Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-19
OPPOSITION OF DEALERS
George Y. Worthington Argues
Against the Enactment.
DEFENDS LOCAL BUSINESS MEN
Declares Brokers Are Entirely Hon
est as a Glass and District
Assessors Competent.

know the considerations winch obtained
in ten-year-old transfers: II they must
know the prices received for properties
which were transferred at forced sales; If
they wish to take cognizance of inflated
prices in sales which have been secured
because of the necessities of purchasers
all as basis for making assessments for
taxes upon the real value Of real estate
then they would confess themselves as
mental Incompetence
This emphatic declaration was made
today by George Y. Worthington, q local
real estate operator. at the opening of
the hearing before the House District
committee on the bill which has as its
object the stating Of the true considera-
ton in deeds. mortgages and deeds Of
trust in transactions in real property in
the District Of Columbia.
The hearing was scheduled to begin
shortly after 10 o'clock this morning,
but it's opening was much delayed be-
cause of the unexpectedly protracted
hearing which it was necessary for the
committee to give to the representa-
tives of the local street railway COM
panies on the bill which proposes the
compulsory fixing of half fare rates
for school children on the trolley cars.
Authorized to Represent Brokers.
Mr.. Worthington stated that he was
the first Of three speakers who had been
authorized to present to the committee
the views of the real estate brokers and
owners of Washington, the substance Of
the addresses of protest against the en-
actment of the proposed legislation hav-
ing been approved at a meeting last
mt
speakers. he said. would be William H.
Saunders and Randall Hagner.
Mr.. Worthington began the presentation
of his part of the protest at 11:3O o'clock,
reading from prepared notes, but at II 80
o'clock 1t was necessary for the commit
tee to adjourn because the District APP
preparation bill was to be up for consid-
GRAFTON at the opening of the House ses-
sion at noon. At that time Mr.. Worthing-
ton was in the midst of his remarks and
by agreement of the committee Chair
man Johnson ordered that the hearing
should be continued at 10 o'clock tomor-
row morning, and the entire two hours
until noon should be allowed the protes-
tantS to state their case.
After stating that his understanding OF
the purposes of the true consideration bill
District an actual basis for making the
assessments for real estate taxes; and,
second to protect the public from being
defrauded, Mr.. Worthington declared that
ton upon the Capital city.
First it would appear that our asses
sors are incapable" he said, and sec
ond it would seem that our real estate
| brokers are so dishonest that the public
| always is in danger when it comes to
| invest it's money in Washington realty.
AS matter of fact, it has been pub
| lished abroad that the real estate bro
| kers of the National Capital are SO dis
honest that Congress has found 1t neces-
Sary to propose this legislation.
Chairman Johnson's Disclaimer.
| Chairman Johnson interrupted the
| speaker to inquire who had published any
| such statement, and he declared that no
| such statement ever had emanated from
the House District committee or from any
| of its members. 1t was requested that
the reporters present at the hearing
| should note this fact.
| Mr.. Worthington replied in effect that
the newspapers apparently had drawn
| their own conclusions from the text of
| the bill. And he made the fiat assertion
| that any investigation would show that
| the real estate men as class are as
| honest as Is any other class of business
| men, either In this city or any other city.
He also said the assessors of the Dis
| trict, in his opinion, were fully as COM
petent as the assessors in any other city.
| and that, like the assessors in other cit
\ les, tney were IulIy dDle 10 TedCn d lair
approximation of the values of any prop
| erty when, in the performance of their
| duties, they were engaged in fixing the
aSsessable valuations.
"As a matter of fact I believe the gov
eminent is under great obligations to the
real estate men," Mr.. Worthington de-
clared, because 1t is their enterprise and
| their willing use of capital which has re-
suited in the upbuilding of great stretches
of waste land in the National Capital and
thereby increasing the valuations upon
which TIE revenue from taxation has seen
| it's greatest increases"
Fund From Fees.
Mr.. Worthington also said the fees paid
| by the realty men for the recording OF
property sold or mortgaged produced
more than enough revenue to pay all ex-
! penses of the Office of the recorder of
| deeds. He was in the act of reading an
| extract from. newspaper published in
| Baltimore in the year 1892. showing that
| the government itself sold lots at auction
| for the purpose of raising money to pay
for the erection of public buildings. when
| the time available to the committee ex-
pired and adjournment was taken until
| tomorrow.