The Washington times., 1894-07-10
FOR PERMANENT ASSESSORS
House Passes the Bill Providing for
q Board OF Three.
Mr.. COBB STEERS IT THROUGH
But He is Obliged to Quiet Mr. Kilgore's sus-
picions and Suffer Clever 0utfankiug
from Mr.. Hepburn-Immediate Revision Of
Real Estate Values.

After thorough discussion, the House
| passed yesterday the bill for the establish
ment of a permanent board Of three assess
ors, aud for an immediate revision and
! equalization of assessed real estate values.
| 1t is of great importance TO the property
holders OF the District, because it establishes
for the first time some proper system of rem
| edying the many injustices and Inequalities
which have arisen under the present hap
| haznrd method. . -
The permanent board of assessors will
make an assessment every three years aud
can then equalize inequalities. They are
authorized to receive complaints of over-as-
sessnent and give hearings and revise their
assessments. Their term of office Is three
years. unless removed for cause by the Com
missioDers. and they must be bona fide resi-
dents OF the District OF three years standing
At the outset Mr.. Kilgore. who had gotten
hold OF an old print of the bill and was very
much confused thereby, occasiened consider
able delay by questions designed to discover
latent iniquiiy in the bill He thought, for
instance, that the assessors were to be ap-
pointed for life and that real estate "rinesr
would be encouraged by it. When Mr.. Cobb.
who was in charge OF the bill. and Messrs.
Heard and Richardson, of the District Gem
mittee, had argued the matter at some length.
Mr.. kilgore's opposition, as well as that OF
MIR. Ray, of New York. who admitted the wis
dom OF vesting control In a permanent board
oil assessors, was Withdrawn.
Mr.. Cobb. after making q preliminary ar
gument for the bill, in which he stated that
numerous complaints OF Inequalities IN assess
ments were constantly being made and that
in many instances they were doubtless just.
presented the following proviso relative TO
the suspension of collections under existing
assessments: a.,.-I-.---'
provided that the collection Of taxes on
real property and improvements thereon
which will become due and payable in the
month OF November, 1884, be and the same is
hereby suspended until the month OF May,
1885 at which time said taxes shall be due
and payable. and the collection thereof shall
be enforced in all respects as provided under
the existing law for the collection OF taxes on
real property and improvements thereon. for
the second part OF the tax year ending June
80. 1885,"
Mr.. Ray then obtained the adoption Of an
amendment providing that tax and ASSESS
ment books should be open to taxpayers.
Quite fight was precipated over the offer
ing and pending Of an amendment by Mr..
Ray 10 insert Tor the word valIie the expresson
Il. fair market value in the clause provid-
ing for amendments. Mr. Cobb insisted that
meaning than the fair market yalite. Mr.
Hopkins interrupted to read from the report
OF the District assessor in 1881 to show that
vaiac meant value under forced sale
or under unfavOrable eircuns nnces Mr.
Ray withdrew his amendment and later II
second one to the same end. Mr Hepburn,
however. scored point by securing the adop-
ton OF an amendment which suggested that
value" means in this instance the price
property would bring in the usuai way and
not under forced sale. the object being to
overthrow any recurrence TO that of the tax
assessor OF 1891. cited above. t's
lfr. Ray then offered an amendment pr ovid
ing for citation before the asssssorsof prop /
erty owner where the assessment was to De
raised. After some discussion Mr. Power
suggested that publication in two daily papers
be adopted instead. After several in
eflectual attempt TO develop a quorum OF
division. Mr.. Rays amennment was defeated.
81 TO l64. and that of Mr.. Power adopted
without division. The committee then rose
and reported the bill to the House, and it wns
passed without division