Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-21
FOR DISTRICT.
Suggestions in Annual Report
of Commissioners.
SOME CHANGE IN METHODS
Annual Instead of Triennial As.
sessments of Real Estate.
JUDS0N'S FINANCIAL SYSTEM
Systems Proposed Which. It Is Con-
tended, Will Greatly Benefit
the Taxpayers.
JUDS0N'S FINANCIAL SYSTEM

OF the JudSOn plan of financing the Dis
tricts extraordinary improvements and
for the adoption of the new system of
estimating and appropriating for the needs
of the District will be contained. 1t is ex-
pected. In the annual report of the Dis
trict Commissioners, to be submitted to
Congress the first day of the next session.
The annual report is now in the course
OF preparation each Commissioner franz
ing that section dealing with the several
departments of which he has charge
There will be many other suggestions to
the legislators on Capitol Hill, but these
Will receive special emphasis.
new assessment plan for the District
mas been under consideration by the Dis
tr1ct officials for some time, and the sys-
tenn to be recommended in the annual re-
port is the result of many conferences
and much investigation.
Defects in Present System.
Under the present system OF triennial
appraisements of real estate, it is pointed
out, the present force of assessors is too
small to allow them to give an exhaustive
study of the real estate values and their
fluctuations The time 1t takes for the
board of real estate appraisers to view
every piece of real estate In the District,
1T is also urged. is SO great that fire.
quently the value of the lots and build
lngs reviewed changes after Its value has
been set by the assessors. but before the
new assessment goes into effect.
The plan contemplates the division Of
the District into three or more sections
and the appointment of two assistant as
SCISSORS for each section. who would make
both real estate and personal assessments.
There will also be board Of review,
composed of the assessor. deputy
SCISSOR in charge of real estate appraise-
mentS and deputy assessor in charge Of
personal appraisements. The board of re-
view will have no part in the initial as
SeSSment. except as to giving. the assist
regarding values and as TO having general
supervision of the work. Assessments
are to be made once year by the assist
tant assessors. thus enabling the authorf-
ties to adjust the assessments to the an
nual fluctuations in price.
Reasons for the Change.
The new system is urged on the ground
that the taxpayer will feel that he Is
being more fairly dealt with in having a
board Of review that has no part in the
original assessments and on the further
ground that it will add to the revenues
Of the District by adding the natural ad-
vances in values TO each years assess
mentS instead of at the end Of three
year period. While the new system
means higher taxes in some cases, 1t Is
believed that it will prove fairer than the
present triennial assessment plan.
The new financial scheme for the Dis
trict. recommended by Engineer Com
missioner Judson. will be urged as
practical means Of providing both for
the current needs Of the municipality, but
also allowing the expenditure Of S2OOOo,-
of improvement without increasing the
Districts debt. Under the old financial
plan the Commissioners worked for the
immediate completion of extraordinary
improvements, to be paid Tor In the 1u-
t,lre by small payments extending over
period Of years; under the new plan the
extraordinary projects will be completed
gradually, certain part OF the available
revenues being devoted to their compile
ton each year.
Closely allied with the new financial
plan is the new scheme recommended by
Auditor Alonzo Tweedale and approved
by the Commissioners 1t contempiates
the classification Of the estimates In ac-
cordance with the functions of the gov
eminent. the making of the appropria-
tons and the accounting for expenditures
on the same basis. 1t will be urged be-
fore Congress on the ground that 1t will
mean economy In every branch of the
public service and insure the expenditure
Of every dollar of District revenue where
it will bring the largest and best return
Rock Creek Park Development.
The development Of Rock Creek Park
as a popular playground for the masses
of washington will also receive consid-
Grafton in the annual report. The Com
missioners will urge that the park be
made more accessible by the extension
of street car lines and the construction
of roads and paths from the end Of car
lines.
Prompt provision for the improvement
of the Rock Creek valley below the Con-
necticute avenue bridge to the mouth
of the stream will also be urged. The
Commissioners have committed them
selves to the open treatment of the val
ley so that Potomac Park and Rock
Creek Park will be connected by a pub
lie reservation. This is regarded as
extraordinary improvement. but the Com
missioners will recommend some provision
in the appropriation which will insure the
prompt beginning of the work.
The extension of the park system, so
as to provide breathing spaces in the
newer sections of the city, such as have
been provided in the old city as laid out
by LEnfant, will also be recommended.
The rapid increase in values In the near
future will be urged as a sufficient rea-
son for immediate action along this line
Branch Public Libraries.
There will also be in the annual report
of the Commissioners to Congress a rec
ommendation that authority be given by
the legislative bodies for the acceptance
of the offer of Andrew Carnegie for the
esta blishment of branch public libraries
in the District.
The extension of the civil service to
District employees, the extension of the
playground system and the enlargement
of the bathing beach, the passage of
law providing for a better milk supply
for the National Capital, an increase
in the number Of medical inspectors In
the public schools and the appointment
of school nurses, an increase in the po-
lice force. the licensing of capital guides.
the licensing of architects and builders,
the extension of the operation of the
smoke law to railroad locomotives to in
sure a smokeless terminal. the establish
ment of a clearing house of distress and
the establishment of public baths will
also be urged.
Following the suggestions of the board
expected to express their approval of a
bill for the pensoning of veteran public
school teachers. The Commissioners will
ask that they shall be clothed with the
powers of a public service corporation,
with power to issue regulations affecting
the operations of the street railways
the gas. electric and power companies
and telephone company.
The change of inauguration day from
March 4 to the last Thursday in April
will also be recommended.
Changes in Liquor Law.
Further limitation Of the liquor traffic
in the District is also advocated by the