. It
10 Just what should be done. Il doesn't
do to put 700 much money In the treasury.
And" remarked the gentleman very earnestly
ait doasn't pay 70 appeal to the board OF equal
ization for Q reduction It never
does pay to appeal to the same
court to change Its own decision. The assessors
should not be allowed to pass upon their own
scts, for It b against al principles Of equity"
, Mr. GEO. O. HKSNrNo.
Mr.. Geo. O. Henndng, president Of the
Traders National Bank, said: II believe that
taxation should always be regulated by the re-
quireaents Of the case mean that only so much
money hould be raised would suffice 20 carry
on the expenses OF the District. No doubt al
/ the money which might be raised under tho
old law could be used, and there are
many improvements to be made here
but the question Is would Congress and the