Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-19
HALT TAX PROGRAM
Commissioners Will Await Re-
ceipt of George Bill.
PROVIDES FOR SINGLE TAX
Annual Real Estate Assessment
Feature of Measure.
EXCISE PROBLEM UNSOLVED
No Decision Reached as to Where
Authority Should Be Lodged.
Judges Plan Dropped.
PROVIDES FOR SINGLE TAX
EXCISE PROBLEM UNs0LvED

The Commissioners plan to have in
troduced in Congress a bill providing
Tor annual instead Of triennial assess
ments OF real estate in the District has
been abandoned, temporarily, at least,
as q result Of the introduction yes
terday OF the bill of Representative
Henry George, jr., of New York, pro-
vfding this departure, with a number
OF others designed to bring about rad
lcal changes In assessment and taxa
tlon methods in the District.
The District heads will send q report
TO the House District committee on the
George bill. and 1t is believed to be prac-
tically certain that they will refuse
wholly to indorse the measure, which is
In line with the single tax ideas of the
New York member, providing for a grad
uated increase in the yearly assessments
on unimproved property and corre-
spending reduction in assessments on i'm
proved property until the latter assess
ments shall be eventually done away
with.
Abandoned Their Bill.
Several weeks ago the Commissioners
announced that they were having pre-
pared bill which would provide for an
nual instead of triennial assessments.
When the measure had been nearly COM
pleted q rough draft of it was shown to
Mr.. George. who is chairman of the
subcommittee on taxation Of the House
District committee. Mr.. George is under
stood to have told the Commissioners
that he would not introduce the bill as
their measure unless 1T contained the
single tax provision he desired should be
Incorporated in it.
This resulted in a considerable delay,
during which the District heads consid-
cred the matter and. 1t is said, decided not
to adopt the George amendments. They
made no further efforts to have a bill of
their own introduced. Finally, Mr.
George prepared the bill. which was in
troduced yesterday and includes all the
provisions he is in favor of, including
this feature he and the Commissioners
are said to be In entire accord.
Await George Bill.
Whether the Commissioners will send
to Congress an adverse report on the
George bill. as whole, or only with
respect to those provisions with which
they do not agree. remains to be seen.
1t Is said that the District heads, rather
than attempt to secure legisia ion in ac-
coro with their IDEAS through a channel
otner than the House District subcom-
mittee on taxation, have decided to wait
for the George bill ana in their report
thereon Indicate to Congress what re-
forms they believe to be necessary in the
DISTRICTS system of assessment and taxa
tion.
The George bill, which is intended as
codthcation Of the Districts laws in
regard to assessment and taxation pro-
vides Tor the repeal of all existing laws
dealing with this subject. No intima-
ton has been given by the Commits
Sioners whether this provision will meet
with their approval.
1t was stated today that a conference
OF the Commissioners will be held in
the immediate future, with q view to
determining whether bill shall be pre-
pared for introduction in Congress cali
ing for the separation of excise matters
from the duties of the members of the
board of assistant assessors of the
District.
No Decision Reached.
Although this question has been under
consideration since the close of the
Kalbfus-excise board inquiry, the Com
missioners have not been able to deter
mine upon an authority in which to
lodge Jurisdiction of excise matters in
the event OF the proposed separation.
The suggestion that the authority be
exercised by a board consisting of two
judges Of the Police Court and the
Judge of the Juvenile Court, which has
been given consideration by the Dis
trict heads, practically has been aban-
doned, Ii is stated.
Commissioner Rudolph this morning
said that he believed solution of the
problem will be reached shortly, and
4 baf will ho forwarded Con-