The Washington times., 1911-01-27
Continued from First Page.)

| the board was caused by the death of E
| G. Davis, Mr.. Feeney again was an ap
plicant. Pressure was brought to bea
on the Commissioners, but the plac,
was given to E. NJ. Talcott, of the En-
| gtneer Department. A few days agt
| when another vacancy was caused by
| the death Of Francis Nye, Mr.. Feeney
| made a third attempt to obtain the ap
pointmert, but failed, the Commission
ers promoting Benjamin F. Adams, As
| sistant Assessor.
No Salary Increase.
Representative Bennet's sensational
charges came during the debate on the
item in the District appropriation bill
which proposed to increase the salaries
of the Commissioners from 5000 to
$1,000. Mr. Foster, of Illinois, reserved
a point of order against the increase,
and, after the Bennett charges had been
aired, the point was upheld by the chair
and the salaries of the Commissioners
remain at the old figure.
The first intimatinn that there was
al ything unusual ahead, came when Mr.,
Bennett, approving the point of order
against the increase, declared he would
have been better pleased IL the salary
issue had been confined only to the two
civilian Commissioners.
Mr.. Bennet's Charge.
Mr.. Bennett continued:
Il will state briefly why. Personally
1 believe that an official put in an OK
ecutive position ought to enforce a
statute whether he believes in 1t or
not. Anyone who has looked into the
question knows there is a division in
the commission, and so far as assess
ment is concerned in this city the two
civilian Commissioners are in favor of
a fn NF
on the property of wealthy people who
come here. while the Engineer Com
missioner is in favor of carrying out
the law and assessing as the law di-
rects."
What is your authority for that
statement asked Representative Burke
OF pennsylvania, who had just deliv-
cred Speech favcring the increases.
Step to the telephone and call up
Commissioner Rudolph or Commissioner
Johnstn, he will tell you that is their
theory" responded Mr.. Bennett.
In that language-that they are in IA
vor OF assessing the wealthy people OF
the District at lower rate?" asked
Mr.. Burke again.
Alleges Disregard of Duty.
Mr.. Bennet replied:
They will say they are in favor of
assessing at a lower rate the wealthy
people who come here to make their
homes here after having made their
money elsewhere. and think that is good
policy. 1t may be good policy, but the
law is not that way. and until the law
is changed so as the Commissioners
nave the right to discriminate they
ought not tc discriminate, and | think
the Engineer Commissioner is absolute
lv correct in his contention with his
colleagues that the law ought to be
enforced on the rich and the poor alike
until Congress in its wisdom and dis
the Commissioners to differentiate be-
tween different classes of people, but so
long as these particular Commissioners
continue that course il seems TO me
Congress ought not to reward them for
an open and fragrant disregard of a duty
by increasing their salaries"
Disobeying Law.
DO l understand you to say that
some of the Commissioners are abso-
utely disobeying a mandate of the law |
IS to the assessment of property" de- |
handed Mr.. Stafford, of Wisconsin.
Yes, through their Board of Assessors |
Ind assistant assessors" was the |
prompt reply of Representative Bennett. |
Representative Bowers asked how IT
vas possible that the Commissioners
lad put into effect any such policy. |
nasmuch as the action Of the assessors |
S supposed to be Independent of the |
Because they appoint assessors with
he same fixed idea and the appoint
nent of an assessor in violation of the
aw was the matter ! called the atten-
ion of the President TO in the letter
which he has referred to the Commits
ioners,' explained the New York
member.
Outlines Alleged Plan.
Mr.. Bennett then outlined the alleged |
discriminatory plan of tax assessments.
which he declared now TO be in use in |
he District. He said:
They have adopted a policy based
lpon this discretion, that the ordinary
,erson's property, the ordinary man,
or Government clerk. is as
essed at 81 per cent of the property's
market value; that If a man who has
made a good deal of money in my city
Il in other cities comes here to this
ity-a most desirable place of residence
s 1t is-and purchases a large tract