The Washington herald., 1909-04-28

Taxation and assessment evoked a pro-
longed and spirited discussion at the
meeting OF the Washington Board OF
Trade at the New Willard last night. The
meeting was in the red parlor, and about
80 members were present 10 listen to the
forensics delivered upon the tax system
Of the District Of Columbia
The report was submitted by John I.
Weaver. chairman Of the committee on
taxation and assessment The report
spoke specially upon the equalization Of
the tax burden and securing such changes
in legislation relative 10 realty titles as
would insure more prompt and safe trans
fer
Makes -Four recommendation.
To secure these objects. the report rec
commended four separate propositions.
The first was the enactment OF a law
providing for the compulsory insertion OF
the purchase price in the deed OF convey
ance.
The second provided for a committee OF
three. appointed by the president. 10 urge
upon Congress and the District Commits
sioners the enactment Of a law establish
ing a bureau Of valuation under the su-
pervision of the assessors Office
The third was the appointment OF a
committee Of three 20 gather data upon
the workings Of the TOrrens system Of
transfer in some Of the States. and espe-
cialIy IN Australia. and 10 frame report
10 the Board
The fourth related 10 the system Of tax
appeals providing for separate body OF
review 10 pass upon disputed assessments.
The hrst Of these propositions was re-
committed and the other three adopted
The report as amended was also adopted
Long Discussion Ensues.
In the discussion a good deal Of interest
was manifested. Alexander McKenze.
member Of the board Of assessors. read
an extended statement. in which he criti-
cised the report, finding almost nothing in
It to commend, except the proposition
relating to the investigation into the
TOrrens transfer system. Mr.. Mckenzie
especially assailed that part Of the report
dealing with the proposed bureau Of val
uauon, which should be charged with
gathering data regarding values OF real
estate and keeping them on file IN the
assessors Office
Nj Mckenzie entered into a long de-
fensa Of the board OF assessors and the
methods of equalization and review. and
declared that the provisions Of the report
would not be Of the slightest service in
relieving the situation.
The report was further discussed .by II.
H DaneIlle, former assessor Of the Dis
uict; Louis Willige. Thomas ". Smith.
Allen Albert, P y Harper, F. L. Sid
ions, William H Saunders, A. Leftwich I
Sinclair. and T. ". Noyes.
Oppose Publishing Price.
The chief objection 10 the report cen
tered in The recommendation for the com
pulsory insertion Of the purchase price
Of the property in the deed Of convey /
ance- At one time the entire report /
stood IN danger OF being recOmmitted 4
because Of this recommendation. II was
on motion Of T ". Noyes 10 divide the /
report into its four fundamental propo- I
sitiOns that saved il that fate
Opposition 10 the publication Of the
price Of property was made by most OF 4
the real estate agents present. by Sev-
er2l merchants and one banker. II was 4
defended BY several speakers. among /
them two real estate agents All in all. I
II evoked hot discussion. which al times
came near 10 personalities.
The assertion by one speaker that the /
report should not fail because Il was the
one report OF the year. with ginger. in 4
It. that promised something like q work
Of progress had some effect upon rs
fate. In the end agreement was reache,V
and tSe action OF the board was fairly
unanimous on its disposition Of the mat
ter
Discuss Parks and Reservations.
The report Oh parks and reservations
also called out some discussion. II was
presented by Judge Charles s. Bundy, /
and coupled with il was a resolution rec
ommending that the Commissioners be
given authority to purchase ground for
the extension OF parks and reservations
to an amount not exceeding S.O0Oo0. The
resolution grew out OF a letter advocat-
ing that course written by Commissioner
Macfarland to Judge Bundy
Much objection obtained with reference
70 the adoption Of the resolution. esDe-
cially 10 that part OF It empowering the
Commissioners 10 buy land for the exten-
sion Of parks, specifying a given amount.
After some discussion a substitute reso-
luton was passed, placing the Board Of
Trade on record as advocating the ex-
tension Of parks and reservations and
recommending the creation Of parking
commission TO pass upon the sites to be
purchased and the negotiating Of the pur-
chase
Tie report of the committee on rail-
roads was adopted, and those on com
merce and manufactures and nunicipaI
art received and ordered printed
On motion OF Isaac Cans the Board Of
Trade voted that a message OF greeting
and congratUlation be sent TO the au-
thOrities Of Alexandra now celebrating its
Homecoming week
The amendment 10 the constitution prO-
viding for stated meetings Of the board
Of directors was adopted.
AT the close OF the meeting President
Small called upon William Y Cox. chair
man Of the committee in charge Of the
Shepherd Memorial ceremonies, TO make
a statement regarding that event. Mr..
Cox said he had been authorized bv his
committee 10 invite the members Of the
Board Of Trade 70 be present al the IN
yelling ceremonies, which VIII take pIace
in front Of the Municipal Building on the
afternoon Of May 3
after the meeting buffet luncheon was
served