Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-03
ASSESS REAL ESTATE
Board Reports Completion of
TrienniaI Task.
PLANS TO HEAR OBJECTIONS
Draft of Bill Amending the Ex-
isting Law.
PROVISIONS OF ACT NO. 1874
Many Increases Affecting Property
in the New Financial District
and Other Sections.
PLANS TO HEAR OBJECTIONS
PROVISIONS OF ACT NO. 1874

The three assistant assessors of the
District reported to Assessor Griffin to-
day that they have completed the trien-
NAL assessment of real estate and will
submit their report to him. as directed by
law in few days. There are always a
large number of persons who object to
the reassessment of their property. and
for that reason the law provides a board
of equalization and review the duty of
which is to hear the complaints of dis
satisfied persons. and If the latter show
good cause why the reassessment is not
justified the board makes readjustment.
The assessor announced today that the
board makes REIMBURSEMENT. The as
SCISSOR announced today that the board
will meet in room 81. District building,
Monday. January 6, to hear objections and
complaints.
The law providing for the hearing of
complaints also provides that the board
OF equalization and review must COM
plete Its labOrs the first Monday of June,
1908. AS a matter of administration it is
necessary that the board hear all the
protestants and that the completed as
sessment be returned to the assessor by
July 1. 1905 so that he NAV enter the
same upon the tax ledgers of his office
The board. therefore, has only one month
to consider all the cases, which never
amount to less than three or four thou
sand
To Amend the Law.
Inc members of the board say it Is
apparent that it is impossible to give
thorough consideration to so many ap-
peals. n1ne-tenths of which are filed in
the last ten DAYS of the time allotted. To
remedy this condition of affairs bill has
been drafted and approved by the Com
missioners. and will be introduced in Con-
sress at an early date. amending the laws
by providing that all appeals must here
AFTER be filed with the board of eoualiza-
ton and review on or before the first
Monday of April. 1908, and every third
year thereafter.
A blank form Of appeal will be fur
nished bv the clerk of the board tn any
person desiring same. and If the. owners
or property will file their appeal on or
before the first Monday in April 1908. as
provided in the proposed bill. 1t will en-
able the assessors to give careful consid-
Grafton in every case to which the tax
payers are entitled
A great many changes have been made
many Increases in business property in
the new financial district. in the property
south OF pennsylvania avenue, in suburb
an as well as acreage property.
The law governing the assessment of
real estate in the District Of Columbia
passed August IA, 1894, provides as fol-
lows:
Section 6. That said board of assistant
assessors shall. from actual view and
from the best sources of information in
its reach. determine the value of each
| separate tract or lot of real property in
the District of Columbia in lawful money.
and shall separately estimate the value
OF all improvements on any tract or lot
and shall note the same in the proper
field book. which shall be carried out as
part of the value of such tract or lot, and
shall also return the dimensions of each
tract or lot.
Section Z. That said board of assist
ant assessors shall. on or before the first
Monday of January. eighteen hundred and
ninety-six, and every third year there
after. make out and deliver to the assess
or of the District of Columbia return in
tabular form. contained in a book to be
furnished by the Commissioners, of the
amount. description and value of the real
property subject to be listed for taxation
in the District of Columbia
Section 9. That the assessor of the
District of Columbia and the said board
of assistant assessors herein provided for
with the assessor as chairman. shall COM
pose board of equalization and review
and as such board of equalization and re-
view they shall convene in room, to be
provided for them by the Commissioners.
on the first Monday of January, eighteen
hundred and ninety-siX. and every third
year thereafter.
Must Give Public Notice.
public notice of the time and place of
suca citing shall be given by publica-
ton for two successive days in two
daily papers in said District. 1t shall
be the duty Of said board of equalizat ton
and review to fairly and impartially
equalize the value of real property made
by the board of assistant assessors as
the basis for assessment Any three of
said board of equaliza ton and review
shall constitute a quorum for business
and in the absence of the assessor tenn
porary chairman may be selected
They shall Immediately proceed to
equalZe the valuations made by the boa I'd
of assistant assessors. so that each lot and
tract and the improvements thereon shall
be entered upon the tax list at their value
in money: and for this purpose they shall
hear such complaints as may be made in
respect of said assessments. and in de-
termining them they may raise the valua-
lions of such tracts or lots as, in their
opinion. may have been returned below
their value. and reduce the valuations of
such as they may believe to have been re-
turned above their value to such sum as,
in their opinion. may be the value thereof
Section 10. That the valuation of the
real property. made and equalized as
aforesaid. shall be completed as nearly as
practicable on the first Monday of June.
eighteen hundred and ninety-six, and of
every third year thereafter. after which
date no other or further complaints as to
valuations shall be received. and when
approved bv the Commissioners shall con-
stitute the basis of taxation for the next
succeeding period of three years and until
another valuation is made according to
law. except as hereinafter provided, and
the Commissioners shall fix the rate Of tax
to be collected thereon. not exceeding the
rate fixed by present law"