Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-08
TAX IDEAS OPPOSED
Third of George Report Rec
concentrations Criticised.
CITIZENS Federation ACTS
Indorses Suggestions Of Its Commit
tee, With Two Exceptions.

District subcommittee, of which Henry
George, jr, is chairman. for improvement
of assessment and taxation methods IN
the District of Columbia, were disapprov-
ed by the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations at largely attended meeting OF
that body held last night in the Chamber
of Commerce.
Delegates to the federation. represent
ing many citizens associations, recorded
their views on the separate recommended
tons contained I'm the report remaining
in session until nearly midnight before
they had completed the work. COM
mittee of the federation. appointed sew
eral weeks ago to consider the conclu-
sions reached by the House investigators,
submitted a report, the suggestions made,
with but two exceptions, being indorsed.
Delegates for Record of Leases.
One of the exceptions was with respect
to the George committee recommends
ton that a record of all important
leases be kept by the assessor to aid in
determining property values. The COM
mittee Of the federation reported against
this plan, but the plan received the IN
dorsement of the delegates.
The other instance in which the recon-
was rejected was the federations APP
proval Of the George committee plan for
the recording OF the true consideration in
all real estate transfers. \ lively debate
ensued over this proposal.
The committee of the federated body
reported against full value assess
ments and the publication of land
value maps and assessment sheets.
which are two Of the administrative
recommendations Of the House commit
tee, and was sustained.
Opposed to Fixed Tax Rate.
1t also succeeded in having the fed
Grafton go on record as opposed to the
fixed tax rate Of IL per cent. leaving
the rate to be fixed annually. by the
requirements OF the budget. restora-
ton to the Commissioners of the power
to remove the assessor or any OF his
assistants from office for cause. and es-
adjustment Of an assessment roll and
transfer Of the duty Of making bills
from the assessors office to the office
of the collector. these proposals being
among the Legislative recommendations
of the George investigating body.
In all, the committee succeeded in hav-
ing the federation disapprove Of two Of
the eight administrative recommendations
and three of the nine legislative recon-
mendations made as a result OF the House
investigation. 1t failed. however. to OBJ
a
ministrative and one of the legislative
recommendations made by the George
committee the instances being those
above referred to.
Exercise Of Assessors Powers.
The five changes of an administrative
character recommended by the House in
vestigators and approved by both the
committee Of the federation and the dele
gates to that body are those favoring
exercise by the assessor of his full
powers for adducing of testimony rela-
tive to real estate values under oath:
establishment of a systematic system OF
equalizing land values; establishment of
tables of building factors and deterioration
for determining the value of improve
mentS; energetic prosecution of legal re-
quirements of reforming the lot numbers
of squares and consolidation of lots that
are portions of single buildings.
Minor amendments were adopted in the
case Of one or two Of the recommends
tions.
The committee announced that it was
divided on the plan for annual instead of
triennial assessments. The federation
adopted this recommendation Of the
George report with the proviso that. III
the event a tax is to be increased, notice
shall be given to the property owner
affected
The other four legislative recommended
tons Of the George committee to which
the committee of the federation offered
no objection and which were adopted by
the delegates provide for the substitution
of twelve field assessors for the three as
siStant assessors now on Held work apo-
lition of the requirement for the assess
ors in the field personally and Jointly to
view each piece Of property: creation of
board of appeal, from which the field
assessors shall be excluded and divorcing
Of excise matters from the assessors
office.