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

period of three months and require that the
assessment be completed in that time. 1t is be-
heved that the present assessment has been
made with Intelligent care, bu: whether the
Judgment displayed will meet with general ap-
proval remains to be seen.
The three assessors were in their Office this
morning with the books containing the figures
spread out on a long table. Soon after the Office
was opened citizens began to come in and &c
over the books. There was. however, no mob,
as 1t was not generally realized that the books
we're open for inspection.
THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.
At noon today the board of equalization met,
Mr.. Trimble, the assessor, as required by law,
citing as the presiding officer. form to be
used by the public in making an appeal to the
board against the assessment was adopted. The
board will hold daily sessions if the business
that comes before it makes it necessary.
Representative johnson, chairman of the
House committee that has been engaged in in
yestlgating the assessment of property. called
upon the assessors this morning. He said that
he and the other members of the committee
wanted to appear before the board for the pur-
pose of making an arguement the against rule
adopted by the board as the basis for valuing
property. Mr.. johnson calls it the two-thirds
rule, or in other words fixing the assessed value
at two-thirds Of the real value. The assessors
however, state that their rule is the value which
under adverse circumstances. Mr.. johnson,
however, holds that in the evidence before
his committee the assessors admitted that their
rule virtually assessed property at two-thirds OF
its value. However, Mr.. johnson and his asso-
ciates propose to talk to the board of assessors
tomorrow and endeavor to change the rule in
their work Of equalization. shortly before II
O'Clock today the three assessors went up stairs
and handed to the District Commissioners their
report, which is as follows:
OFFICE BOARD OF ASSESSORS.
WASHINGTON. d. c.,
June 6, 1892.
To the Board Of Commissioners of the Distric,
Gentlemen: On July 1, 1891. the under.
signed were appointed. bonded and sworn Al
assistant assessors to make assessment of realty
within the District Of Columbia for purposes OF
taxation for the three years commencing July
l, 1892. We at once proceeded to O temporary
organization, and, through your honorable
body, requested Of the attorney for the Dis
trict an opinion as to the scope of our duties
and powers. On the It'll of July We re.
ceived that opinion from Assistant ATTORNEY s.
L. Thomas, to whom Attorney Hazleton had
given the matter in charge. In it, among other
things, he said:
Il have carefully examined the question sub.
mitted by you to the attorney for the District
relative to the status, power and duties of the
assistant assessors recently appointed under the
act Of Congress approved March 8, 1891. and
have the honor to advise you that in nv opin.
ion the act of March 8. 1891, is to be read with
the act of March 3, 1888. Section of the lat
ter act az Stat, $3.50 provided for twelve
assessors and that the District Of Columbia
should be divided into twelve subdistricts. The
act of 1891 changes the act of 1888 by dropping
the subdistrict feature and reducing the mum.
Der OF assessors to three, on whom is conferred
the power and authority to do the things re-
quired OF twelve assessors under the act OF
1888.
Under the old system Of twelve subdistricts
each OF the twelve assessors was required, from
actual view and from the best sources of in.
formation within his reach, to assess each sep-
arate lot or parcel Of real property within bis
district.
1.-The present law contemplates that all three
of the assistant assessors as a board are to make
the assessment. They are to exercise a ioint
authority. This requires that they shall NEE,
to consider the subject of their authority and
that the whole board shall have the benefit al
the judgment and advice of each of the mem
beers.
"As in the case of boards composed of two or
more persons, the assistant assessors NAV organ
ize and elect presiding officer and secretary
If they choose. They should act only az repu-
lar board meetings, at which all the members
should have opportunity to attend. and thew
should be together when engaged in viewing
property for purposes Of assessment The iu-
ties and powers of the assistant assessors as a
board-for they cannot act separately-are the