The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-10-21
OUR BANK ACCOUNTS AND
THE TAX ASSESSORS.

THE TAX ASSESSORS.
A column of figures takes on interest
when you find its your own bank ac-
count. The annual report of the Dis
trict assessor-already mentioned in
these columns-will prove mighty in
terestin' readin' when property owners
discover that if it isn't exactly a
statement of their bank account it
ought to be bound in the same book.
Says Mr. Richards:
The trienniaI assessment OF 1909
and 1911 has been in force for one
year, and at the present time con
siderable progress has been made to
ward the new trienntal assessment
FOR the years 1912-1914i the time OF
hearing of appeals for the next tII-
ennisl will be during the spring OF
1911.
In other words, actual changes in
property value between October 10,
1909, and July l, 1915, stand a mighty
slim chance of being reflected IN the as
sessments according to which the
owners are to pay taxes. No wonder
the assessor seeks some reader method!
Beyond that he urges-that with the
force now allowed 1T is impossible to
cover the ground" according to this
three year arrangement; that the as
sessments fixed for the first year Of
any period of years are apt to become
stale or unequal by the time that the
total assessment Is finished" that "the
time of hearings on the triennial assess
ments is a difficult thing for the pub
lie to keep track of"
Now it may be that these objections
to the present method are not sufficient
to warrant a change. The assessor
thinks they are and we must all attach
the highest Importance 10 his opinion
in such a matter. But in any event it
is important for Us to find out; in any
event it is a matter of pocketbOok
interest to US.
Again, are there not other changes to
make? Should the assessments be
made against the property or against
the man the assessor has reason to be
lieve is the owner? Baltimore does
not occupy its officials in trying to
locate the responsibility for paying
taxes. 1t stops with saying how much
shall be paid for the property; and
it leaves the obligation on the owner
to watch that property and pay the
tax. Chicago has had a system of
permitting any citizen to require a re-
view OF any neighbours assessment; it
worked wonders in requiring substan-
tiaI honesty in declarations as to
realty and personal property alike. And
there is always the question Of naming
the true valuation in the deed. On
this point the Surveyor says:
The idea has been often submitted
that law be enacted requiring the
deed 70 carry the exact amount Of
consideration for the purchase Of any
particular piece OF property. 1 think
such a requirement would meet with
a great deal OF opposition, and so far
as this office Is concerned accurate
results could be obtained by employ
ing two parties who are COnversant
with real estate conditions Ia the Dis
FTfcf of CO4umD lds ana whose QQlE
would be TO obtain In confidential
manner prices of sales Of realty and
who would keep strictly up to date a
card index, showing such prices, ana
containing the numbers Of the square,
lot. and house.
The natural question will be: Why
stop with a halfway measure when the
law can we'll enough require the true
,,o 1,,sr ;-,, IN no cot fOrfh7 Put II NAV
be that the step proposed by Mr..
Richards is all that can be attained
at this time. IF that shall prove to be
the case the second step viii be de
layed only long enough for the people
to understand how nearly related are
full information as basis for tax
assessments and a statement IN the in
denture of the price actually paid