Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-20
errors IN TAKING
Much District Property, But
Poorly Assessed.
RICHARDS DISCLOSES FACT
Lack Of Adequate Force Blamed for
Situation.
APPEARS BEFORE PROBERS
Appeals Alone Will Bring About
Adjustment, Assessor Tells
Representatives.

Continuing the investigation into the
Districts methods Of taxation and as
sessment. the subcommittee Of the House
District committee. headed by Repre-
sentative George Of New York, had AS
SCISSOR Richards on the stand again to-
day. The most significant feature
brought out was that, owing to an in
sufficient force of assessors, there is q
broad area Of property in Washington
carrying an erroneous assessment and
which will continue to carry 1t until a
property owners appeal forces attention
to that particular parcel or block
Herbert j. Browne, the committees in
vestigator. who has been examining the
Districts tax records, was present at the
hearing again today. but took no part in
the testimony. Late yesterday afternoon
he presented an exhaustive treatise on
the subject Of the assessment Of 1902 and
brought cut his conclusion that the gov
eminent had paid nearly eight times the
amount Of the assessed valuation for the
1,650 acres Of Rock Creek Park.
Great Increase Shown.
The feature OF the business section
assessments" said Mr.. Richards. is that
they rose from twenty millions in 1902 to
forty-three millions in 1912. These nearly
doubled in ten years. That Is greater
rise than in the previous half century
It indicates there was something radi-
cally wrong in the assessments Of 1902
that they were far too low. The business
sections have had continuous increment
and are likely to increase.
Even making allowances for the low
assessment OF 1902 the increased valua-
tons have more than paid for the taxes
in the last ten years. For instance. the
average tag for the last ten years is
in the ten years. Allowing for the in
crease of from $4,000. 600 to $43, OOO, 600,
an increase of 81. 100000 (and this was
too great: with proper valuation in 1902
$4,000, 900. you have still an increment
which is double the assessment for those
years"
Questioned by George.
Then you conclude" said Representa-
tive George, that the business section is
tax free; that the land values have in
creased so much in ten years that even
deducting the taxes the owners have a
large increment.
While other portions Of the city have
borne a tax Of 1 per cent on the full
valuation. this portion Of the District has
increased in value SO rapidly that after
paying the taxes there is still an incre-
ment?"
THAT Is my opinion" said Mr.. Rich
ards. who then was asked about the re-
lation OF improvements to land values in
the business section. His figures were
SAC. 200, 600 for land and 81. 1000 600 for i'm
provements and he explained that the
ratio applied only to business property Of
the higher class. He was asked about
the wide areas of land along Connecticut
avenue extended, and said it had in
creased 400 per cent in ten years, and
that the increase had not actually &C.
CURED, but that the 1902 assessment was
too low.
Years ago." he explained, ''the assess
ments in the county did not receive
proper consideration, as indicated in the
condemnation of Rock Creek Park, 10Th
street, ETC., and i believe that. in 1902
there was a greater discrepancy in the
county than there was in the city. The
suburban land was thus favored. This
accounts for the greater increase of land
values out in the northwest section than
in the business section"
Many Appeals Made.
Further on Mr.. Richards said that the
last assessment brought forth 100 ap-
peals, mostly from small owners, but that
several large owners kicked most might
lily.
Then he went on to say that the board
Of assessors is too small to cover the field
properly and made very frank state
ment that there Is now on the books
plenty Of property assessed too high
iustment; he also said he knew Of in
stances where, for lack Of time. an as
sessment has been left where 1t was
previously. and that an appeal on one
vntn pf ~ f1nd cnH al ,,rA