Evening star., 1909-01-31
COMMISSIONERS OPPOSED TO
TRUE VALUE PLAN.
Claim It Would Punish Whole Com
munity '|for the Greed of
a Few

In reporting to the Senate District com
mttee adversely on the bill providing for
the assessment of property in the District
at its full value. the District Commission
ers discuss the effect of this bill on con-
demnation proceedings, declare that own
ers of property south of Pennsylvania
avenue are asking ''exorbtant prices
for their land and add that the bill would
not affect them.
1T would be manifestly unfair that Il
whole community should he punished for
the < eed of Il few, says Commissioner
Maciarland in the letter TO Senator Cal
linger. chairman of the committee.
The letter in full follows:
The Commissioners of the District of
Columbia have the honor to make the
following response to your reference to
them for their views of Senate o61S--a bill
taxing real estate in the District OF Co.
lumbia at the true value thereof.
This proposed Legislation is apparently
intended TO increase the revenues of the
District of Columbia from taxation of pr!-
Vate property therein. and would, II 1t
should become law. add to those revenues
more than S2,otsD.GOD annually after the
next triennial assessment is made. The
District revenues are ample to meet all
it's needs and there is no occasion for an
increase of taxation. 1t is probable, how
ever. that the principal object of this bill
Judgment of juries or commissions in
condemnation proceedings, so that the
assessed valuation shall be d reasonable
criterion as to the real value of such prop
critics. to enable such tribunals to judge
whether the claims for property SO taken
are eNorbitant. JurieS and commissions
of condemnation are precluded. under
direction OF the courts OF the District,
from considering the assessed valuation
of property an evidence of its real
lIi.. n.lti
this restriction on their judgment has
in some instances. resulted i'll the award
by such juries OF greater prices than
those for which the land was offered to
cess of what the owners expected TO get.
Would Fail of It's Object.
If the passage Of this bill should result
in ii higher tax on the property south Of
Pennsylvania avenue between the Capitol
and the Treasury building the increase
would not affect those owners of property
located in that portion who are now ask
ing exorbitant prices from the United
States government, as they would have
disposed of their holdings before the leg
islation becomes operative: but it would
impose the increased burden of higher
assessment on the owners of the other
property in that section.
THE hoard of assessors IN making It's
latest triennisl assessment materially in
creased the valuation of real property for
assessment purposeS-ln some instances
from S.. to 81. per foot. and gave the
government interest the benefit OF the
doubt. and feels that Sucit property is
now fully assessed at two-thirds of its
true value as provided by law: but in ar
irving at that result the board has not
felt bound to give much weight to prices
which owners might obtain through par
tsan evidence placed before "A condemna-
ton jury where il is obvious or can be
shown that the prices asked were ar
tiicial and unreasonably high.
Unfair to Whole Community.
1T would be manifestly unfair that a
whole community should be punished fol
| the greed of few. although it is pre-
sumed that most owners will seek the
| very highest price obtainable.
IF ii is not the intent of Congress tC
materially increase the amount of taxes
on real estate and if il is necessary that
| the property shall be assessed at not less
than its actual value the taxable rate
| should then be reduced to l per cent
| which will allow about the same revenue
as is provided at the present time.
The Commissioners. therefore, have the
honor to report adversely upon the bill
| In the form presented, but would sugges,
| that if it's enactment is desired the tax
! able rate should be reduced to I De,
cent"