Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-14
DISTRICT TAXATION.
HON. I. L. JoHNsoN's ADDRESS ON HIS BIN
GLE TAX BILL.

HON. 7. L. JOHNsON's ADDRESS ON HIS BIN
GLE TAX BILL
HE CLAIMS THAT THE PRESENT METHOD OF As
sEssMENr Is UNEQUAL AND UNJUST, AND
Owls THE RESULTS OF AN INVESTIGATION HI
Has MADE ON THE SUBJECT.
Representative Tom L. johnson Of Ohio who
10 a member Of the House District committee,
addressed q special meeting Of the Builders
Exchange last night upon the question Of tax
alton and assessment in the District. The
meeting had been called at the request Of Mr..
johnson, who wished to present to the builders
his views upon proposed change in the method
OF levying taxes upon property in this District.
In the course of his remarks Mr. johnson
scored the existing system of assessment and
made the statement that this Congress will
commence at once the investigation Of assess
ments in force here with the view of providing
q radical change in the system whereby the
small property owner will not be assessed upon
so per cent Of the value Of his holdings, while
the wealthy man is assessed upon only 10 per
OF the value Of his property. He himself had
introduced q resolution in the House Yesterday
to this effect which had been agreed to, and
the investigation will proceed at an early date.
In this connection Mr.. johnson described
the results OF preliminary investigation which
he has been making at his own expense. He
OF this city, who have the reputation Of being
thoroughly posted upon land values, to come
to his Office and give the approximate value of
lots in twenty-five squares Of this city selected
at random. They named the values upon an
estimate which was low, If anything, they said,
IN order to be conservative.
These values were contrasted with the
amount rs fixed by the assessors for taxation,
and found to be three times as great as the as
sessed valuation,
Iab, =
one that property on f street which cannot be
bought for $50 a square foot is assessed upon a
valuation of only IS. In fact, the richest
properties in this District, those better able to
bear taxation by reason Of the benefits they re-
turn to their owners are assessed upon sum
which Is from 10 to 20 per cent of their real
value, while the smaller holdings of poorer
men are assessed 80 per cent
THE SINGLE TAX BILL.
The main argument which Mr.. johnson de-
sired to make was in favor of the bill now
pending in Congress to change the method Of
taxation.
This is H. R. bill No. s1s, as follows:
That from and after the thirtieth day Of
June. eighteen hundred and ninety-two
Improvements to real estate in the District Of
Columbia shall be exempt from taxation, and
the deficit in the revenue caused thereby shall
be met by higher rate Of taxation on land,
which shall be assessed at its full potential
market value; and all laws or parts OF laws in
consistent herewith are hereby repealed.
Mr.. Johnson said this bill carries out the the
ory OF what is known as the single tax. 1t is a
tax upon land alone. The fault with the pres
emit system Is that in taxing buildings and i'm
provements injury is done to the very thing 1t
Is desired to benefit man owns a vacant
corner lot on busy street. 1t is an eyesore.
He puts up a six-story building. thereby i'm
proving the neighborhood and every piece Of
property in it. The tax assessor fines him for
doing the city q benefit His taxes are in
creased.
WHAT HIS INVESTIGATION HAD SHOWN.
His Investigations in this city had demon
strated that the relative tax upon improve
ments increased away from the center and
richest portions of the city On street, from
9Th to 18th, of the total assessed valuation 81
per cent was upon improvements and 60 per
cent upon the value of the land. similar
number of squares chosen in the outskirts Of
the city showed the situation to be exactly re-
versed, 60 per cent being upon improvements
and 81 per cent upon the value of the land.
This is not just and equitable, he says for it
shows that the heaviest burden falls upon those
least able to bear it.
He said the assessed land values In this Dis
trict are S760O0.000, while the actual land
values are S30j, 00O 600
The theory of the single tax If put into oper-
alton in this District would increase building
and make work with high wages for the un-
employed. A land owner would find it I'M
profitable to keep his lot vacant and would
build upon it. The unsightly vacant spots in
the heart of the city adjacent to improved
property would vanish and handsome struct-
ures would be erected
At the close Of his remarks Mr. johnson was
compelled 10 leave to fill another engagement
SATISFIED WITH TEE PRESENT RATE.
Mr.. D. II. Warner then addressed the audi
ence. He said there is a very specious ele-
ment in the theory OF taxation. man can 20
before the people and make the popular argu-
ment Of reduced taxation upon the poor man
with an increase of wages and seem to carry
everything before him. Care should be taken,
however, before putting strange theories into
practice in this city. The people are satisfied
with the system now in operation. He would
advocate general meeting OF the business
men to consider their interests in view of the
spirit which Congress manifests to legislats in
this direction.
Mr.. Warner then discussed Mr.. Johnson's
theory and offered argument in rebuttal.
Mr. Paul Bowen responded to Mr. Warner,
claiming that Mr.. Warner had not answered
Mr.. Johnson's claims.
Mr.. Ralston, MIR. R II. Hutchinson, Mr..
Thomas ]. King and Mr.. Thomas Monahan
briefly discussed the bill and a colloquy en-
sued among several members Of the audience,
WOODS Co., bankers, are open daily until