The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-08-29
1ax on Corporations
For the Year 1907

The preliminary report Of Asses
sor Griffin on the taxation of the
public utility corporations of the
District yas submitted TO Commits
sioner West this afternoon.
After the discoveries Of property
of the gas companies that had es-
capped taxation and OF undervaIua-
tions on the property of the Penn
sylvania railroad, Commissioner
West requested Assessor Griffin to
make detailed report on just how
all teh corporations were taxed and
how much they weer contributing
to the tax receipts OF the District,
with view to discovering whether
other instances OF escaped taxation
and undervaluations existed.
Perfeeting Assessments.
Pending a more detailed report"
says Mr.. Griffin. cit should be stated
that every effort is being made by the
Board Of Assistant Assessors 70 perfect
The assessments by making them com
plete and in accordance with law
Commissioner West said today that he
considered the report a most interesting
AMI valuable document
Il am informed that this IS the first
report Of this kind" said he, and It's
preparation has lead TO the close scru-
tiny OF The various laws under which
the assessments are made, and also OF
the manner IN which the tax charges
against the corporations are entered
upon the Iedgers. This preliminary re-
port does not call for comment. mas
much as IL contains no recommenda-
ions. which shows that every effort is
being made to faithfully and eouitabl,,
execute the law"
The corporations are taken up sen
arately under general heads. as fol-
lows:
Tax on Steam Railroads.
Steam railroads are taxed upon their
real estate holdings at the rate pre-
seribed by the general assessment law.
viz: One and cne-half per centum Der
annum upon an assessed value. oiaced
by the Board Of Assistant Assessors. Of
not less than tWo-third Of the true
value:
Philadelphia, Baltimore. and Wahing-
ton aRilroad Company. s72e. Ss4, assessed
value; tax. sle.S4S.4. Baltimore and
Chic Railroad Company, $5I2, ,937, assessed
value. S7,6s405. tax. Southern Railway
Company, $294. .075 assessed value; 81, ,411.14
tax Atlantic Coast Line, S41.6 .651 assess
ed value; S6247T tax. Washington Ter
minal Company, S627, us assessed value;
&, 1851 tax. Manor Real Estate Com
pany, So. n assessed value; 1.091.57 ak.
The amounts paid by the steam rail-
roads FOR traekage for the year ended
June 80. 1907. are as follows;
Philadelphia. Baltimore. and Washing
ton Railroad Company, assessed value.
S122. 423; tax. 81, ,S36.S5. Baltimore and Ohio
and Ohio Railroad Company, assessed
value, 500, ,s22: tax, Sl.509-4s. Chesapeake
Beach Railroad Company, assessed
value. SS.5S3; tax. SIPS Southern Rail
way Company. assessed value. s1.6S5;
tax. $2454.
The steam railroads are also required
to pay taxes upon all tangible personal
property IN the District Of Columbia.
such as office furniture. wagons, horses,
etc, and the amounts thus paid by the
companies for 1907 are as follows:
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washing
ton Railroad Conpany-Assessed value.
500 1881: tax, SS44.s4 Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company-Assessed value.
SIC. 900; tax. $240 Southern Railway
Cornpany-Assessed value, s26 s75: tax
s403-13 Atlantic Coast Line (office)-As-
sessed value, $40; tax, s1.s0. Chesapeake
and Ohio Railroad (ofTicel-Assessed
value. $500: tax. 50. Searboard Air
Line-Assessed value. S225; ta> S3.sS.
Street Railways Taxes.
BY the net Of Congress, approved July
/, 1902. it is provided that Ctreet rail-
road companies shall continue to pay the
four per cent on their gross receipts and
other taxes as provided by existing Iaw.~