The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-28
RADICAL CHANGES
MADE BY BOARD
FavorS New Basis of Taxa
ton and Assessment in
the District.
TRANSFER DEEDS
MAY BE ALTERED
Strong Support Is Assured to Rec
concentration to Insert Exact
Consideration.

The Board OF Trade has just adopted
' three recommendations which. many Of
its members declare. are the most radi-
cal In the history of the board
The recommendations include sugges-
tons which. II adopted, viii put the
scheme of taxation and assessment of
the District on new basis A fourth.
designed to compel insertion of the Sx-
act considerations into all deeds of con-
veyance OF real estate, was recon-
mitted to the committee on taxation and
assessments. The fact that the discus
sion revealed a strong support, even
for this consideration, leads members
10 believe that despite the action last
evening, there is hope of efecting the
reform next year.
Laid On Table
All of the recommendations consid-
cred at the meeting last evening were
radical. but the one laid on the table
is considered the least revolutionary.
Because of this it is believed that the
recommendation regarding the deeds of
transfer is practically assured Of pas
sage when II Is again reported from the
committee for final vote.
Discussion which followed the reading
of the report of the committee on tax
alton and assessment resulted In en-
livening the meeting to slssh an extent
that il was past II O'Clock when adj
clause requiring the compulsory inser-
ton OF the consideration, the report
contained three other recommendations
which were voted upon separately.
The second of the recommendations
> provided that a committee of three be
named by the President to urge upon
Congress- and the Commissioners the
desirability of establishing, through an
act of Congress. a bureau of valuation
under the supervision of the Assessors
office.
To Gather Data.
Appointment Of a special committee
of three that shall gather data relating
to those methods now in force in other
commemorative. having to do with
more expeditions transfer Of titles and
Of the guaranteeing Of the same, con-
stltuted the third recommendation.
The fourth favored a reasonable s,rs-
tenn Of review by an independent board
TO which appeals may be taken.
Following the reading of the report
by John i Weaver. chairman of the
committee, the board launched into a
debate which was only ended by Presi-
Gent Small putting the question on the
nrst proposition with speakers still try
ing 10 gain the floor and express their
opinions upon the subject.
AAexander Mckenzie. a member of
the board OF assessors. held this eaor
Tor nearly half an hour, while he
picked the committees report to
pieces. There were few things In the
report that ne liked and he did not
hesitate 20 express himself to that
effect. He attacked especially the
recommendation for the appointment
should be charged with gathering data
regarding values Of real estate and
keeping them on file in the assessors
methods employed BY the board of
assessors and insisted that they are
unJustlY criticised.
In Committees Favor.
, While Mr.. McKenz:e's speech headed
the opposition TO the report. Allen D.
Albert, jr., spoke in favor Of the con-
illusions arrived at by the committee.
claiming that the report was alive and,
therefore, would accomplish results.
He insisted that the board would &C
cOmplish nothing to recornmit the re-
port. because il was the one piece of
work OF the year that had ginger in
it."
Speakers that followed Mr.. Albert and
Dir. Mckenzie were H II. Darneiile
former assessor OF the District: Louis
Willige, Thomas w. Smith. r. y. Har-
per- r. l. Siddonss William II. Saun-
ders, A Leftwich Sinclair, and T. G..
NOyes. II was upon Mr. Moves sug-
gestiOn that the four recommendations
contained Ia ne report were voted upon
separately. Tlis resulted In proIongipg
the debate, aId in the first proposition
being recommitted by d substantial ma
1ority- After the passage Of the other
three recommendations, the report, a.
amended, was adopted.
Judge Charles s. Bundy's report on
parks ad reservations. which was
made at the opening OF the meeting.
paved the way by the interest il aroused
Tor the spirited discussion of the taxa
ton and assessment report that fol-
lowed. After submitting his report.
Judge Runcy offered a resolution re-
Questing that the Commissioners OF the
District be given authority from Con-
Eress 10 purchase ground for parking
purposes, amounting I'm value not to ex-
coed 100000. to carry out the original
plans Of the city.
Substitute Favored.
In 3 speech which brought out the
folly OF asking Congress to turn over