The Washington times., 1912-04-18
SAYS DISTRICT LOSES
BY LIST HERE ON
ASSESSMENT RATES
Commissioner Rudolph De-
clares SO, 900, Is Pass
ed Up BY Present Plan.

When a subcommittee of the House
District Committee began it's inquiry to-
day into the assessment and taxation
system Of the District, it heard Com
missioner Rudolph express the opinion
that the District is losing the assess
ment on $S,OOO,OO0 worth of real estate
year.
II do npt regard the triennial assess
ment as good thing at ALL" said
Commissioner Rudolph. 1T should be
annual. We will add 5000, 900 year
on the assessed valuation under an an
nual assessment; for the annual inn
provements to real estate make the
property worth just 50 much more"
Assessor Richards, who testified be-
fore the subcommittee today, agreed
with Commissioner Rudolph.
The sS,0O0CO0 referred to bv the
Commissioner" he said, represents
really $l2,009,0Oo. for we figure on two
thirds basis. We have lost $4,000 in
taxes in two years under the present
scheme"
The investigation today was conduc-
ted by a subcommittee comprising Con-
gressmen Johnson. George, Berger,
uldficld. Redfeld, and OShaunnessy
of the District Committee. Congress-
man George acted as interrc gator and
went at length into the technical de-
tSils of the assessment system of the
District, which he subcommittee will
thoroughly probe.
Commissioner Rudolph favored the
system under which the Assessor and
his board have a life tenure of office
THE plan," he said. removed them
Fl ON anv attempted outside influences.
1T has been said,' he explained
that previous to this life tenure of Of
flee, toward the end of the four-year
term. the assessments were made so as
to curry favor with real estate owners -
And did this favor affect the large
or small taXpayers?" asked Mr.. George
THE large taxpayers, I am told"
There was this outside influence
then, in the popular mind?"
Yes" replied the Commissioner, but
no such influence operates today"
Congressman George turned the In
quiry toward the subject of triennial as
sessments. and Commissioner Rudolph
said:
II do not regard the triennial assess.
ment as a good thing al all. 1t should
be annual We will add $S,OOO.OOO a year
on the assessed valuation of land under
a triennial assessment, for the annua
improvements to property make the rea
estate worth just so much more
This would appear to affect the peo-
pie who own big properties in the cen.
ter of the city" said Mr. George. ant
Commissioner Rudolph acquiesced
And you would favor change tc
annual assessment as one Of the need.
ed things in the District of Columbia
government?
Yes" said the Commissioner. Tn,
| three Commissioners are unit in this
and the conclusion has not been ar
rived at hastily. 1t would get more
taxes and would do away with many
inequalities"
Commissioner Rudolph said he wal
willing to assume the risk of any in
subordination that might arise as &
| result Of the life tenure of assessors
and he upheld throughout the exist
| ing system.
Congressman George indicated in &
series of questions that assessmen
ought to be one the 100 per cent in
stead of three-fourth basis and Con
gressman Berger indicated that he Il
| heartily in favor of the True consid
| Grafton" real estate bill