Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-18
GOES INTO DETAILS
Inquiry Into District Affairs to
Be Thorough.
TO LAST THROUGH SUMMER
Work Delegated to Part Of House
District Committee.
CHAIRMAN JOHNSON AT HEAD
Real Estate Assessments and Tax
Collection Methods to Receive
Special Attention.

Investigation Of the affairs Of the Dis
trfct OF Columbia and Of tho conduct of
local public service corporations, author
lied by the Oldfield resolution passed by
the House more than q week ago. will
be made by a subcommittee Of the House
District committee, ana not by the full
committee. This decision was reached
when 1t became apparent that 1t would be
extremely difficult to keep a quorum of
the committee in Washington for the re-
mainder OF the summer-and there is no
telling how long the inquiry into the Dis
trict government will continue.
Representative Ben johnson of Ken
tucky, chairman Of tho House District
committee. will be at the head Of the sub
committee which will conduct the inquiry.
Intimately associated with him will be
Representative Henry George jr.. Of New
York. who will pay particular attention
to the Investigation OF the real estate
assessment and tax collection system in
the District The other members OF the
subcommittee have been tentatively Sc
lected, but Chairman Johnson declines to
f1cation of the list by the full committee.
1t goes without saying that Representa-
tive Oldfleld Of Arkansas, author of the
resolution authorizing the committee to
inquire into every branch Of the District
corporations and their relations with the
public, will be one member OF the sub
committee.
Expert Accountant Employed.
Chairman Johnson has also engaged an
expert accountant to assist the commit
tee IN it's labors. The accountant Is
from out Of town and Mr.. johnson de-
clined last night to announce his name.
He will be on the job next week, how
ever. when the inquiry will probably be
formally begun.
The first job the committee will tackle
will be a comparison OF the real estate
assessments IN Washington with the sys-
tenn and rates in other cities. The expert
accountant viii be employed ON this phase
Of the inquiry. In going over the figures
obtained from other cities ana from local
authorities, and In putting the results
In such shape that the subcommittee will
be able to make q careful study to as
certain whether the tax rate In Washing
ton is high or low compared with cities
Of about the same size In different parts
Of the country.
There will be no disposition on the part
Of the subcommittee Of inquiry to ignore
the fact that the immense amount of real
estate held by the federal government in
the District Of Columbia must be taken
into consideration In making q fair COM
parison between the tax rate here and
elsewhere. Indeed. from opinions expressed
by members Of the District committee on
the eve of the investigation, It would ap-
pear that they are approaching their ad-
mittedly difficult job with open minds.
without prejudice or preconceived opinions.
and that their only desire is to become so
familiar with conditions In all branches OF
the local government that they will be
able to make intelligent recommendations
designed to correct any evils that may
be found, and, II everything is ascertained
to be in good shape and not deserving OF
criticism, to report that fact to the House
at the regular session OF Congress, be-
ginning next December.
No Scandal in View.
Chairman Johnson has repeatedly said
that he knows of no scandal in connec-
ton with the District government. but
that In view Of the fact that no search
ing investigation has been made of the
administration Of affairs here in many
years, 1t Is time that Congress. acting
through a committee OF it's own members
should go into every administrative detail
connected with the municipality and famil.
iarize itself with conditions.
After the inquiry into real estate as
sessments and tax collections is out OF
the way the accountant will be put to
work on the books OF the District in an
endeavor to throw some light on Mr..
Johnson's assertion that the District owes
the federal government good deal OF
money as result OF incorrect book
keeping during the last forty years. II
is Mr.. Johnson's impression that interest
payments on District bonds have been
Improperly charged on the books. and
that the federal government in many In
stances has not received due credit for
certain moneys that II has improperly
paid on the half-and-haH basis.
Committee to Proceed Carefully.
The investigation Of local affairs will
not be conducted In haste. and present
indications are that II will continue
throughout the summer. Mr.. George.
| who. as stated. Will direct the tax assess
| ment inquiry. has been working hard
for the past month collecting data on the
subject. He Is understood to have re-
| ceived many communications from citi-
zens OF the District directing his atten-
ton to specific matters in connection with
/ the making of assessments and the col
\ lection OF taxes which they have found
reason to critcise.
The District committee will probably
meet early this week to decide upon q
date for beginning the hearings.