Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-20
WHY THEY COMPLAIN.
The Improvement Values of the
First Board Not Revised.
TAXPAYERS UNJUSTLY BURDENED.
Views in Regard to Assessor Trim
ble's Recommendation.
A VISION ADVIS ED.

The statement made by Assessor Trimble
In his annual report, which was printed in
Saturdays Star. that glaring and grievous
errors and noticeable inequalities exist in
the present assessment of the real estate of
the District, struck a responsive chord in
the breast of the taxpayers. Ever since
the first of the month, when tax bills have
been coming in for the first half years tax
under the assessment which has just been
completed, there has been a good deal of
complaint. Naturally. the dissatisfied tax
payers have gone to Mr. Trimble and in
this way largely he has been made aware
of the injustice which the new assessment
is inf1icting on the taxpayers. The conclu-
sion reached by the assessor Is that in view
of the gross inequalities he recommends
that the Commissioners request authority
from Congress to select board of three
citizens of the District with power to re-
wise and equalize assessments on real
tate and personal property"
| 1t is found from conversation with large
taxpayers and with those who have to do
with the payment of taxes on a great deal
of property that inequalities exist, and
also that the valuations are excessive The
general opinion seems to be that some steps
| ought to be taken to relieve the citizens
from the unjust burdens.
MIR. Gurley's Opinion.
In conversation with a Star reporter to-
day. Mr.. w. b. Gurley, who was a men,
ber of the board of revision, said that he
believed cases of irregularities and excess
i've valuations were sufficient in number
and in importance to warrant a new assess
ment. The board of revision, he said had
been compelled to do the work of a year
in the space of six months.
| Owing to the lack of time it had been i'm
possible for them to revise the valuations
placed by the first board ON the improve
ments, except when specific cases were
called to their attention. They had con-
! nned themselves to revising the land values
He had found that in nine out of ten cases
the complaints against the present assess
ment arise from the errors in fixing the
value on improvements There was but
little complaint In regard to the valuation
on the land. He believed that If the board
OF revision had had chance to revise the
assessment on improvements as well as on
/ land that there would be now but little
cause of complaint.
he said that the assessments fixed by the
former board were so excessive that the
work of reducing the figures was made
more difficult. Mr.. Gurley is modest
man and has never placed himself in the
attitude of an office seeker. He made
suggestion today which, however, might be
construed in that way, but, coming from
Mr.. Gurley. is to be viewed as recommen-
dation as to the best and quickest way out
of the present difficulty. His idea is that a
providing for the reappointment of mem-
berS of the board of revision to continue the
work and revise the valuations on improve
ments just as they did on the land. This
board, as is well known. consisted of Mr.
Griffin. Mr.. s. It. G. Morsell and Mr. w. b.
Gurley.
MIR. Gurley is of the opinion that the
board can do the work In six months and
that authority might be secured to have
I the credit of the amount which might he
paid in excess on the first half year INSTALL
ment of the tax credited on the bill for the
last half year.
improvements Too High.
| This analysis of the cause of the present
discomfort with the assessment is confirm
ed by a number of well-posted men with
| whom Star reporter talked today. Mr..
| II. II. Twombly, who pays the taxes on a
good deal of property for clients, said today
that. in his opinion, the main cause of COM
plant was the excessive valuation placed
| on improvements AS a rule, he said that
people seemed to be satisfied with the val
uation of the ground.
Others who were seen had much the same
! criticism to make. 1t is natural to suppose
that the work of the first board was more
or less discussed, especially to how the
high valuation had been reached. While
not rejecting personally on the members of
the board, one of whom has since died, it
| is argued that Ii is evident that the law
regulating assessments needs attention. 1t
| Is claimed that the decisions of questions
upon which rests to SO large a degree the
prosperity of the District ought not to de-
pend on the judgment of three men.
| Their judgment is liable to err, as the
| valuations of property made by the first
board fully demonstrates. 1t is claimed
that the law ought to provide that the
property should be assessed so as to yield
| at the present rate only enough to raise
the amount of the present revenues. Some
also favor permanent board of assessors
composed of men of ability and Judgment
| to be paid salaries not less than 5000 a
year.
| An Uncertain Law.
The estimate of the value of property,
1t is asserted, should be reached by COM
nonsense methods. and should be uni
form not to be affected by the con-
ditions of a year of prosperity or other
causes. 1t is believed that a part of the
difficulty under which the city is now
struggling is due to the law. which. as 1t
now reads, requires that the property
should be assessed at its true value. The
first thing the first board did was to con-
strue the meaning of the term first value. "
As defined by the board this term means
what property will bring under adverse
circumstances at a forced sale. 1t is said
that the definition is not defective but the
judgment of the board was in applying it.
Instead of leaving such an important do
main open to the experiments of theorists,
as that of the taxation of property. 1t is
argued that certain fixed principles should
be established by law and that the aim of
the triennial assessment should be the ap-
plicatiOn of such principles to the property
without prejudice and along the lines of
conducting any business transaction. In this
way II is believed that irregularities can be
practically abolished, and that the burden
of taxation will be equally distributed
among the property owners of the city.
ANOTHER BIG Gun.