The Washington times., 1912-11-13
RICHARDS REFUTES
ALLEGED CHARGES
OF DISCRIMINATION
Assessor Defends Property
Taxation as Compiled by
y His Office.

Based on the actual consideration OF
all sales made during the last five
years, high class residential property,
notably that in the vicinity OF the Gif-
ford Pinchot home, Is assessed at 10 per
cent more than It's real worth, while
small residence property. particularly
that In the Bloomingdale section. is as
sessed at per cent less than it's real
worth.
This, is substance. was the statement
made by w. p Richards. assessor of
the District, In an address before the
Columbia Heights Citizens Association
last night.
1t will be recalled that IN the George
report, which charged not only unsys-
tematic but wlllfully discriminatory
real estate assessments. II was con-
tended that the small property owner
was forced to bear the greater share OF
!he burden Of taxation in the District
through overassessment, while the
handsome residences and large build
lnBs were greatly 'undervalued by the
iinchot property as an example, as at
tention was called to II at some length
IN the George report.
First Public Reply.
The address last night was the first
'NpiS thot Niis INCHhIuS mas
made in detail to the charges Of dis
elimination against his office. Taking
up detail by detail the allegations in
the George report. he pointed out how
these conclusions had been reached
through alleged misinformation and
juggling OF figures.
Mr.. Richards presented figures which
refuted practically every charge of dis
examination against his office. His
taik was not only instructive, but high
ly entertaining, and several leading
real estate men who were present at
the meeting. said that they had learn
ed many things that they had never
known about assessments In the Dis
trlct.
Mr.. Richards frankly admitted that
there were many defects in the man
ner of assessment of property in
washington. but asserted that Con-
gress was responsible for these condi-
lions, and that there was no way OF
remedylng them until the lawmakers
saw mt to give his office more men
and sufficient money to carry out their
work. He said that the chief defect
that OF the sudden ftuctuation of prop
erty values in the business section
could be eliminated by annual Instead
OF triennial assessments but with the
present force Of three assessors and
Two assistants this was a matter of
impossibility.
Burden Would Remain.
Regarding the suggestion that all real
estate In the District be assessed at
1.6 per cent on full valuation. Mr.. Rich
ards said that this would not lift the
burden from the shoulders OF the small
property owner, but would actually
force him to shoulder more taxation.
In the business section OF the city,
according to the George report, certain
pieces Of property were greatly under
valued. This conclusion was based on
the terms of leases on the property.
Mr. Richards made out a strong ase
against the George report, and unless
IT can be shown that his figures are
inaccurate. 1t VIII be a difficult mat
certain pieces of property which were
said to be underassessed in the bust
ness part of the city had been sold at
exceptionally high prices, which did not
represent their real value. These sales
Mr. Richards said. were made to parties
who had acquired several parcels OF
real estate In certain section, and,
needing another piece of ground to COM
plete a plot for a building were COM
PEELED to pay big price for 1t. Other
property In the same neighborhood. and
equally as valuable, would not bring
such big price. he asserted.
Herbert J. Browne, the real estate ex-
pert for the George committee, was an
interested listener at the meeting.
Civic Matters Discussed.
The remainder of the evening was
given over chiefly to a discussion OF
civic matters In general by Col Charles
c. Lancaster. Colonel Lancaster spoke
on a scheme to have the festivities in
cldent to the Inauguration extend over a
period Of three days, water rates In
the District. and many other subjects
on which he is an expert.
the committee on Fairgrounds, pre-
sented report recommending that
lights be placed on the Mt. Pleasant
playgrounds so that they could be used
by adults at night. He also recon-
mended the opening of the public
schools Of the District as social recrea-
tion settlements In the evening. The
recommendation was referred to the
committee on schools.
J. Clinton Hiatt introduced a resolu-
ton for the establishment of fire
truck house in the vicinity of Ninth
street and Florida avenue. 1t was re-
ferred to the committee on public safety.
There Is urgent need of an addition
al truck house, equipped with the latest
improved lile-saving apparatus. to he
located In the vicinity of Ninth sire,
and Florida avenue northwest. This To-
cation Is suggested for several rca-
cons, on account of the great number
OF buildings in this section of the oity
which are constantly occupied or fro.
, quented daily by thousands of individ-
uals, such as hospitals. schools. and
public halls.
BE It resolved. that the Columbia
Heights Citizens Association heartily
recommends the establishment II q
truck house with the proper cQu'r.
ment, in the locality mentioned, anG
that a copy OF ;h!s resolution be for,
warded to the District Committee OF
the Senate and the District Committee OF
the House. and to the District Com
missioners"
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