The Washington herald., 1907-08-13

erty of the gas companies have not been /
properly assessed, the District thereby
losing annually $16S49. the board of as
sistant assessors has made an investiga-
ton into the method OF assessments of
the property Of other public utility cor
porations
Assessor E. W. w. Griffin, yesterday
reported TO Commissioner West that, with
the exception Of the gas companies, All
were paying their full quota of taxes.
Questioned by the Commissioner as TO
the reason for the failure to assess the
service pipes and meters OF these cor
porations, the assessor said they had
never been included in the companies
statements to the assessors Office.
To Commissioner West is given the
credit for listing these arrears in taxes,
he having advised the board Of assist
ant assessors to take official cognizance
Of the evidence submitted by the George
town Gaslight Company in its petition TO
double its capitalization. He advised the
board that it was it's duty TO make the
additional assessments, stating that IT
would receive the support Of the Commis-
sioners in such action.
Gas OmciaIA Reticent.
Although officials of the gas companies
decline 10 discuss the matter Of the in
creased assessments, it is believed, by
statements made TO the board Of assistant
assessors. when informed Of its action,
! that they will contest and bring the mat
ter before the board OF equalization and
review at its next session. William B.
! Orme. secretary Of the Washington Gas
/ light Company. yesterday declined to dis
/ cuss the additional assessment in the alb
sence from the city Of the president, John
/ r. Mclean. Assessor z. W. W. Griffin
/ yesterday Issued the following statement
/ in regard to the commission;
Under the law. It is incumbent upon
the board Of assistant assessors to aft1X
| a value TO all real property in the Dis
! trict Of Columbia subject to taxation and
/ 10 make return thereof TO the assessor,
! whose duty it is to enter such assess
ments upon the tax records.
by act approved July /. 1902. pro-
| viding for personal taxation in the Dis
/ trict gas companies are taxed 5 per
! centum upon their gross earnings. This
/ law also provides that in addition to such
personal tax, the real estate owned by
y
real estate is taxed. Upon the basis Of this
realty tax, the Washington Gaslight Con-
pany was for the year OF 1907 assessed
! 8, ,O2S, ,I34 (or tax Of S15,4Z2.0D and the
| Georgetown company &6,020 Oor tax Of
SS40.5O upon realty exclusive Of mains.
Take COmpanies' Statements.
In addition TO these two items OF per-
sonaIty' and realty covering land and
buildings), the two companies have. up
/ until the present date, been assessed
/ for mains, the assessment for the Wash
Il ington company being $613,O7 (or a tax
Of S9,2O56O) and that for the Georgetown
company being 21,504 (or tax of $322,56).
The board OF assistant assessors hav-
ing no personal knowledge Of the amount
Of mains, &c, laid by the gas companies
each year, arrived at their assessment IN
the past by a statement which has, upon
request. been submitted by the com
panies annually. These statements, how
ever, did not include service pipes and
meters, and. IN the opinion Of the board,
after careful investigation. these prop
critics are taxable and have escaped tax
ton.
The board has therefore, under date Of
August 10. 1907. returned to the assessor
an item Of 100000 against the Washing
ton Gaslight Company and Sss,9s6 against
the Georgetown Gaslight Company for
service pipes and meters The resulting
taxes from these assessments would be
$1,000 and S1,S40.94 respectively.
Two Years Back.
In addition to these assessments for
1905 the board has submitted an assess
ment for similar amounts against the
companies for the years 1905 and 1907 un-
der a provision Of law which reads as
follows:
That il said board of assistant as
SCISSORS shall learn that any property
liable TO taxation has been omitted from
the assessment for any previous year OF
years. or has been so assessed that the
assessment was void, 1t shall be their
duty at once 10 reassess such property
for each and every year after the passagt
OF this act for which it has escaped as
seSsment and taxation and report tn,
same, through the assessor, to the col
lector OF taxes, who shall at once pro
oeed 10 collect the taxes so IN arrcar,
as other taxes are collected. Provided
that no property which has escaped tax.
alton shall be liable under this section
for a period OF more than three year:
prior to such assessment except in tn.
case Of property involved in litigation
Approved August Z, 1884
Formal order of Board.
"As will be seen, the above law pre-
scribes that property which has escaped
taxation shall not be assessed for more
than three years prior to the discover
Of such omission, except in cases where
the property has been in litigation.
The formal order Of the board Of as.
sistant assessors IN regard to the as
sessments in question read a@follows;
% Service pipes and meters of tn,
Washington Gaslight Company hereto
fore unassessed are now returned as
sessed in compliance with section L. o.
the act approved August H. 1894.
'' Put $100e,0G0 for service pipes an,
meters for 1906. and also, put 81 200. co
for service pipes and meters for 1907
l against the Washington Gaslight Com
pany. owners Of said service pipes an,
meters.
L "A similar provision is made for tn
II Georgetown Gaslight Company, in tn,
II amount of $50, 1885,"
II uANn p00Y OAcrc I'm