Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-25
KILLED BY H0ST|LES WOULD RAISE RATES
Ensign Haer Belt Meets Higher Tax on Public Service
Death in the Philippines. Corporations Urged.
NATIVE OF DALLAS, TEX. DISTRICT ASSESSORS PLAN
of the Navy Three Glasses Concerns Would
Wounded One Seriously Feel Increase
IN RATTLE WITH THE YACANS OTHERS ARE RELIEVED
p..n r,n1orns Attacked
by Tribe Assessments Advocated
Higher Tax on Public Service
Corporations Urged.
DISTRICT ASSESSORS PLAN
Three Glasses of Concerns Would
Feel Increase.
OTHERS ARE RELIEVED
Proposed to Lessen Rate on Banks
and Trust Companies-Yearl
Assessments Advocated.

Three big classes of public service cor
porations doing business in the District
street railway, electric light and tele-
phone-will be required to pay an addi-
tional tax rate of l per cent year on
their gross earnings, If a recommends
ton made today by District Assessor W.
p. Richards meets with the approval of
the Commissioners and Congress.
In addition. yearly, instead of trien-
nia1 assessments of real estate in the
District will be the custom hereafter, if
suggestion of Mr.. Richards. which is
fully exploited in his annual report to
the Commissioners. is favorably acted
upon.
That the proposed tax increase in the
case of the franchise corporations was
made part of the report at the insti-
CATION of the Commissioners. who al
ready have given the subject study, is
an interesting feature of the situation
that came to light today. There is be-
iieved TO be every probabilit that the
Commissioners will act on the recon-
mendation during the coming session OF
Congress.
Proposed Decrease in Rate.
If street railway, electric light and
telephone companies are required to pay
higher tax rate, in accordance with
the assessors plan. banks and trust
companies. in all probability, will not
be compelled to pay as much as at
present. According to Mr.. Richards.
street railway companies. which use
the public highways, and therefore re-
ceive the greatest benefits from pub
lie franchise, pay the least percentage
on their gross earnings. The amount
they pay is per cent.
Banks and trust companies on the
other hand, which receive no public
benefits such as accrue to q street rail-
way company, are required to pay
tax rate of per cent per annum. 1t
Is pointed out.
The best way to equalize matters, AS
SCISSOR Richards declares, is to make
a fiat rate of 5 per cent for all. Gas
light companies would be the only
corporations not to be affected by the
carrying out Of the suggestion, as they al
ready are required to pay at the rate
Of per cent.
The Inequalities" in the situation are
said to have been given considerable
thought by the Commissioners, and 1t
is believed that a decision to attempt
to adjust them has been determined
upon. /:
Increase of 3O,OOO, 900.
The triennial assessment of 1912-1914,
which was returned January l, 1911.
shows an increase of $30.00O.0OO over
the assessment of 1909-1911. according
to the report of Mr.. Richards. Not
withstanding the fact that there were
1,700 appeals, which is double the num-
ber of previous years, they amount to
but little more than / per cent of the
real estate assessed, and this. in the
opinion of the assessor, Will lead to
numerous protests when the tax bills
are given out next May.
'.It seems certain" declares Mr.. Rich
ards, that many persons did not under
stand the Importance of the appeal
notices nor the fact that after the
time of appeal no changes could be
made for three years.
THE result will be that when the first
tax bills Of the new trienntal assessment
are given out next May many persons
will feel. for the first time, the necessity
for making an appeal. which will then
be too late for action.
This is condition that will always
apply to any assessment made at the end
of series Of years. and the real remedy
can be found in a yearly assessment"
In urging yearly instead of a tri-
ennial assessment Mr.. Richards points
out that the latter method works very
well in counties or states where assess
ment values change but little from year
to year, but in large cities it has been
found better to have yearly assessments.
and this seems to be the general prac-
tice. If property is assessed each year
the period of appeal will then become
we'll known, and in case of any unequal
assessments the remedy can be applied
the following year instead of waiting
three years, as is now the case.
Method of Change Suggested.
So convinced is Mr. Richards that the
yearly assessment plan is seriously need
ed in Washington that his report contains
a suggestion as to how the desired ar
rangement can best be effected. The
easiest method. he says. would be to
August IA, 1884,
This act provides for an assessment
each year to cover new buildings. addi-
tons, subdivisions and omitted property"
states the assessor. 1.-THE amount of year
ly assessment is about eight million dol
lars. which is nearly the same as the
yearly Increase In land values. This
yearly assessment can therefore be en-
larged in its functions SO as to take in
any property where values have under
gone a change within year.
The idea would be to amend section
six of the above named act SO that there
should be no requirement as to assessment
from actual view, ana amend section
eleven as to provide that any squares
or portions of squares, where so desig-
mated by the Commissioners, should be
assessed in any year in the same manner
as now provided for the assessment Of
new structures and additions"
Whether the Commissioners have under
consideration the yearly assessment plan
Is not known, but the suggestion is made
one of the principal features Of the as
SCISSORS report.
Assessor Richards recommends that
the time allowed for considering appeals
be extended and that an additional rec
ord clark be provided to assist in maxi
ing valuations, Should a change in the
law be made, which would give more
time for the consideration of appeals,
he asserts, ii would greatly aid IN a
more equitable adjustment of the tax
levies.
Although an additional record clerk was
provided by the last appropriation bill.
still another clerk is needed. 1t is de-
clared. to gather up important data In
regard to sales and transfers of property,
thus giving the assessors ready guide
for help in their valuations.
Estimated Revenue, $7, ,36O,o5O.
During the fiscal year ended June 30
1911. the report states 1887 tax certif-
Gates were issued. as against 9.169 in 1910
\ fee of 80 cents was collected for each
certificate, amounting in the aggregate to