The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

The Commissioners declare the real es-
tate Of the District should not be as
sessed at its full value. o. that. if it is
the taxable rate should be 1 per cent
The purpose Of legislation 10 that effect
/ is 20 promote condemnation proceedings
south Of the Avenue. in extension Of the
BuTnham plan Of civic Identification. The
Commissioners say It would punish the
entire community for the sins OF the few
the property owners who are placing an
exorbitant figure on real estate within the
condemnation zone
DO Not Need Increase.
The revenues Of the District do not re-
quire the increase apparently contem-
plated in the legislation, and the burden
would not fall upon those owners whose
property the government is seeking. as
they would have disposed OF their hold
ings before the legislation becomes opera
tive
Commissioner Macfariand's letter to
Senator Gallinger. chairman OF the Sen
ate District Committee, follows:
Isuusry % 800.
Hon. J. r. Galliuger. Chairman Of Committee OF
Distu1 Of Columbia.
Dear SiT: The Commissioners II the District a
Columbia have the honor 70 make Tire following re-
spOnss 10 y0T References TO then for thsir views q
senate Sis
a hH taxing real estate IN TIE District Of Co
iumhia az the true vzlue thereof"
This Tgopossd legislation is APPARENTLY intended to
increase the reTrEues q the District of Columbia
from TAXATION q private property therein. and E0id
II 4 sacuiG become lax. add 20 thsse reVeEres more
than SoOooo Annually afteT the next tricnnial a.
sessment g mzde.
Tie District rv7szues a-e ample 70 meet al is
needs. ard there Is no occasion fa< an increase q
tsxati0n II Is u-ohsbie hoEeEer that the principal
obiect Of fhiS ban Is 10 provide s0s tasis 70 guide
the Judgment q iies OF cummissioas in ooude-uns-
to1 proceedings that the ass-ssed valuation sss
Be- reasonable criterion as 70 the real Taige o.
such properties 10 enable such tribunals 20 Judge
whether tho Claims Cor property 50 taken arc e1-
/ orbitant.
Results In Excess
Juriss and commissions Of condemnation are rre-
cluded ndcr direction Of the courts q the District
from Considering the zssessed ra1ation q rrrps-1J
as an eFidence o. rs RAJ rslue fo- Condemnation
plrposss and this restriction o. thcT Judgment has
in some Instances resllted IL the award b. s1ch
jzries q greater prices than those fo- which tie
lsnd was offered % the District ard IN soue cases
far IN eIcsSs Of what the OErCTs cz1ecred 70 r.
/ Il the passage q this BAL Should result n 4
higher tsx % the property souIn q PeEnsylFania
avenue. between the Capitol and the Treasury Build
ing the increase would not affect those cEusTs e
property heated IN that section who are now ask
ing exorbtant prices ron the United STATES s5r-
ernmsnt a. they world have disposed q their hold
ms before the legislation becomes operative. but
I Il would impose The increased bu1dea q higher
ASSESSMENT the owners Of the other property IL
/ that section
The board - assessors Il making IT'S lxtsst tn
enuisI ASSESSMENT materially increased the Ealuafol
cf real property fox assessuent purposes-ia some
instances from S to SIS ger fcot-and gave the
governments interest the benefit q the doubt. and
feels that such property Is n0W fuly asseSSed AZ
tWO-thirds q It's the value. provided by iaE:
felt bouDd 70 rrc much weight 70 prices which
owners might obtain through partisan evidence
PLACED befD7e condemnation JUET where f S OBJ
Nous CT car be shown that the prices asked wers
artificial ard unnecessarily high
ARnifestIy Unfair.
Il voHld be nsuifesly unfair that 3 whole con-
nunity shouid be punished for the good q S few.
although Il : presumed that most oWnsrs WI sex
the Tcry highest prioe oAtsiaabie.
r IL i not the intsut Of Congress - materially
increase the amount Of tzxcs On raj estate and Z
]. IS Necessary that the property shall b. assessed
At Tot less than It's actual value TIE taxable rzte
should then be reduced o. ! per ceut Which VII
allow about the revenue IS provided az TIE
present tine. The Commissioner, therefore. Lave
form presented. hut would sEEEss- hat If rs IA
sctmeuf Is desired the taxable rae should b 70
duced % ] PER cent Yer respectfully.
H r. ?. MCFARLAND
! President Of the Beard q Commissioners q the
DistriCs q Columbia