The Washington herald., 1912-05-01
GEORGE ELHTED
1T ADMISSIONS
District Tax PrOber Says
that Legislation Will
Follow.
LAND VALUES ARE GIVEN

I'VE have gotten enough expert infor-
nation so far to make one thing certain,
that the move to bring about annual tax
assessments in the District will be
pushed to the utmost" said Represent
ative Henry George, jr., who is conduct
ing an inquiry into assessment and tax
alton in the District for the House Com
mittee, at the conclusion OF the hearing
yesterday.
II do not care to say at this time what
further legislation now seems probable
as a result Of the inquiry.
I'VE have learned from expert real
estate appraisers that in the Northeast,
Southeast and Southwest Sections of the
city assessments on old improvements
which are depreciating in value steadily,
have been Increased approximately one
third in the last three years. At the
same time the assessments on land have
Increased much more slowly than actual
enhanced value justify"
At the conclusion of yesterdays ses-
sion Mr.. George was elated over conces-
sions from prominent real estate oper-
ators whom he had questioned.
Il asked Mr.. C. c. Glover IL visitors
had ever remarked to him on the shah
by condition of Pennsylvania Avenue be-
tween the Capitol and Fifteenth Street.
He replied that he had heard such re-
marks.
Il asked him what, Il his opinion.
would be the best way to bring about
the much needed improvement along the
Avenue. He replied that the south side
ultimately would be taken over by the
government and the present buildings
swept away. -...
Would Encourage Building.
II asked him what would be the result
II taxation should be taken away from
improvements. He replied that It would
stimulate building.
"'wouId not building all over the
city be encouraged So? 1 asked him.
g Yes he replied
Mr.. George was assisted yesterday
afternoon by H. ]. Browne in interro-
eating witnesses.
H. z. Doyle, sales manager for
Thomas ]. FiSher & Co., was on the
stand practically all afternoon. Mr..
Doyle qualified as an expert on real es-
state values in the District, though he
was unwilling to give testimony in
that capacity concerning certain busi-
ness sections of the city. Mr.. George
questioned Mr.. Doyle principally about
land values in Massachusetts, Avenue
Heights, near Dupont Circle, and in re-
gard to several large apartment houses,
hotels and business buildings.
Property Values Given.
Mr.. Doyle gave the following values
per square foot for these properties.
without improvements:
". ]. Boardman, residence, $3.50;
Herbert wadsworth. residence, SIS;
Lars Anderson. residence, s6; Mrs. Rob-
ert W. Patterson, residence, S12; Perry
Belmont, residence, IS; Edison Bradley,
residence, $15; Mrs. Richard Townsend,
residence. IS; Thomas Nelson Page, res
idence, $3.50; Senator Du Pont, resi-
dence, IS; Clifford Pinchot, residence.
IS: Cairo apartment hotel, S2.25; Stone
leigh Court, apartments, S12; Rocham-
beau, apartments, SO; Portland. apart
ment hotel, $40 Cincluding improve
ments); Shoreham, hotel, $50 to SS5;
Corcoran Building, ofices, $40 to s45.
Mr.. Doyle, who was assisted by
Charles A. Jones, advertising manager
for the Fisher company, gave figures
for a number of street corners be-
tween Fifteenth and Ninth streets, fig
uTes ranging between $50 and S75.
The hearing will be resumed Thurs
day, when additional F street figures
will be sought.