Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-01
THE SINGLE TAX BILL
A Letter OF the District CommI..icness -
Congress the Subject.


Congress ON the Subject.
The Commissioners in their letter 20 Coz
gress today say they have given extended aal
careful consideration TO II. r. bill sls. ITO On.
empt improvements TO real estate in the Dis
trict Of Columbia from taxation, which was
submitted to them for their opinion ~ TO 10
merits. This is better known a. the single
tax bill
They say that as the proposition u embrAoesb
one respecting which the Commissioners have
had no official experience qualifying them Ice
special advantage in Judgment, on that account
they sought 10 ascertain the views q
persons who might have given the sub
iect extended study and with that OBJ
Ject In view gave notice by adver-
tisement in the daily newspapers that they
would publicly hear all who might appear and
discuss the bill. The hearing announced
was largely attended. Only one person spoke
against the bill and he eventually conceded
that his opposition based more on doulN
of it's practicabihty than on logical conviction
adverse TO Ito theory. The arguments IN favR
OF the proposition were clearly and deliberately
presented by other prominent business men,
lawyers aud representatives OF labor organizs-
tions, and showed that the measure had Q
strong theoretical claim to the earnest atteu-
ton of all concerned.
The exhibition OF statistics presented during
tne argument indicated marked disparity be-
tween the real yaine of land IN the District and
the valuation represented by the existing
sessment, and between the relative assessed
value OF business and residence property. In
this connection. however, they deem II due 10
state that they earnestly recommended 10 Com
gress the making Of a more equitable assessment
ana that that body IN a public spirited man
ner met representations of the eAlgency by
making provision for the assistant assessors,
under whom a new and. ~ is hoped, fairer
sessment is approaching completion.
Ii was also claimed that II buildings were ca
cepted from taxation the assessment small
home owners would be less both absolutely and
| relatively, in comparison with the assessment
OF business property.
The figures embraced in these showines
seemed TO have been carefully and conserys-
! lively prepared.
The remedy proposed in the bill touches an
important problem in political economy, which
| has OF late years been much debated by pub
iicists and is Fundamentally hostile 10 the
prevalent national systems of taxation Of fixed
property In houses and land.
The Commissioners hesitate. they say, 10
| pronounce upon 50 grave a question, and sug-
gest that il should find Its first official disc as
sion and determination in Legislative body
rather than by municipal officers having purely
| executive jurisdiction.
The Commissioners add that during the dis
cussion a number of inquiries were put TO the
advocates of the measure by two persons pres-
ent who apprehended that their property in
terests in the District might suffer in the event
| of the enactment OF the bill
| The Commissioners also have received two
| written communications IN opposition to the
measure and several others IN its favor, all Of
| which are transmitted with their report