The Washington times., 1912-02-02
SPEAKERS DEFEND
TRUE VALUE BILL !.
BEFORE COMMITTEE
III. ]. Browne and John H.
Adriaans Offer Argu-
ments.

The fifth hearing on the johnson bill
20 REQUIRE the fling OF true considera
tions in deeds transferring realty in tn
District, was held before the, Hous
District Committee this morning, an
the end is not yet. The hearing will b
resumed next Thursday morning at /
clock.
) The session was devoted to hearin,
arguments In favor of the measure b.
H. ]. Browne, newspaper man, VIII,
started HIS argunent aIweekfago, at III
last hearing. snd by John II. Adriaans
i'he' latter, was still arguing when moo,
sl.rived. and the cammiitee went int,
sxseHtiys ,,ss = I've, session TO consider severa
rAs at the last session. t,ae mornin,
@as consumed in listening to afsument
In favor Of the 9neasure. A number O
zeal estate men, opposed to its passage
.wereapresent but did not participate Ii
The proceedings.
Assessments Assailed.
Assessments were assaiIed by the frs
speaker, Mr.. Browne, who offered tc
take the committee: around the city
hnd point out gross inequalities in the
assessment OF property, alleging tha,
nnimproved property, as a rule Is as.
sessed at far below it's real value; tha,
some large pieces of improved prop.
erty are also assessed too low. and that
The small homes Of the people are over
assessed.
He promised to disclose at the desire
on the committee the names of two
flen who control property upon which
the District is missing 81, 100000 tax
able assessment He argued that II
true considerations were required IN
Ell deeds filed 1t would go far toward
correcting these alleged abuses,
At the next session Mr.. Andiaans will
conclude his argument; and M. I. We'll
ler and others will be heard. Congress-
man johnson declared his willingness TO
give necessary time to hearing all sides
of the question.
X. Mr.. Browne Resumes.
Mr.. Browne resumed his remarks on
the BILL which he commenced at the last
bearing. He cited Chief Justice Mar
thalrs decision on the taxing power of
the state, and other similar decisions.
The key to the argument Of the op-
position, he said, is that the proposed
bill would invade private rights of con-
Hucting business privately. He denied
that the transfer of property is pri-
kate business, and compared the bill to
pther tax measures in force.
y Mr. Browne argued that the COM
that the Government has a right to
share in the increased value. There
fore. the Government has a right to
know all transfer values. He showed
The committee the practice in Germany
of taxing the increment in values of
real estate. -.-...
Certain classes Of acreage property
in the District are assessed at one-third
said. Il can give cases of property held
ut 81 a square foot which are assessed
ht s cents a square foot"
He created a stir by saying that a
I the assessment of property controlled by
two men, whose. names he would dis
close to the committee when it is ready
to investigate.
Record of Values.
Congressman Rothcrmcl asked how
the proposed measure would correct as
Bessments. and was answered by the
statement that the public record of
Values to be established would go far
howard compelling more equitable as
easements. -
= Downtown property, Mr.. Browne
.said, is worth $2,OOO,0O0, and is as
sessed at 100000. He alos asserted that
the company which which operates the prop
Gent. Mr.. Redfield drew out the fact
that II the property were worth only
81 COG, 600. 1t is assessed at much less
than the amount required by Law.
Congressman Oldfeld suggested that q
provision be put in the law To fix u
penalty to require the Assessor to max e
proper assessments.
\ Another building cost $1.aO0,oO0 for
building and ground. but is assessed
bt only 100000" answered Mr.. Browne
to question Of Mr.. Oldfeld.
Query BY Red6eld.
whether he was an owner of real estate
H.. the District, but the latter replied
,that. although he does not own real
estate, he Is q taxpayer, and has oper-
ated in real estate here.
1t Is a national CisGrace how the
Federal Government has been held up
IN the purchase of real estate in the
District, and it is largely because Of the
Lack of statements of true considera-
tions," declared Mr.. Browne
Y He also declared that what is fed to
7the Government clerks in salaries is
pulled ont on the other side in the shape
of overvaluations of real estate
Z Congressman Berger the Socialist
member from Milwaukee. broke in with
the statement that as a general rule
Washington property Is assessed at a
lower figure than that Of other cities.
. In Favor of Bill. >
Z Mr.. Adriaans followed Mr.. Browne in
favor Of the bill.
AS to deeds of trusts, mortgages, court
trustee deeds, and mortgage sale deeds,
Mr.. Adriaans said the bill would not
affect the present practice. He also
showed that in many sales between
private parties, the true considera tions
ARE filed with the deeds.
He read from the court record that
Fulton r. Gordon had filed a deed with
the true consideration given, and re-
marked that yet he was one of the real
estate men who have come to the COM
mittee in opposition to the measure
which would require him to do what he
voluntarily does.
Congressman Rothermel asked wheth-
!er the bill does not interfere with the
right of contracts, which Mr.. Adriaans
denied.
Nineteen StudautS