The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-10-22
SINGLE TAX DEPARTMENT
SINGLE TAX IN THE FEDERAL
DISTRICT.
Report Of tho Committee to Investigate
the district of Columbia Assessment.

the District of Columbia. This repor,
comes from select committee appoint
ed to investigate the subject Mr.
johnson is chairman of the committee
but the report is signed by every mem.
Der of the committee. Mr. Johnson's
associates are Mr.. Washington, demo.
crat, of Tennessee. and Mr.. Wadsworth,
republican, of New York. The report
was presented May "a. is based upon
resolution adopted by the house April
ID This resolution cites that the new
assessment of the District exceeds the
old by nearly 25 per cent; and then goes
on as follows: -.,..
Whereas, Said old assessment on the
land values alone in the District is S76,-
600, 600, when it should be more than
$500, 0OO,O 900: this shows an extraordih-
airy differentiation, and, what is still
worse, the greatest injustice between
the valuation of the land used for bust
ness purposes, which in many cases is
assessed at less than IA per cent OF its
true value, and land used for residence
purposes, especially where the small
homes are situated, which is assessed at
while in many cases land held for spec
ulation is assessed at less than 10 per
cent. of its true value. The foregoing
facts were brought out by an expert
valuation on enough land in the Dis
trict to furnish an average. A public
bearing was held by the commissioners,
in which this subject was thoroughly
discussed, and after careful examina-
ton they say 1.-The figures embraced in
these showings seem to have been care
fully and conservatively prepared"
and
Whereas, the new assessment should
not only show the true value of prop
crty in lawful money, as required by
law, but should also preserve an equal
ity in assessment of the land in differ
ent localities. and not bear more heavily
in some sections than in others; there
fore
Be it Resolved, That select commit
tee consisting of three members, be APP
pointed by the speaker, which. shall
have power and authority to- investi-
gate and report upon the method Of as
pertaining land values by the board of
assistant assessors in the District of Co.
lumbia; 10 inquire whether there is in
the assessment now being prepared dis
elimination in favor of any section over
others, and generally to inquire into all
alleged inequalities pertaining 10 the
assessment of land values. -
Such committee shall have power to
send for persons and papers, to exam,
Inc witnesses under oath, may employ
a stenographer and one clerk, and shall
report the result Of its investigation to
the house, with such recommendation
as it may deem proper to make. The
expense of such investigation shall be |
paid out of the contingent fund of the
house.
The report then says:
The testimony shows that the facts |
recited in the resolution are substantial |
ly true: that as result of this investi- |
CATION the assessment on land has been |
raised s125, 100000, and yet 1928 ZOO, 900. |
more than half the value of land in the |
district, escapes taxation; that there is |
much inequality and discrimination: |
that land values are increasing at an |
enormous rate-on a conservative esti-
mate to the amount of $40. 00O, 900 annu-
ally, enough to pay off the entire
bonded debt of the district in six
months; that the assessment of build
ings and the Embarrassment of land |
is operating to discourage greatly the
growth and improvement of the capital:
that the assessment has been made in
violation of the law. without proper
or inquiry, and in careless
and reckless manner; and that on a fair
assessment of land alone it would be
easy to obtain by tax rate less than
onc-half of the present all the revenue
for the needs of the district.
This would make the tax rate of the
city of Washington 90 cents on the
500, lower rate than that of any large
city in the country.
The committee find that the assessors
have, in accordance with ancient prece-
dent.directly disregarded the law which
requires property to be assessed at its
true value, and says that the assessors
interpret the words true value" to
mean the price property would fetch at
forced sale under adverse circumstances.
Continuing, the report says: = az
4 .
When man puts up a house in the
District of Columbia he does something ,
that adds to the wealth and stock of
of the whole city. and Re
nstinctively feels that it is wrong that
his taxes should be increased for hav- |.
ng done so. The poor man with a
small and poor house has to submit. A
lew dollars difference in the assess :.
nent will not pay him for the time and ,
trouble of protesting. But the rich
nan, with the costly house, not merely
has more time and larger interests, but ,
inds the difference in the assessment
more important matter. Thus, in both ..
.hese ways there are powerful tenden-
lies constantly at work to produce UNI
ust inequality in the taxation of build
ngs and improvements. These tend :.