Evening star., 1909-04-28
DISCUSS TAX PROBLEM
Board of Trade Members Hold
Spirited Meeting.
REPORTS ARE AMENDED
Proposition Made to Establish Bu-
reau Of Valuation.
MANY MATTERS ACTED UPON
Commerce, Railroads, Parks and
Reservations, With Other Re-
ports, Considered.
MANY MATTERS ACTED UPON


of the Washington Board Of Trade at
it's meeting in the red parlor of the New
Willard last night. some of them with
scars in the shape Of amendments and
some unscathed, passed the gantlet OF the
board.
The reports were those of the commit
tees on commerce and manufactures.
railroad. parks and reservations. tax
alton and assessment and municipal art,
respectively.
BY far the greatest amount of atten-
tion and discussion was given the report
on taxation and assessment. submitted by
Chairman John L. Weaver, and at one
time it appeared that the report was
likely to be referred back to the COM
the discussion in opposition to every fea-
ture of the report, except that Whlcn
recommended the investigation of the
Torrens system. in operation In some OF
the states. and especially In Australia,
whereby, it was stated. the government
virtually insured the title of real estate.
Mr. Mckenzie felt that the report was
''gratuitous injustice to the board or as
SCISSORS of the District government, and
that it was made without inquiry of in
vestigation as to the methods employed
| by them in reaching the valuation OF
| property, and that 1t was generally mis-
| leading.
| He declared that the difficulties in ap-
praising the value of real estate arose
from the fact that there is no standard
OF value for that class of property. and
\ he criticised every suggestion contained
( in the report for ascertainfng such value.
He admitted there are inequalities in as
| sessment, but said they had always ex-
isted and he explained the process of
equalization.
1.-THE present assessment" he said, lis
an approximation of the values general
ly." He closed by asking that the re-
port be sent back to the committee for
further consideration.
Committee Not Unanimous.
Hope H. Darneille said the committee
was not unanimous upon the report. but
as 1t was q report of last years COM
mittee they felt they had no right to
change It. He was willing it should be
recommitted.
Opposition more or less vigorous either
to the whole or to portions OF the re-
Thomas w. Smith. r. N. Harper and
| William III. Saunders, while Chairman
Weaver, F. L. Siddons, A. Leftwich st.
Clair and Allen D. Albert rallied to its
defense. Mr.. Albert stated it was the
one report OF the year with ginger in
it." and he urged careful consideration
of it's provisions before action was taken
| which might be construed as a reflection
upon the committee.
Things looked rather blue for the report
| when Thomas C. Noyes called attention
| to the fact that it contained some provi-
| sions which were regarded with favor.
and suggested a separate vote upon each
OF the four main propositions which 1t
| contained, namely the paragraph requir-
| ing the true consideration to be stated In
deeds Of conveyance; the appointment OF
| a committee of three to urge legislation
| looking to the establishment of bureau
Of valuation, under the board of as
| SCISSORS: the appointment Of a committee
| to make inquiry into the Torrens system.
and the proposition for the establishment
OF a separate and Independent board OF
appeals. The first proposition for the In
sertion Of the true consideration in deeds
| was recommitted by vote of "A to 36,
after some sharp discussion, in which
Messrs. Harper, Smith. Curriden. Weller.
Huyck. Horn and Moves participated.
| The remaining propositions and after
| ward the whole report as amended were
then adopted. almost without opposition.
Judge Charles H. Bundy presented the
report OF the committee on parks and
reservations. and. upon motion, secured
its acceptance and adoption. He followed
this up. however, with reading letter
| from Commissioner Macfarland, suggest
| ing that the purchase of land and the
extension Of the park system be left to
| statistics and statements furnished him
by w. T. Richards, former surveyor and
at present assessor of the District.
City-Planning Resolution.
In view Of which. he submitted reso-
luton recommending that the District
Commissioners be given authority to buy
park lands for future use costing not to
exceed 5000 600 in all, to enable them to
establish and maintain in Greater
| Washington the ratio fixed by the city
| founders CT park space to city area.
Mr.. Siddons supported the resolution
in a speech in which he called attention
to the necessity in this country of "city
| planning"
Mr.. Albert questioned the wisdom of
the resolution, feeling that 1t would not
be effective because contrary to congress
sional methods that have obtained in the
District for hundred years. He offered
the following resolution. which was ul-
timately adopted Resolved. That the
Washington Board of Trade hereby de-
| clares that in its judgment the system
OF reservations and parks now fulfilled in
the plan Of the old city be extended to
those sections of the District of Colum-
bia beyond the boundary and the Eastern
| branch, and that a special parking COM
mission should be created by the Congress
to give consideration to this and kindred
matters and to draft a detailed plan for
the purpose herein set FORTH
The opposition to Judge Bundy's reso-
luton was presented by s. w. Curriden
M. /. Weller and John III. Magruder. Mr..
Weaver said he favored the object. but
opposed the method of accomplishing 1t.
Adds B. Browne advocated a bill pro-
viding for a parking commission con-
| sisting Of three heads OF the executive
departments. the District Commissioners
and five or ten citizens and he wanted 1t
left to Congress to formulate the plan of
procedure. Mr.. Browns suggestion was
| supported by Thomas W. Smith. The
adoption of the Albert resolution fol-
lowed.
| With the exception of some criticism of
the report of the committee on commerce
and manufactures. which 1t was declared
| seemed to reflect upon the Board of Trade,
that report and the reports Of the COM
mittees on railroads and on municipal art
were ordered to be received and printed.
Greeting to Alexandria.
| Despite the deep interest In the sew
eral discussions that occupied the atten-
tion of the board at its long meeting last
night. and the fact that tempting
luncheon was awaiting the members at
the conclusion Of their labors, Alexandria
and her Homecoming was not forgotten
On motion Of Mr.. Cans a resolution was
unanimously adopted conveying the greet
| ings Of the board to 'its neighboring city,
Alexandria, Va. now celebrating it's
Homecoming week, with best wishes for
its success"
The board also adopted the proposed
amendment to article II of its bylaws,
making more definite provision for meet
| ings Of the board. as well as provision
| for the meetings of the board of directors
the first Monday Of every month"; except.
IN Tppo Iv1Iv AyrO INST