Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-18
Expression of Confidence In District Officials
and Exceptions Taken to Testimony
Before Congressional Committee.
CRITICISM OF THE CHARGES
MADE AGAINST ASSESSORS

Board OF Trade last night aP-
proved a report of its municipal
finance committee and adopted a
resolution condemning the Henry
George, jr., report to the House
on assessments in the District Of
Columbia. In the meeting OF
more than 800 members OF the
board at the New Willard, only
a single voice was raised i'll oppo-
sition. and that only to one phase
of the report.
Nj. !. Weller, who had been 4
witness before the House commit
tee. took exception to the criticism
made OF the testimony given by
himself and others. He demanded,
as matter OF justice to himself
and the other witnesses, that the
report submitted from the munich
pal finance committee be published
and the members of the board
given opportunity to consider it
before vote was taken. But the
board was in no mood for delay,
and demanded an immediate vote.
Ready to Prove His Statements.
Mr.. Weller said emphatically that he
was ready to prove any statement he had
made before the George committee. He
insisted that he did not wish to reflect
upon the integrity Of the three assessors
OF the District. but that it was mani
testify impossible for the three men to
value the thousands Of pieces Of prop
erty in the District without inequalities.
Resolution Adopted.
The report of the municipal finance
committee was framed by William H.
Singleton and presented by him last night.
At the conclusion Of the report he offered
the following resolution. which was
adopted:
First, the Washington Board Of Trade
deprecates the tone of the George report
IN that It states that certain officials have
unduIy favored some and Disseminated
against others, and expresses utmost con-
hdence in these officials and believes I'm
plic.tly In their "Reminiscences and i'm
Partially. Second. a large part OF the
Information taken before the committee
of the House does not warrant the con-
illusions drawn in the report Third, all
economists recognize that absolute equal
ity Of assessment is impossible. Yet as
a general rule, there is no foundation in
the testimony that in the District Of CO.
lumbda realty is unfairly and unJustly as
sessed- Fourth. there is no foundation in
the testimony for the statement that II
realty In the District was assessed at its
true valuation taxes would be ample to
pay all expenses of the District Fifth,
the report and testimony do not furnish
satisfa ctory basis upon which legtsla-
ton or other action may be founded, look
ing to a modification of the method Of
taxation in the District Of Columbia
Later Report Promised.
Mr.. Singleton's report dealt with the
testimony taken before the George COM
mittee. and stated that later report
from the municipal finance committee.
dealing with the method Of assessment Of
taxation in the District and the methods
suggested by Representative George
would be made later to the Board Of
Trade.
The report attacked the testimony OF H.
j. Browne. who was characterized as
Journalist and newspaper correspondent"
not fitted to give expert testimony on
realty conditions in Washington.
The report Of the finance committee
adopted last night opens with a statement
Of the findings of the George committee to-
gether with reference to a report made
20 the Board of Trade January 10, 1912
by the municipal finance committee In
this connection figures taken from the
United States census reports relative to
assessment and taxation in group Of
cities of relatively the same size as Wash
ington. already printed in The Star. are
reproduced. The law under which as
sessments are made in the District is
quoted as follows, and also statement
from the assessors Office showing .he
manner of making assessments:
Section u. That said board of assist
ant assessors shall. from actual view and
from the best sources of information in
its reach. determine the value of each
separate tract or lot of real property in
the District of Columbia in lawful money
and shall separately estimate the value
of all improvements on any tract or lot
and shall note the same In the proper
field book. which shall be carried out as
part of the value of such tract or lot
and shall also return the dimensions OF
each tract or lot, and said assistant as
SCISSORS shall also perform such other
official duties as may be required of them
by the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia
Analysis of Findings.
The committees report proceeds to ana
lyze the findings of the George commit
tee, with numerous references to the
printed report of the hearings. Quotations
are given from remarks By Chairman
George. rejecting upon the alleged dis
position OF assessors to overtax small
property holders while relieving large
owners The report passes on to CONSIDER
the testimony of Herbert j. Browne, the
George committees principal witness
upon whose statements and detailed ia
bbes the congressional committee i'm
plicitly relies. accepting his estimates as
g.