Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-13
House District Committee Reports
Board of Trade Measure.
PERMANENT BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Also to Constitute the. License
Granting Power.
HER MEN D NJ E N 7 S

agreed upon the bill to provide permanent
board of tax assessors for the District of
Columbia and prescribing regulations for
the equalization of assessments. This Is
the bill which has been recommended by
the Commissioners and the board Of trade.
The committee amended the bill In a few
instances, the most important one being a
provision that the board Of assessors shall
also constitute the excise board.
Commissioners Truesdel and Powell were
present at the meeting of the committee.
Mr.. Truesdell said this bill is a matter. per-
haps, of more general interest than any
other bill now pending. The District has
never had a proper assessment, and the
fault Is in the law.
1t needs no argument to convince the
committee that there is nothing more irri-
tating to the people than inequality Of as
sessment, and yet under existing law II mas
been impossible to have anything else.
The Commissioners have been compelled
to pick up idle men, pay them 500 month
and put them to assess property valued at
nearly two hundred millions AS rule.
the Commissioners have had men who were
out of business, and while 1t is not designed
to reflect upon these assessors or the past,
1t was impossible to get men for that price
who could successfully assume the vast
responsibilities of their positions.
This bin now pending has many features
which commends 1t to the almost unani-
nous appreciation Of the citizens. The
most important feature in the bill is the
requirement for a permanent board Of as
SCISSORS. There is no question OF the abil-
ity of a permanent board of able men to
make fair assessment. for they will be
men of experience. What was wanted was
an equable system Of assessments. fair to
all interests.
There is a wide difference of opinion
among men as to the methods Of assess
ments, but the main thing to be kept in
view is what will give us fair system of
assessments Mr.. Truesdell did not think
II wise to appoint men from specified sec
lions Of the city. The most harmful thing
to the interests Of the city has been this
sectional cry. the contest between the diff
ferent portions Of the city. The assessors
should be selected without respect to their
! location. He thought the time fixed in the
bill sufficient for the purpose.
Mr.. Hall suggested that there should be
time when the tax books should be closed
and the assessments certified to the tax col
lector.
With reference to the personal tax of the
citizens, Mr.. Truesdell said he thought the
present law should not be amended through
this bill. 1t would not be wise to connect
the questions Of real estate and personal
tax. He said the personal tax revenues of
| the District have decreased OF late years,
| and it might be well at a subsequent time
to arrange for more thorough collection Of
personal tax.
An inefficient execution Of the law is the
cause of the decrease in revenues.
Mr.. Truesdell favored putting the duties
Of the excise board upon the board Of as
SCISSORS. proposed by this bill, the board
| will be in a position to gather very much
valuable Information. The Commissioners
he said. are overburdened with the work
demanded by the granting of liquor licenses
and the board would relieve them.
He urged the committee to amend the bill
| so as to place these duties upon the board
! of assessors.
| He did not favor reviving the old board
Of assessors. as the result. he thought. would
| hA f.,-t 49,,
| Element of the assessment question. This
| bill, he said. should be passed, and II
years experience with the law should de-
velop defects, changes could be made in the
Commissioner Powell briefly addressed the
committee, explaining how this bill was
prepared. At the close of his remarks the
committee went into executive session.
The Reported Bill.
The bill, which the committee agreed to
| report. provides that the Commissioners of
the District Of Columbia shall appoint three
discreet persons. who shall have been bona
| fide residents of the District of Columbia
for the period Of at least five years and
conversant with real estate values therein,
as permanent board of assistant assessors,
who shall hold office for a term of three
years. subject to removal at the pleasure
OF the Commissioners, and shall each re-
ceive salary Of three thousand dollars
annually Said board of assistant assessors
eiidli iHluneuiately proceed TO hear and con-
sioer such complaints as may he made re-
garding the assessment returned by the
board OF three members appointed by the
President Of the United States, under the
act OF August B. 1892 revise and equalize
said assessment. and make return to the
assessor Of the District Of Columbia of the
! revision and equalization on or before the
first Monday Of January, 1895. And said
revision and equalization so returned shall
be the basis Of assessment for the collection
OF taxes for the fiscal year ending June 3D.
1898, and until the next general assessment
Is made and returned.
The collection or the taxes provided py
law to be collected in November next shall
be extended until the regular collection in
May, 1898
The Commissioners are authorized and
directed to appoint clerk for said board
OF assistant assessors at a salary of one
thousand two hundred dollars per annum !:
and said clerk shall also be the clerk for
the board Of equalization and review.
Real property shall be assessed and val
ued in the year 1885. and every third year
thereafter.
The board OF assistant assessors SHALL
acting collectively in all cases. from actual
view and from the lest sources OF inforrna-
ton In its reach. determine the value of
each separate tract or lot of real prop
erty in the District of Columbia in lawful
money, and shall separately estimate the
value OF all improvements on any tract or
lot. and shall note the same in the proper
field book. which shall be carried out as
part of the value of such tract or let and
| shall also return the dimensions of each
tract or lot. and shall perform such other
official duties not inconsistent with the
proper discharge OF the duties specially i'm
posed as may be required Of them by the
Commissioners.
On or before the first Monday Of Feb
ruary, 1896 and every third year there
after, they are TO make out ami deliver to
the assessor OF the District Of Columbia
a return in tabular form, contained in
book to be furnished by the Commission
ers. OF the amount. description, and value
OF the real property subject to be listed
for taxation in the District Of Columbia
The assessor of the District and the board
OF assistant assessors provided for. with the
assessor as chairman, shall compose a
board OF equalization and review and as
such board of equalization and review they
shall convene on the first Monday OF Feb
ruary, 1896 and every third year there
after. 1t shall be the duty OF the board Of
equalization and review to fairly and i'm
partially equalize the value of real prop
crty made by the board of assistant az
SCISSORS as the basis for assessment.
They shall equalize the valuations made
by the board Of assistant assessors SO that
each lot and tract and the improvements
thereon shall be entered upon the tax list
at their assessed value In money: and for
this purpose they shall hear such COM
plants as may be made in respect Of said
assessments, and in determining them they
nay raise the valuations Of such tracts or
let's as, In their opinion. may have been re-