Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-08
DISTRICT ASSESSMENTS.


DISTRICT ASSESSMENTS.
Debate In the Senate on Mr.. AIlison's Pro-
posed Amendment.
The Senate yesterday afternoon considered
the sundry civil appropriation bill TIE srAR
has already printed the amendments which the
Senate committee has added to the items relat-
ing to the District. Yesterday The STAR printed
the amendment which the Commissioners
wished added to the provision in regard to
assessment, which provision carried over for
another year the assessment Of 1889. In con-
sidering the bill yesterday the only item upon
which there was debate was the provision In
regard to the assessment. The Senate amend
ment provides that the Commissioners shall fix
the rate at not more than 81. so for city prop
erty and Sl.25 for county property, and pro-
vides for a new board Of five, to be appointed
by the President, and who shall equalize the
new assessment
When this item was reached Mr. Vest made
point of order against it that il was new legsla-
ton.
TO CONTINUE THE 1889 ASSESSMENT.
Mr.. Allison asked leave to introduce the
amendment printed yesterday, which reads:
Provided further, That the triennial assess
ment made in the year 1889, pursuant to the
act Of March 8, 1888, is hereby continued in
force for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893,
and all taxes for said fiscal year ending June 80
1885, shall be levied and collected upon the
basis OF said assessment, any other law to the
contrary Notwithstanding
This amendment" said Mr. Allison, "pro-
poses to collect taxes for the current wear in
November upon the basis of the assessment
of 1889. Whatever may be done with the bill
proposed by the committee in the other House
or whatever may be done with the other amend
ment. 1t seems to me to be impracticable to
collect the taxes in November on the basis of
the new assessment. / hope therefore, the
Senator from Missouri will not make the point
of order upon this amendment. whatever he
may think Of the other"
Mr.. Harris said: In respect Of the merit of
the other amendment 1 desire TO say TO the
Senator from Missouri that there are three
assessors now whose decisions are final with re-
gard to assessments. This proposed board Of
appeal gives an additional guarantee as il
seemed to the committee on the District of CO.
lumbia, for something like fair and proper
adjustments and equalization. but as the amend
ment goes over for the present shall not
further discuss il.
MR.. VEST THINKS THE SYSTEM DEFECTIVE
Mr.. Vest referred to the report made to the
House by Mr.. Johnson's committee and said:
The report made to the House, which happen
to have looked over shows that there are
S225, 600, 900 of property in this District which
and the very statement of the Senator from
Tennessee (Mr. Harris) as to these three an
praisers permitting that sort of thing to exist
here is the best argument in the world with me
against the system. The increase of appraisers
will not remedy the matter at all. The system
is radically defective. and IL ought to be taken
up and disposed Of separately; it ought not TO
be done on an appropriation bill. Il is q mat
ter OF too much importance for that.
HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
know from personal experience thu. they
make assessments here in the most arbitrary
and irregular fashion. own little property,
the house in which live, and received notice
a few days ago that my assessment had been
about doubled. without any reference to what
was the real increase in value; but Just . gen.
eral increase Of 50 much per cent along the
There ought not 10 be that sort Of assessment
made in district as small as this compare
lively. 1t is not like managing an assessment
in city Of a million people or in state or
even in q county. Here is a district Compare
lively small, and it seems Ia me that it ought to
be very easy to make proper valuations and
assessments SO as to make taxation equal and
Just.
II any Senator will take the trouble 70 look At
the report Of the committee to which referred
and examine into the facts which they have
brought TO light he will ascertain that this mat
ter has been shamefully neglected, and that
there has been no sort Of proper and Just valua-
ton put upon property in this District. There
are pieces Of property which have escaped almost
altogether, and yet they have gone up in
and SO. l do not charge any corruption;
have no right to do it, / think IL n the result
Of q want of Systematic work in regard 10 the
taxation of the District Of Columbia
Mr.. eoRMAN ADVOCATES TIE AnExpnExf.
Mr.. German had this to say: Mr.. President,
the very case which the Senator from Missouri
(Mr. vest) states Of the injustice Of the ssess-
ment on his property in the District i simply
one case in . thousand which exist here. Under
the present system there are three assessors ap-
pointed and paid to make assessments. II their
assessments are unjust, - the law stands today,
there is no appeal unless il be IN appeal 70
them, and case after cass hes occurred where
no relief has been granted and none win Be.
This proposition b 70 meet this exigsncy for
this year and 70 allow IN appeal 70 the proposed
board from the present assessment. Il Il an
appeal 10 i've gentlemen, 70 be appointed BY
the President, who are to serve without ccm-
penation and to suspsnd the levy upon Tie
the whole matter can Be adjusted
II there ever vs. case WHARF the emsresncy
required that legislatioa should 70 on an ap-
preparation bill this b the case, and Il d IN
tended to meet the vssy diancuity which ths
Senator from Missouri dssarss 70 o6viats, and
done ct this session- ! trust h Win pot maks
The point Of order on the smendmsnk Let Il
b perfected - propossd by tbs chairman Of
the comnittse, end thsa htsr on ths whole
question vfn come up. II b absolussly nscss-
eary 70 adopt The amsndmsnt nov, q Il sesms
70 me, and that b probably ~ only way n
which hs neoseaaxy rslisf en- b. obnfnsd
This ended the dsha$s foe ~ tna, = 4 -
agread hat tie ansodnsut should - hSA
aside unta IL rsnaanasr e ~ bim - bssa