The Washington times., 1912-07-17
CLIFFORD P|NCHOT
ADMITS HE SHOULD
Be ASSESSED MORE
Surprises House Committee
by Voluntarily Asking
H., Proper Valuation.

you are entitled to all the honor and
the unique distinction of being the first
wealthy man in Washington to come
forward and volunteer the information
that his own property is grossly under
assessed" wrote Congressman Henry
George, jr., to clifford Pinchot, former
chief forester. ardent Roosevelt sup
porter, and millionaire.
Mr.. Pinchot has acknowledged In a
letter to Mr. George. the head Of
House subcommittee now investigating
the taxation system of the District, that
the Pinchot mansion has been under
assessed about $4,000.
I'm other words" says Mr.. Pinchot,
"at the current rate Of taxation the
Assessor has not assessed against me
about 5000 of yearly taxes that l ought
to have paid, and has assessed that
amount on others less able to pay 1t.
This is unjust. therefore, put the facts
in your hands for such use as you may
see fit to make Of them"
Experts Are Engaged.
Mr.. Pinchot. who is now at a summer
home, Grey Towers. Milford. Pike
county, Pa, in admitting that he has
unwittingly been a tax dodger, says that
he engaged experts to value his Wash
ington holdings, with the result above
noted. Writing to the George subcom-
mittee. which is soon to make a report
on the inequalities Of taxation in the
District. Mr. Pinchot said:
s'Your committee, I learn, has devel-
oped that many small owners of prop
erty in the District are taxed on an
assessed valuation far greater than
two-thirds of the real value-as provided
by law-while many of the larger own
ers Of property are taxed on very much
less than the two-thirds provided by
law. In this way the poorer men are
taxed most heavily, and those who are
richest pay least in proportion. 1 am
told this is generally true in the Dis
trlct."
Mr., Pinchot then explains that he
asked experts to put a value on his
Rhode Island avenue home. ad found
that he had been escaping taxation to
the amount of 5000 annually.
Wage Earners Suffer.
In reply, Congressman George saws
that the under-assessment on the Pin
chot home is practically offset by the
over-assessment on the home of wage
earners in squares 7S5. s44. s46. $40. s74,
9A. and 992 in the District
I'm behalf Of the special committee or
the District of Columbia Committee of
the House. inquiring into the assessment
and taxation Of real estate in the Dis
,trict, I present the warmest sentiments
of appreciation Of your voluntary letter
of Information as an act of high pub
lie service" wrote Mr.. George.
AS forecast in The Times yesterday.
the forthcoming report of the George
i."ncommittee is expected to point out
numerous instances Of Inequitable as
Eessment in the District Mr.. George
Hakes no secret of the fact that the
blouse Investigators have discovered
that much high-class property so call
ed, has been esca ping its proportionate
share of taxation while the small homes
have been bearing more than their bur
den. Summed up. the George report is
expected to assert:
That in numerous instances business
property and the homes Of the wealthy
are grossly under-assessed, while on
the other hand suburban property and
the homes Of the wage Garner are pay
ing taxes on an assessment which is
excessive.
Waiting for Others.
The Pinchot letter probably will he
used as an object lesson by Mr.. George.
and the House investigators are waiting
with some curiosity the effect of it's
publication. Mr. George is in receptive
mood. and If others who have been the
voluntary or involuntary beneficiaries
Of under-assessment will come forward
and confess. Mr.. Georges report will
be all the more Illuminating.
The Pinchot-George correspondence
shows that the Pinchot residence and
grounds was valued by Mr.. Pinchot' 8
experts at $24S,0 of which the legal
ig
The property has been paying taxes
upon an assessment Of only 1921, ,369,
making a difference of approximately
$4,000