Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-06
OPPOSES EXEMPTION
VIEWS REGAHDINH FOREIGN
MINISTRIES RESIDENCE.
Matter to Be Referred ito the State De-
partment-o uestisa Regard
ing 0wAership.

Hopewell II. Darneilleis the District as
SCISSOR, today recommended to the Commits
sioners that the application for the exemp-
ton from taxation of premises No. 2111 3
street, occupied blythe minister from Nor
way and Sweden, be denied. 1t is under
stood the question as to the propriety of ex-
empting this property will be referred to
the State Department for report. 1t is con-
sidered that the question is one involving
International courtesy, and this is the rea-
son for the suggestion that the State De-
partment be requested to report. on the case
- under the law the property owned and
used by foreign legations and embassies In
washington is exempt from taxation. In
the case under consideration, however. a
question has been raised in the minds of the
District authorities as to whether premises
III street is owned by the government
or Norway and Sweden, or whether 1t is the
nuIviouai property of Mr.. Johan Anton
Wolff Grip the envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary of that govern
ment.
The circumstances surrounding the case in
point are somewhat out of the usual order
IN That the deed for the property Is in the
name of Mr.. Grip, "envoy extraordinary
and minister plenipotentiary."
Purchase of the Property.
In November, 1902, residence and office
ton was purchased at ZOO street north
west, officially recorded as lot 43, in block
OF Connecticut Avenue Heights The deed
Tor this property was in the name of Mr..
Grip, and when the application for exemp-
non OF the premises was made the question
as TO the propriety of exempting the same
under the circumstances arose. In the as
SCISSOR once, where the question was first
raised, 1t was not definitely known whether
the property was owned by Norway and
sweden or whether 1t belonged to Mr. Grip
as an individual. The assessor learned that
according to the deed for the property it
was held by Mr.. Grip for his heirs and as
signs forever
In view of this fact Assessor Darneille
oecl!ned TO recommend exemption but also
declined to recommend that it be denied.
Inc matter was referred to the corporation
counsel, who advised the Commissioners to
exempt the property. The Commissioners
acted upon the advice of the corporation
counsel, and during the past two years
taxes
The matter was again brought to the at
tention of the District officials last week,
when Mr.. Grip sold the property at 2lO0
5 street to Mrs. Della G. Smallwood, and
known as 2117 street. This property was
bought from Clarence Norment. The trans
fer was made to Mr.. Grip, envoy extraor-
binary and minister plenipotentiary. In
both cases the consideration named was $40.
MIR. E. g.. Davis, collector of taxes, re-
ceived letter the latter part of last week
from Mr. Grip stating THAT an exchange of
property had been madef and requesting a
transfer of the exemption from the prop
erty at 2109 to that at 2117 street. The
question was referred to the District as
SCISSOR.
Mr.. Darneille's Report.
Mr.. Darneille, in his report on the matter.
suggests that the reasons against exemp-
ton Of the property Of the minister from
Norway and Sweden which were presented
two years ago have been strengthened by
the fact that there is NO apparent reason
for the legation owned by a foreign gov
eminent to be transferred such short dis
lance. 1t Is pointed out that the embassies
exempted from taxationiswere exempted In
the name of the government and not in the