The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-08-11

That the District, by the failure Of the as
SCISSORS Office 10 properly assess the prop
erty OF the two local gas companies has
lost thousands Of dollars. developed yes
terday by the announcement Of the board
OF the assessors that the Washington Gas
light Company is TO be taxed upon an
added valuation to its property of ap-
proximately a.oOo,O0o. and the Georgetown
Gasiight Company upon an added valua-
ton or SSs 900.
Ihls action IS based primarily upon the
sworn statement to the court by the
Georgetown Gaslight Company in an ef-
fort to double lis capital stock.
Tax on the Service Pipes.
According to Assessor E. W. W
Griffin. the gas companies heretofore IN
presenting a statement of the valuation
Of their properties TO the assessors office.
have eontended that they did not own
the service pipes by which are connected
the gas mains with the meters IN the
various houses. In its present efforts 10
Increase its capital stock. the Georgetown
Company. it is stated. has included these
ixtures as part Of its property and has
placed value on the same.
On the tax books the companies ara
taxed only for their mains, but the as
sessment hereafter viii include .mains.
service pipes. and meters" Heretofore.
the Georgetown Gaslight Company has
been assessed only at S24604. and the
Washington Gaslght Company at ss36, ,77.
Increase Goes Back Three Years,
Following the recent statement TO the
court by the management Of the George
town Gaslight Company as TO the value
Of the plant, the board Of assessors. ac-
cording to Assessor Griffin. has made 2
personal inspection OF TIE properties, with
the result that II has become convinced
that the assessments should be increased
! in the sums stated. It IS announced fur
/ ther that this added assessment VIII ex-
tend 70 the three preceding years. mean
I ing an additional annual revenue 10 the
District of over Sz0Co0. and for the last
three years Of over $4,000. without in
cluding the interest.
Authority for the Action.
The action OF the assessors in assessing
this property for the three years preced-
/ ing is based on section Z Of the acts
affecting the District Of Columbia for
1902. which reads:
That if said board Of assistant asses
sors shall learn that any property liable
/ 20 taxation has been omitted from the
assessment for any previous year or
years, or has been so assessed that the
! assessment was void. il shall be their
/ duty 70 reassess such property for each
and every year after the passage Of this
act for which It has escaped assessment
and taxation. and report the same.
through the assessor, to the collector Of
taxes, who shall at once proceed to col
! lect the taxes in arrears as other taxes
are provided. Provided. that no property
which has escaped taxation shall be LA
bic under this section for a period of more
than three years prior TO such assess
ment except in the case OF property in
volved In litigation"
Why Assessments Escaped.
| Questioned as TO the reason for the
|non-assessment of service pipes. Assessor
tE. W. ". Griffin said yesterday that
these assets have not been included in
the statement of properties submitted by
the gas companies 70 the assessors Office,
and that the question as to their taxation
/ has never before been raised He de-
| clined 10 give an estimate as 10 the prob
/ able amount Of loss 10 the District by this
| omission.
/ The Georgetown Gashght Company, in
compliance with the law. yesterday sub
mitted to the Commissioners the follow
4 ing condensed report of receipts and ex-
! penditurcs:
Mr. " TindaH. Secretary 70 the Beard Of Com
! missioners. District Of Columbia:
Dear Sir; In repiy 20 yours Of July T. addressed 20
/ Mr.. George Howard. president q this company.
/ beg 10 submit herewith the information required:
Receipts III .34o
Disbursements s4oa. oJ.l4
/ The above figures are exclusive Of borrowed
money, renewal notes. and dividend q Sl5.e10 paid
during tie year. Yours very truly.
ROBERT i. MIDDLETON, Secretary.
TIN mr. IN TITDEnV