Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-23
Think Plans Harmful.

4u1Ah 1duS
Washington business men are practi-
cally unanimous in the opinion that the
enactment into law of any of the sugges-
tions contained in the report of Represent
ative George with regard to property as
sessments. that would in any way tend to
alter the so-called half-and-half agree
ment, would be exceedingly harmful to
the District.
while there are many minor recon-
mendations in Mr.. Georges report which
l favor, / absolutely disagree with any
which, IL enacted into law, would bring
about any changes in the half-and-half
agreement with regard to taxes" said
Walter A Brown. real estate broker and
director of the Washington Board Of
Trade.
Il believe the so-called half-and-half
principle to be a good one. and fear that
If 1t ever was altered the result would be
harmful to the District. l believe our
present system of taxation is as good as
can possibly be had under the circum-
stances. II Congress should ever begin
to alter the system it might be that with
In a few years the entire amount Of taxa
ton would fall on the District When
once a precedent was set it would be an
easy matter for the Districts share to be
gradually increased Until the entire load
was shifted to it's shoulders.
Work Not Related.
Il agree with Mr.. George that excise
matters should be divorced from the as
sessor's office. Property assessments and
excise matters are in no way related, and
should be handled by separate Offices. The
Board Of Trade has recommended this
change and so have other organizations
in the city. 1 also believe that II the
triennial rule with regard to assessments
was repealed and the assessments made
once every year 1t would be advantageous
in many cases. Ii the present board
found it impossible to make a complete
assessm. mt of all District property every
year tie membership of the board s.ouid
be increased Sufficiently to enable this to
be done.
That Mr.. Georges recommendation
with regard to the recital OF the true
consideration in all real estate trans
fers would greatly aid in making ac-
curate assessments is the view held
by Henry Hurt a broker.
IF the assessors knew the true con-
sideration in all property sales. 1T
would be an easy matter for them to
arrive at a fair assessment in all
cases." said Mr.. Hurt.
Guess Work Necessary.
Under the present arrangement it
is practically impossible for the assess
ors to decide upon assessments unless
they resort to considera BILE guesswork
They have nothing on which to work
that is in any way accurate. True con-
sideration in all transfers would do
away with this inaccurate method and
would place assessments on SOUND
footing. Instead Of harming real es-
tate values it would benefit them In
most cases.
Il also believe that if all leases we're
recorded. as Mr.. George suggests, they
would aid in making assessments. The
largely on it's earning capacity. The
knowledge of the annual rental of prop
erty therefore would greatly aid the as
sessors.'
That Mr.. George Went wide of the
mark in charging the District assessors
of having Disseminated in favor of the
owners of fine residences. big business
properties and gilt edge suburban
property is the opinion OF Charles E.
Howe treasurer and assistant secretary
Of the American Security and Trust
Company.
Il believe that the assessment OF prop
erty in the District is fair in most cases.
and that there has been no wholesale
discrimination on the part OF the asses
sors in favor of any ore class" said
Mr.. Howe.
Assessed Values Fair.
In connection with applications for
loans with which 1 have dealt I have
found that In practically every case the
assessed value of the property has been
fair. OF course, slight errors are bound
to be made in such work, but they are
few and far between.
"Our present system Is much better.
believe, than that suggested by Mr..
George In the same way l believe that
the assessors figures are more accurate
than those contained in the representa-
tiye's report. We have, 1 believe, as
good a system of assessment as can he
had under the peculiar circumstances
which exist in the District. Any rad
ical changes would be more harmful
than beneficial, in my opinion.
Assessors Charges.
Asserting that In the recent investiga-
ton of local assessment and taxation
methods they were not given an oppor-
tunity to cross-examine witnesses and
bring out many important facts favor
able to their side of the case, members
of the District assessors office today let
il be known that, in their opinion, care
was taken in the investigation to allow
only the introduction Of testimony
favorable to the single tax theory.
The inquiry is stamped by local off1cials
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