The Washington times., 1909-05-02
Realty Values Have Grown
S21, 900, 900, According
to Assessors.
PROPERTY OWNERS
ENTER PROTESTS
No Appeal Can Be Heard Until
Next Triennis1 Assessment,
Says Richards.

with the rendition Of tax bills for
the fiscal year 1909. owners Of real
estate have suddenly realized that, in
the opinion OF the board OF assistant
assessors their property has largely in
I cressed in value.
As the result of the last triennisl as
EessE1ent several thousand pieces Of
property were lowered IN value, while
/ other properly WAS Increased in some
cases as high as 70 per cent, making a
total Increase of realty values in the
District OF Columbia Of S21-0O0, 600
Many OF the property owners have
protested against the increased assess
rnents, but according TO W. =. Richards,
Assessor OF the District. no appeal can
be had until the next triennial assess
ment in 1911.
Assessors Views.
'-The boslrd Iabored hard to adjust
the inequalities I'm assessments and at
the same time comply with the law re-
quiring a two-thirds value OF all prop
erty IN the District of Columbia said
the Assessor while il is admitted
that many Inequalities still exist, the
board has accomplished much in this
direction in making the last triennial
assessment. and | am strongly Of the
opinion that the board will be able IN
the next two years TO further greatly
reduce this cause of complaint.
For instance the trienniai assess
Dlcul must ne competed pg the niSN
Monday IN January after which the
taxpayer is allowed from this date TO
the first Monday in June IN which TO
appeal. and upon the latter date or as
soon thereafter as practicable, the COM
pleted assessment must be returned 10
the Assessor
Experience has shown that a ma
1orfty OF the appeals are filed during
the last few days OF the appeal period
and the board cannot give them the
consideration to which they are entitled
II has been recommended that the law
be amended, so that while the time al
lowed the board of equalization and
review shall remain as at present, all
appeals must be fled on or before the
hrst Monday in April This would
cause the taxpayer no Inconvenience
and would allow the board about three
months to thoroughly inspect and syS-
fernatically consider all appeals and
where necessary inspect the property.
~ Increased Valuation.
OF the 81. 100000 increase in realty
values, sI4.0oo.0oe was in the city. and
principally in that section bounded by
Tenth and Fifteenth and z and n
streets northwest. The condemnation by
the Federal Government OF the property
south OF Pennsylvania avenue II re
garded as one of the primary reasons
for the Increased valuation Of real es-
tate in that section.
Recent Investigations. according to
Assessor Richards, have shown an In
crease OF value IN SECTIONS WhicH were
raised but little in the last assessment
and to which particular attention vii
De paid in appraising the value Of
property IN 1911.
The Increase Of 100000 in the value
Of property in the county is accredited
70 the establishment of new subdivi-
sions. The total assessed value OF rea
estate in the District Of Columbia is
$50. 70. "a. as compared with &e35. .s24 .S3i
fcr the fiscal year 1908.
IN line with the Increase OF assess
ments. the District officials are putting
forth unusual effort TO collect every
dollar owed the District Government
This is made dOably necessary by the
assertion Of a paragraph in the District
appropriation bill which provides that
tex commissioners estimates shall not
exceed twice the amount or the rev
anues OF the District.
Il is estimated BY Charles g. Rogers
f,silector Of Taxes, that 100000 will bs
collected on account Of personal taxes
for the fiscal year ending June 30 1903
BY system Of accounting adopted
by Auditor Alonzo Tweedale the Dis
trtcts money Is carefully guarded, anC
a statement OF its finances may be OBJ
raine1 at any time. The Collector Of
ness Is required to furnish the Auditor
with a statement Of all moneys received
BIZ him. which is examined and veri
fed. and the amount collected is de
posted in the Treasury and receipt,
furnished by the Treasurer Of the Unit
cd States.