Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-08
Higher Valuation Placed on
District Real Estate.
READY FOR REVIEW
DELAY IN REASSESSMENT DE.
FERs PAYMENTS UNTIL MAY.
Board of Equalization to Meet Tomor.
row Morning-Books Open
to the Public.

The board of equaliza ton and review, the
highest local authority on all realty tax as
sessments, will meet tomorrow morning at
8 o'clock at the District building to hear
any complaints the taxpayers may wish to
enter with regard to the recent triennial re-
assessment of real property in the District
of Columbia. The board will continue in
session daily from o'clock in the morning
until 3 o'clock in the afternoon until Octo-
Der 81, on which day the last meeting will
be held. 1t is expected there will be more
calls for equalization and review this year
than ever before, for practically every piece
of real estate in the District has had it's
value raised within the past few months in
order to meet the requirements of Congress
that all real property in the District shall
be assessed at a two-thirds valuation.
The board of equalization and review is
composed Of the District assessor Mr..
Hopewell H. Darnelle, and the board Of
assistant assessors, composed of Messrs. +.
w. w. Griffin, Matthew Trimble, S. I. G.
Morsell, Alexander Mckenzie and Francis
Nye. -Four of these officials constitute a
quorum. The business of the board will be
transacted practically in entirety by Messrs.
Darnellle, Griffin Trimbe and Morsell, a
Messrs. Mckenzie and Nye are the personal
property tax assessors and will be called
upon only in case of an emergency Mr.
Darneille will preside during a greater part
or the session, although the assistant asses
sors are qualified to serve in the event of
his absence.
Open to the Public
Beginning tomorrow morning the tax
books will be open to the public for the first
time since the latest reassessment and the
property owners who choose to call at the
District building may learn the new valua-
ton which has been placed upon their par
Of 1av ~.
upon them. All will find changes, and 1t is
animated that the new figures may be any
thing but pleasing to the taxpayers To
take advantage of the opportunity of hay
ing any inequalities adjusted by the board
OF equalization and review it will be neces-
sary for the property holders to call at the
District building and examine the tax
books, as otherwise they will not be pre-
scented with bills on the new basis until
next May. when the board will have long
since adjourned, and there will be no
chance for readjustment for three years.
NO taxes will be paid next November on
account of the postponement of the session
OF the board of equalization and review
until the present time. The session should
nave been held beginning last January, but
was put off for reasons with which Com
gress had much to do. Taxes for the whole
year. beginning July 1 last, will be due and
payable next May. Thereafter, according
to the law on the subject now in force, tax
payers may follow their own inclination,
and pay half in November and half in May
or pay the whole in May, ignoring the No
Vember collection entirely. Penalties will
accrue only after May each year. By this
arrangement those who desire to pay taxes
semi-annually may do SO, while the others
who incline to the once-a-year plan may
pay in May. The tax officials believe that
at last taxpaying system has been de-
vlsed which must please all who own prop
erty, and which settles once for all the
controversy as to the merits of the single
and double yearly payment plans.
Personal taxes are due and payable each
May. There is no provision for semi-an-
nual payments of this tax.
Congress Takes a Hand.
The story behind the postponement Of the
triennial session of the board of equaliza-
ton and review from January l last until
tomorrow morning is interesting 1t reflects
the temper which prevailed in Congress at
the last session to increase taxation IN the
District not only by imposing a tax on per-
sonal property but by increasing the as
sessment scale Of all real property as well.
The board Of assistant assessors began
last year the regular triennial reassessment
OF property In the District. They proceed
ed upon the basis of former years, which
has never been a fixed figure, but which
has always been held to be quite high. 1t
is said that when the reassessment was
about concluded the assessor and the board
OF assistant assessors were summoned be-
fore the District committees of Congress
Upon the statement of these official that
they We're reassessing property on the old
basis, they were given to understand that
Congress desired a two-thirds valua ton sys-
tenn and would insist upon it. Following
out these instructions the assistant as
SCISSORS had to again go over the field mark
ing up the assessment figures in some In
stances where it was thought perhaps a
full two-thirds valuation had not already
been fixed.
Caused Postponement.
The new work thus placed upon the board
brought about the postponement. Col Jas
A. Bates, who recently retired from the
position of chairman of the board of as
sistant assessors, led in the work Of raising
the values. The time given the board was
short enough and Col. Bates worked indie
fatigably. 1t was said that oyerWork
brought about the necessity of his retire
ment, his health being badly broken down.
Upon the retirement Of Col. Bates Mr. E.
w. w Griffin, who was then assistant as
SCISSOR in the assessors office, was pro-
NOTED to the board Of assistant assessors
and was elected chairman when the board
reorganiZed July last.
The instructions of Congress with regard
to the assessment Of real property upon the
the provision was written into the last Dis
trict appropriation bill, which was signed
July by the President.
The members Of the board of equaliza-
ton and review are anxious that property
owners shall at once look into the new as
earliest possible time any objections they
may wish. to offer. The meeting is a brief
one and there Is but little space between
the present time and the 1st Of May when
the taxes on the new assessment basis are
due and payable.