The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-07
PROTEST AGAINST
PERSONAL TAX BOARD
". Il. Dennis Assessed for
AnOther's Furniture.
DENIED RIGHT OF APPEAL
Letter to the Commissioners Which Sets
Forth Notable Complaint.
No Redress Vouchsafed.
DENIED RIGHT OF APPEAL

The Commissioners have received the
following letter from William Henry
Dennis, local attorney at law:
Il feel bound in justive to the public
and myself to bring to your attention
some of the methods in the personal tax
office
Last year l made my return under
the new law within due time, on the
printed schedule. November following
received by mail notice that my return
was rejected and that an assessment
had been made against me in the sum OF
$66.67. the tax upon which was $40.
paid this on May 2, 1903.
Assessed for Another House.
In June. 1903, after the time for ap-
peals is alleged to be over, and after
penalties accrue on taxes, / received by
sonal property assessed at about 800, ar
'51S Thirteenth Street northwest a
house I have nothing to do with.
Il went to the tax Office and was in
formed that this bill was wrong, but
that was assessed for a similar amount
On personal property in house 515 Thir-
teenth Street northwest l own this
who has since moved, had her own fur
niture in it.
Il went TO the personal tax Office a
number of times. to protest against this,
being referred from one person to an
other. or to some one who was out at
the time. Most OF them treated me po-
litely. and admitted that a citizen ought
not to be taxed on the property OF anoth-
er without notice in time TO secure a
hearing. until met one who proceeded
TO tell me about people who received
notices in time. and then falsely denied
having done so. This insinuation ended
my visits to that Office.
A Dangerous Precedent.
81 have always responded to every
notice received from any branch of your
office. and have paid every dollar OF
taxes assessed on my own property. The
$40 of tax involved in this case is small
and it may be periIous TO incur the i'll
will of that powerful body. the Personal
Tax Board. but you have reminded US
yourselves. by your admirable observ-
just taxation.
IF anyone can be assessed in this
way on 500 worth OF personal property
which he does not own. and denied any
hearing, he can be assessed for 81. 900
or $4,000 worth in the same way, and
made TO figure on the books as a de-
linquent taxpayer unless he submits to
the eXaction.'
The Assessors View.
The matter was referred to Assessor
Darneille, who made the following re-
port:
Mr.. Dennis made return OF $40 under
paragraph of the personal tax schedule
OF 1923, stating that amount TO be the
fair cash value OF all his taxable per-
scnal belongings under the law The
Board Of Personal Tax Appraisers visited
his Office and estimated his taxable per-
sCnal belongings therein contained at
s66.67.
Later in the year the board was in
formed that Mr.. Dennis owned furniture
in premises SIS Thirteenth Street, valued
at $500.
Upon this furniture he failed abso-
lutely to make return. In his letter he
seems TO attempt to convey the in
formation that he did not own any fur
niture in SO Thirteenth Street, whereas
the board had relia BILE information that
he was the owner Of furniture in said
house; that he did not occupy the house
and therefore was not entitled TO ex-
emption under the law"
Commissioner West has recommended
that Mr.. Dennis be informed in accord
ance with the report of Assessor Oar
nellie.