The evening times., 1896-10-24
ANNUAL REPORT ON TAXES
Assessor Trimble'S Statement
to Commissioners.
LICENSE REVENUESRUN LOW
Real Estate business and the Saloons
Show Al Great Falling Off-Livery
stnbies and Car Lines Hurt by the
General Use of Bicycles-Reconi-
mcEdntions for Legislation.

Assessor Matthew Trimble handed to
the commissioners today his report for the
year ended June 80, 1896, accompanied by
u statement of the assessed value of tn,
| taxable real estate and personal property
| in the District.
| Valuations are as follows:
Lands III Washington, SS7,709,559;
| improvements, 500, ,144, ,S25-total, $780,
| Sol ,3S4.
Lands in county, assessed at $1.50 on
| each 500 valuation, Sil 81 $50; county
| lands, at 81, So 1896, T64; county improve
ments, at SIT $5,502, 500; county i'm
| provements, at 81, 81 ,0O9 900; total real
estate. including impro vements, $780,
376 ,90S.
The total of personal property, includ-
ing gross receipts of railroads, is ST.
o1S, SIG, and the grand total is 81 50, ,909,-
159. The aggregate of the tax to be col
lected is So ,s41, ,l5437.
The assessor says the reasscssment has
been completed, and will constitute the
basis of taxation for this year and the next
two.
The joint resolution of January 81 1896,
makes the whole tax levied under the re-
assessment of that portion of the District
outside the present limits of the city due
and pa yable on the first day Of May, 1897.
This change, however. is for The present
fiscal year only, ana was made for the
purpose of giving more time TO the board
Of assistant assessor, to complete the work.
The luulIuES for the county assessment Will
probably not he ready until next April, and
hence the figures presented for that portion
of the District are based on the old as
scsSment.
NEW ASSESSMENT A SUCCESS.
Assessor Trmble says of the new plan:
Il feel personal pride in being able 20
say that ii has been splendid success
In the initiatory operation, and look for
ward with confidence to its continuance as
the basic principle of permanency in our
plan of real estate assessments"
He calls attention again to ian essen
tial fault'' in our law for the enforcement
collection of arrears.
The work of Compiling The general assess-
cnthoOkS for which Congre appropriated
SIS 600, is now about finished. 1t has
been done by the office force, who have
worked at night for three months past.
a slight increase in the salaries of the
two assistant assessors and others Of the
force is recommended.
The assessor says Of the need or Iesisla-
tiun for license revenues:
The cmissiU of various branches OF
business from taxation under present law
and the elimination Of others through ad-
verse decisions by the courts have resulted
in a spirit Of unrest by those in business
who are law abiding, through feeling OF
unjust discrimination which ought not TO
exist"
The assessor then calls attention TO sew
eral branches of business. which. he says,
prior to 1874 were mostly regulated by
legislation.
Public requirements, he adds, have
grown. but out revenue laws have not Kept
pace with them"
The largest deficiency is in the revenue
from The traffic in liquors. 1t is ordi-
rarilv supposed, Mr.. Trimble says, than
this business is one OF the last to feel the
effects of business depression, but the re-
suits show differently.
The next largest item is that from real
estate agents Mr.. Trimhle calls it ser
mon in itself Many agents have failed
entirely through lack of business
Referring to the liverymcn's business Ihe
n assessor says: THE demand for carriages
for purposes of business or pleasure is not |
lckly to cease entirely buu III II an uhuc
uiable fact that the bicycle has made |
such encroachmcntS not only on the rev
enues Of livery stables, but on all other
methods of local passenger transportation |
sto odemandrecognition as permanency-'
A TAX on BICYCLES.
He also says:
"Jn line with the recommendations
have before advanced, l unhcsitatiheiE |
advocate the passage of law taxing bicy-
lies They are vehicles. and should ne 80
classified by law. They are used FOR busi-
ness and pleasure. They occupy our pub
lie streets and require the services OF our
,oIice department for protection.
1.-The subject of theft has been re-
rcrred to. l believe the proper registration
rs licensing by the owners or lcssecs ol all
bicycIes and wheeled vehicles, by whatso-
ever name called propelled by fast power,
would lessen the danger of theft to mini
num-
He recommends n license fee OF 81 per
vehicle as amply sufficient, and says
suitable metal tag could be attached TO
he machine to indicate payment
Assessor Trimble renews his recommcnda-