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

| CHAIRMAN WELLER CLAIMS THAT PROPERTY IN
BUSINESS SECTIONS HAS BEEN UNDERvALuID-
HE ARGUES AGAINST THE PROPOSAL TO con-
TIME THE OLD ASSESSMENT FOR A YKAR-
PROCEEDINGS OF LAST MaHr's NETTING.
At the monthly meeting ct Baum's Hall last
evening of the East Warrington Citizens As
ISOLATION the chief subject Of discussion was
the new assessment and recent developments
concerning 1t and considerable warmth Of feel
ing was shown. The action of the Commits
sioners in reference to The assessment served to
attract to the hall many members - well a.
outsiders. who heard that Representative Tom
johnson would be present and take part in the
discussion. But they were disappointed in this,
for the advocate Of single tax and increased as
sessment in the District did not materialize.
In the call for reports from committees Mr..
+. A Lehman, chairman Of the committee on
streets, avenues and alleys, reported that owing
to the failure Of the conference committee Of
Congress to agree upon bill the committee
had taken no action. 1t proposed. however, to
meet regularly and he heartily invited all inter
ested in improvements in the eastern section to
appear before the committee and give it the
benefit Of their views and not wait until after
the committee had submitted its report and
then raise a cloud Of objections.
President Babson announced the serious &C.
cident which had befallen Mr.. J.W. Brown, one
Of the most active workers Of the association.
Upon motion Of Secretary Sperry the presi-
dent was directed to convey to Mr.. Brown the
sympathy Of the association.
THE POLICE CENSUS.
As chairman Of the committee on police CEN
sus Mr.. NJ. l. Weller explained the work that
that he had paid the bill himself and would not
"a nnAn ha nth fnro T1,a
figures showed, he said, that our population
exceeded $50, 900. The first figures showed ex-
actly 257. 1913, but this would have to be changed
and increased materially. He gave some inter
esting figures, especially az to the population of
the city by sections. The southwest had "a 315
the eastern section 81 $40 which included the
northeast, southeast and county east of the
Brentwood road. In the county proper the
figures showed IL, 407. In the city proper,
s., PAP. OF these 81 $50 were white and 16, 399
colored- This showed that East Washington
had 26 per cent Of the entire population of the
city and leaving Georgetown out it had one
third OF the population. This gave substantial
support. he said, to the claims of East Washing
ton to better treatment in the manner Of i'm
provements. He thought q census should be
taken once every two years.
Upon MIA. 7. Sperry smotion vote Of thanks
was given TO Mr.. NJ. /. Weller for his public
spirit in assuming the cost of the census.
Mr. Weller offered a resolution compliment
ing the citizens of Georgetown in forming
permanent organization and rendering to them
the hearticst greeting of the association, to-
gether with the assurance Of sympathy and
active cooperation in any public measure that
may rebound to the credit and further the best
interests of the District.
The resolution was passed with an amend
ment extending the same good wishes to kim
bred organizations.
Mr. WELLER DEFENDS THE ASSESSMENT.
As chairman of the committee on assessments
Mr.. Weller took the floor to defend the new as
sessment. He stated before doing so that Rep
resentative Tom johnson had desired to be
present, but as he had failed to put in an ap-
pearance it would hardly be worth while to wait
longer for him.
Mr.. Weller thought, regarding the new assess
ment, that the decision Of the board of appeals
in individual cases should be announced as soon
as made. The objection to this plan, he said,
was owing to the belief that there would be ap-
peals from the decisions rendered. He wanted
to place himself on record as saying the present
assessment IL a decided improvement on any
other that has been made during the last
eighteen years. The assessors, however have
made some mistakes, but II they were willing
to make known the decisions rendered in ap-
peal cases there would be but little dissatisfac-
ton.
In East Washington and other sections of the
city improvements on property have been as
sessed at more than their full value In the
business sections, however, the large Office and
other buildings have not been assessed. he DE-
clared, at more than 80 per cent Of their value
There remains, therefore, he said the old
cause for complaint based upon the injustice
with which some of the sections have been
treated. but the injustice is not near SO marked
as in former years. As instances of the favor
shown the business center he mentioned several
cases in which he claimed there was under
a1.Ra~ IL - 4
argued are not near the actual value Of the
property, and he mentioned the statement that
not a building on street is assessed ut nearer
than 80 per cent Of its selling price.
The men making the complaints are the bene-
fciaries of the assessment, he said The poorer
classes OF citizens, he said, ore too honest to
complain against the assessment. When q man
knows that he paid $4,000 to build his house
and finds that ii has been assessed at % 200 he
has not the face to make any objections, but the
men whose property is worth from $50 to go
foot and who have been paying taxes on an as
sessment of IS foot think the assessment op-
pressive and outrageous.
The new assessment increases the valuation of
property that was purchased at q bargain for
S2S a foot from 81 to S14. and the only mistake
was III not increasing it more. The assessors
had made mistakes in some instances by follow
ing the example set them by their predecessors,
but In all others throughout the business SEC
ton Of the city the assessment had been too
low rather than excessively high. The cry is
raised, he said, by those who are complaining
against the assessment that the District does not
need an increase in its revenues. They are sat
isfed with the improvements already made in
their section of the citv and care nothing for
other sections. Less than q week ago. he said
he had had himself to sit upon the top of the
desk in his Office. located On prominent corner
of Pennsylvania avenue, because his office
was flooded with water. He suffered consider
able loss by the flood and other people were
equally unfortunate because Of the inadequate
sewerage in that section Of the city. Ii addi-
tional revenues are not needed for Northwest
Washington they are required by East Wash
i1gton and other portions Of the District, and
il was but just that these sections should use
money paid in by the wealthy real estate owners
of the northwest as the northwest has used the
revenues OF the other sections
The people of East Washington, Mr. Weller
said, should not Join in the clamor against the
assessment. They will have to paw little
more taxes, but they will derive benefit from
them The poor will live in better houses.
The sewerage of the city will be improved and
the general welfare greatly aided. II they will
but treat East Washington fairly there will be
no complaint from that section. he said. The
board of equalization, however, should be a
board Of equalization in reality as well a. name
and should tax the property Of the wealthy as
fatty as il does that Of the poorer people
He referred to the measure prepared by the
Commissioners asking Congress to continue the
assessment az 1889 for ono mara ya~r m o,a