Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-03
TAXES ON THE BANKS
AND GAS LIGHT COMPANY
Mr.. Richards Gives Rule Followed
in Making Assessments.
KEANE'S ALLEGED INFLUENCE
Records of His Efforts to Obtain
Licenses-He Denies Improper
Attempts on Behalf
of Clients.

In answer to Representative Bennets
attack upon the local board of assistant
assessors. the excise board and upon sam
uel T. Ealbfus. member of both boards
every one concerned in those two bodies
made the plain statement today that Rep
resentative Bennett is mistaken and that
his information is colored. incorrect and
misleading.
William P. Richards, assessor. prepared
two statements for the public today, one
covering the charges of Representative
Bennett which reflect on the integrity OF
the excise board. and the other making
a general answer to the claim that the
assessments in the District are not hon
est.
Samuel T. Kalbfus, who is accused by
Representative Bennett as having busi-
ness relations with Michael ]. keane,
who represents the Abner-Drury Brew
cry Company, will not make statement
for publication, but is silently delvins
into the records.
The records for two years show that
Mr.. Keane appeared seven times before
the excise board, was successful once
in getting a license, and five OF his ap-
plications were thrown out Immediately,
the sixth being allowed to linger for six
months before it was finally rejected.
Members of the board intimate that they
consider this sufficient answer to the
charge that Mr. Keane is able to get
favors from the board.
In handing out his statement covering
the assessment charges, Mr.. Richards
smiled and said:
.Remember that these fellows have
been digging away sided at this thing
for long time-fOur months, perhaps.
cannot make detailed reply to every
assessment charge in four minutes, put
think this is a pretty good answer
Tax Imposed on Banks.
The statement is as follows:
In his remarks made upon the floor Of
the House yesterday Mr. Bennett OF New
York submitted some figures relative to
the assessments of banking institutions
and Of the Washington Gas Light Com
pany. In submitting the figures of the
Washington Loan and Trust Company ne
failed to state that the Naiuauon OF the
property included tangible personal prop
erty and that besides paying its real
its gross earnings in place OF any per-
sonal tax. and at higher rate than
is usually required from banking lnstitu-
tons.
This tax last year was nearly $4,000.
In the same way the American Security
and Trust Company pays a tax OF S.'6WO.
the Riggs Bank about same amount ana
the Union Trust Company about slooVV
During the past year the banks nave
complained of the burden of taxation and
have taken issue with the board
After hearing counsel for the banks.
who urged before the board tnat IL hau
no right to tax gross receipts from all
sources. the board decided that such gross
receipts should be taxed The banks
then instituted q test case In the courts,
which resulted in judicial decision up
ho.dins the finding of the board. II cam
not be shown by this instance that the
board is inclined to be unduly Influenced
by these institutions
Tax on Gas Company.
again Mr.. Bennett submits figures in
regard TO the Washington Gas Light
Company that arc misleading because
they do not state all the facts of TIE case.
Last year the company paid over $4,000
tax on its real estate. and in addition to
this a tax on it's gross earnings of nearly
Sl110Op or total OF nearly s1.',G,o. Lit
isation is still going on In court against
the gas light company for an additional
tax which the board Of assessors claim is
due the District.
This office had in its possession let
ter addressed to Mr.. Bennett. in which II
was claimed that certain handsome
dwelling in the northwest was assessed
too low because ii was reported that the
house dad cost a million and a half dol
lars. An investigation of the records OF
this Office shows that there is paper on
file giving the cost Of the property by the
architect OF the house. and that the new
assessment of the property is actually
above the cost submitted by the architect
Rule Adopted by Assessors.
"On January ] there was completed
for the investigation of the public q
new triennial assessment, and objec-
lions and appeals are now being heard
and will continue to be heard until
the first Monday in June of this year
The board has endeavored, within its
power. to carry out the requirements OF
law, namely, to assess property at not
less than thirds OF its true value
1t has accepted as its rule for true
value one that has guided recent con-
demnation proceedings, namely. tina,
property is worth what person will
give in the open market when that per-
son desires and is not forced to buy
from a person who desires and is not
forced to sell. II there are inequalities
appeal or otherwise, aid in equalizing
the values. The board has endeavored
however, to arrive at these values with
out prejudice or favor toward any one
Denial by Excise Board.
The Implication that the influence o
Michael ]. Keane has been exerted IL
some way over the excise board. and tha
Mr.. Keane has paid for it by smoothing
out certain financial deals of Mr.. Kalbfu
10 resented by the members Of the excis
board, and specifically denied in a state
ment prepared and signed by every mem
Der OF that body today. The statement is
BY data submitted by Mr.. Bennett yes
terday, on the floor of the House OF Rep
resentauves. II was made to appear tina
a certain attorney for a brewery, throug
friendship of q member of the excis
board was favored by the board in tn
granting of liquor licenses. Although thi
attorney had been connected with tn