The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-01-29

directed the attention Of President
Taft to what he deemed to be ar
illegal assessorship appointment by
the District Commissioners was
turned up yesterday in the White
House files. 1t bore considerably
more age than Mr.. Bennett as
signed it in the House debate
Thursday over alleged delinquen-
cies of two of the District Com
missioners. Nevertheless, it was
there.
Written ten months ago, at the
time the vacancy in the District
assessors office was filled by E. M.
Talcott, it is understood to contain
merely the suggestion of Represen-
tative Bennett that MIR. Talcott's ap-
pointnent did not bear out the
statute as interpreted by the Com
missioners themselves.
BENNETT AT WHITE HOUSE.
a clipping bearing the news of the ap-
pointment Is said to have accompanied
the letter. Mr.. Bennett. it seems. intent
upon the landing OF James L. Feeney as
member of the District board Of asses
sors. merely took this means Of conveying
his belief to the President that the action
of the Commissioners was unfair and
illegal
The communication was unearthed dur
ing a call Of Mr.. Bennett at the White
House yesterday morning. APPARENTLY
when 1t arrived it had been recognized
only as final mild protest concerning
the New York Congressman's man. and
was laid aside and forgotten. Secretary
Norton did not give out the letter
The statute prescribing the qualifica-
tions Of District assessor" said Repre-
sentative Bennett yesterday afternoon.
goes farther than most people believe
in reference to experience in real estate
affairs. At least understand this much
through conversation ! had wite Com
missioner Rudolph at the time was
pressing Mr. Feeney's nomination. I'M
derstood that a person eligible for an
assessorship should not only be CONVEX
SAINT with real estate values of the Dis
trict. but should have actually engaged
District realty.
Thought Talcott limit.
Mr. Talcott. as understood it. served
fourteen yers as an employee Of the Dis
trict government, spending the last Of
this period in the Engineering Depart
ment. where he dealt mainly with street
extensions. AS far as I could learn. he
had never had any dealings Of his own
in real estate. although he probably was
conversant with transfers and sales in
an abstract way. and acquired some prop
erty for the District. According to Com
missioner RudolphS own Interpretation.
the circumstances. appeared unfavorable
to the selection of Mr. Talcoet. and l
told the President so in a short note
WHICH i sent 10 MIN along WIN d
reference to the appointment
Mir. Bennett said nothing as to the dis
crerancy between the date of the letter
which was found at the White House
and his statement in debate that il was
written but six weeks or two months
ago. Apparently this feature does not
amount to much in his estimator. as it
is often hard for a busy Congressman
to estimate lapse of time in such MAJ
tors.
Commissioners Rudolph and Johnston
called at the White House offices yeSter-
day. They disclosed nothing on their
departure, beyond saying that they had
hopc1 to talk to the President on an
other than the Bennett matter. but were
disappointed by not seeing him.
Attack Stirs business Men.
Criticism of the board of assessors by
ing Of indignation against what many re-
gard as the rank injustice of the whole
affair. Many things are coming to light
in the discussion of the episode. and men
who are well informed on District values
and methods of valuation point to the
work done by the committee of the
Board Of Trade in 1905
John L. Weaver. whose intimate
knowledge of real estate in the District
qualified him to act as chairman of that
went thoroughly over the
ground at that time and was supported
by strong committee of real estate ex-
perts. They dug deepe into the matter
Of equalizing valuation Of real estate in
the District. In their report they rec
that Congress be asked to es-
tablsh a bureau Of values in connection
with the assessors Office.
In this bureau there might be kept a
record of values of property fixed by pri-
vate and auction sales, by condemnation.
damage suits deeds, wills. and the like.
upon which a fair valuation Of property
might be based.
Congress did not see fit to establish
this bureau. but the board Of assessors
tried to put into practice. as well As
Il could, the suggestions of this commit
zee and have since kept records that
have proven helpful in their work. This |
vas one Of many instances that have been |
freely cited by citizens as illustration of
what the taxpayers of the District have !
ried to do unaided to secure an equitable |
valuation.
Demand Held Unreasonable.
Representative Bennet's demand that |
he Commissioners should remove an as !
SCISSOR who had proved unsatisfactory and !
lis severe criticism Of them for not do |
ne so in the case which he cited Is shown |