Evening star., 1895-10-18
s2,s7s,7so 76
$2,sO1,sO3 80

The decrease in the assessed value of the
real estate as represented in the foregoing
figures, below those presented in my report
of last year. Isl owing to the revision which
as made under the act OF August Ia, 1891.
The Trienninl Assessment for 1S96-97
The act of August IA, 1894. made pro-
vision for board of assistant assessors,
whose first duty was to make a revision
and equalization Of the real estate assess
ment then in existence. and make return
of their action on OF before the first Mon
day of January, 1895. The next most i'm
portant duty was the triennial assessment
to be returned on or before the first Mon
day of January, 1896, on which date said
board, with the assessor, will act as a
board of equalization and review until the
first Monday in June following, thus giving
one full year to view and assess the property
and five months to receive and consider
complaints. The matter of giving sufficient
time for the proper performance of these
important duties was carefully considered
in the original preparation of our present
law, and the periods decided upon were
generally considered as ample for the pur-
poses indicated. Congress has treated our
requests for assessments and revisions in
the last few years with remarkable prompt
itude and liberality, and hence l regret ex-
ceedingly that our board of assistant as
SCISSORS have found it necessary to ask for
another extension of time. will appear
from the following letter:
WASHINGTON, September 6, 1895.
To the Assessor of the District of Columbia:
Dear Sir: The law creating the board of
assistant assessors requires that the board
shall. on or before the first Monday in jan
uary, 1896 and every third year thereafter.
make and deliver to the assessor of the
District of Columbia return, in tabular
form, of the amount, description and value
of the real property subject to he listed
for taxation in the District of Columbia; ;
that said board shall determine from ac-
tual view the value of each separate tract
II >n~fry to 1ox II
To do this properly, and required by
the law, and make the return by the first
Monday in January, 1896. will be physical
ly impossible, and the board requests that
Congress be asked 1or an extension OF time
to June 30, 1896.
The bill making the appropriation to car
ry out the law passed March 2, 1898. The
hoard began its work March 81. 1895, and
has been constantly in the field, except
when performing duties as an excise board.
making the assessment from actual view
Five weeks of time were occupied by the
board assessing new buildings constructed
in the District for the year ending June
20. 1895. which must be returned to the as
SCISSOR by July 1 of each year.
When It is understood that there are
s;xty-nine and half square miles of ter
ritory in the District of Columbia, every
niece or lot of which must be assessed from
actual view and the further fact that nve
weeks of the time. from March to January.
iSO6 were taken up in assessing new build
ings. and the additional duty involved as an
evcise board there being $50 retail and ltG
wholesale places under it's supervision, II
viii re,dily be understood how impossible
# will be to make the return, as required
by January, 1850. 4. .,, L.,
NaTemher of this year, the question of
granting a renewal of license to all OF the
Shove n,aces, and this. of necessity: Will
,ennire much time and careful consloera-
Aoi' lanes A. BATES. Chairman.
nostnonanse of the time when this
assessment is to be returned means con-
tnued uncertainty as to whether Ell Inc hisr taxes e
lower than at present and would make the
taxes for the year ending June So 1897, Que
and pavable in one insta'iment in the
month of May OF thad year, i.sleau " pnt pa,r
half in November. 1886, and the other hail
in MAY, 1897, as now provided.
The revision provided for in the second
section of the act referred to was returned
to this office at the required time. and, al
though not as satisfactory as was generally
expected. it must pc remembered that the
time occupied IN the work was limited to q
few months, giving slight opportunity to
make personal inspection of the properties
complained of. The promise was made,
however, that existing errors and inequali-
ties would be examined and the proper
remedies applied m. IN the new assessment IN nj
turned by the first Monday of next Jan
uary, and our taxpayers are ansiously
awaiting the result, SO as to know what
will he the standard of valuation on which
their taxes will be collected for the ensuing
three years. 1t appears. however. that an
rnanswerable reason for the extension s
presented by the board and, it being shown
that it will be physically impossible" to
complete the work by the time indicated.
submit the question for your consideration.
Personal Property Tax.
I have so frequently called attention to
the personal property tax that it would
seem useless to say anything further on
the subject, but am SO well satisfied that
an equitable enforcement Of this law is alb
solutely impossible that deem it my duty
to make another appeal sor it's bolishmant