Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11
PROPERTY NOT ASSESSED
Omission of All Service Pipes and
Connections.
DISTRICT IS HEAVY LOSER
Arrearages to Be Listed-Recent
Official Statement in Court
the Basis.

1t was developed at the District
assessors office yesterday that the
service pipes and gas meters be-
longing to the local gas companies
and in use in the District have eS-
capped taxation, and because of this
the District government, it is
claimed, has lost thousands of dol
lars. This fact was made plain to
the board of assessors of the Dis
trict, it is said, through the sworn
statement furnished last week by
the Georgetown Gaslight Company
to the court in the hearing on its
application to double its capital
stock. The accumulated taxes col
lectible, covering period of three
years, according to the. assessor,
amount to 100000.
According to Assessor Griffin. the gas
companies have always contended that they
did not own the service pipes running from
the big gas mains to the gas meters in the
various houses, and therefore in furnishing
the District the service pipes and meters
were not included. In their efforts to in
crease their capital stock the Georgetown
Gaslight Company is said to have men
toned these fixtures as part of their prop
erty, and have placed value upon II.
AS a result Of these developments the
board Of assessors has announced that it
will increase the assessed value of the
Georgetown Gasiight Company ss9soO, and
the Washington Gaslight Company 81 Coz,
COO, and that the amount OF this increase
will be charged up to these >two corpora
tons for three years past which action
the board Of assessors is empowered to
take under the tax laws. According TO
information furnished by Assessor Griffin,
this action will result in the District treas
ury being enriched to the amount of 100000.
Taxed on Mains Only.
On the tax books the companies are taxed
MAINS with no reference to service con-
nections. The wording is to be changed by
the board of assessors to mains, service
pipes and meters" Heretofore the mains"
of the Georgetown Gaslight Company have
been assessed at s24.6O4 only, and those of
the Washington Gaslight Company at $685.
707. The taxation upon tLese companies
for this part of their fixtures has been at
the rate of ~ per cent, which rate is pre-
Scrihed by act of Congress.
Since the management of the Georgetown
Gaslight Company made its statement to
the court to the effect that it valued its
mains, service pipes end meters at $S9, 500
the board of assessors has been actively en-
gagged in determining upon what acton
should be taken in the interest of the Dis
trict of Columbia, knowing. as the members
do that on the books at the assessors Of
flee these fixtures are assessed at only S2f-
O0O. These officials have, it is said upon the
authority Of Assessor Griffin, determined to
increase the assessment of the Georgetown
company to the amount sworn to by its
representatives in their statement to the
court of the valuation of the holdings, as
stated, and to collect upon this increase for
three years aFrearage. They also decided
that the same action shall apply to the
Washington Gaslight Company, and viii fix
the amount of the increased assessed
value of this corporation in proportion with
the amount of increase for the Georgetown
company.
The revenue from this increased tax will
years, rated in arrears, will amount to ap-
proximately 100000, without interest
Confirmed by the Assessor.
In the absence of the assessors official
force yesterday afternoon, owing to the
half holiday, the details of the foregoing
statement were furnished by one of the
assistant assessors. He, however, has
been away from the city, and he stated,
was not thoroughly familiar with the case.
Assessor Griffin was communicated with at
his home and he confirmed the facts and