Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-29
NEW ASSESSMENT NEEDED.
Mr.. E. W. ". Griffin Favors q Permanent
Board to Attend to It
Writes of the Work Of Revision and
of IneQaalitfes-Cites an In
stance--Hts Letter.

Some time ago Mr.. Trimble, the District
assessor, wrote to Mr.. E. w. w. Grimm.
who was q member of the board of revision
which revised the assessment OF 1892, to get
the benefit Of his views in regard to the
last assessment.
The following is the letter received from
him by Mr.. Trimble, and now given to the
public:
Referring to your letter Of the 21st in
slant, and appreciating the kind illusions
to my service in the District Of over twen-
ty years. I have the honor to submit the
following reply: 1t was my privilege. as a
member Of the board Of revision, to revise
the assessment of 1892 made under the pro-
acquaint myself with the details OF said
assessment as to the land values. and, in
pursuing my Investigation. glaring ineQual-
tiles were discovered as to the value placed
upon certain sections as compared with
others: for example. land south of Penn
sylvania avenue between 9th and 18th
streets was placed at an average of - and
IS per foot. and on 18th street, north of
Pennsylvania avenue at 5 and 70 per foot,
which was promptly adjusted by the board
of revision. Many other similar instances
might be cited. but this il deemed sufficient.
have no hesitation in saying that IL the
values, as returned by the three assistant
assessors, had been allowed to stand, the
tax payers would have been compelled to
seek relief in the courts. or through Con-
gress as 1t would have been a virtual con-
f1scation Of their property to have paid the
tax resulting from said assessment.
During the month Of November just pass
ed. the time prescribed by law for the semi
annual payment of taxes. many complaints
were received as to the excessive taxation
Of land, but the thousands Of complaints
made. in regard to old structures being in
creased In value, met with general dissatis-
faction among the tax payers. The proper
ton OF old houses-that Ia, houses hereto
fore assessed. on which no additional i'm
provements have been made that were in
based on q conservative estimate, would be
about seventy per cent. The board OF revi.
sion was allowed by law six months, In
which to revise this assessment, and many
Inequalities were discovered and corrected
but the limited time would not admit OF
such thorough examination as was war.
ranted. and while their revision OF land
values met with general approval at the
time, the subsequent depression in real es-
tate did not justify the assessment as finally
revised, and many inequalities were over.
looked. 1t was practically impossible fol
the members of said board to personally in
spect all improvements in the District. ex.
cept In q few instances, where attention
was directed by appeal or otherwise and
consequently this class Of property re-
manned as returned by the assistant asses.
sors, which has resulted in great hardship
to the tax payers. In my judgment a new
assessment IL fully warranted in view Of this
statement Of facts, and I hope the Com.
missioners will give their ofiicial sanction
to the immediate enactment Of a law. a.
recommended In your report, providing for a
permanent board OF assessment, revision
and appeals"