Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-15
LAW AN ''0UTRAGE'
Tax Expert SO Views District
Assessment Statute.
FORCE HELD TOO SMALL
Sixteen to Twenty Men Should
Take Place of Three"
FAv0Rs TRUE CONSIDERATION
Lawson Purdy Advocates Some
Sweeping Changes Before
House Subcommittee.
FORCE HELD TOO SMALL
FAvoRs TRUE CONSIDERATION

Terming the present District law "an
outrage" where it contemplated getting
satisfactory work from three assistant
assessors who also have to act as excise
men. sit with board of personal tax ap-
peals. and act as part of an equalization
board, Lawson .Purdy, president of the
Greater New York commission of assess
ment and taxes. appeared before the
Henry George subcommittee of the House
of Representatives.
Mr.. Purdy was introduced to the SUBJ
committee and to Chairman Johnson of
the House committee as one of the fore
most authorities on taxation subjects in
America. In his testimony. which occu-
pied several hours, he advocated a
sweeping change in the District tax Of
flee. including the creation of a board of
sixteen or twenty assessors for real es-
tate exclusively.
He also argued in favor of the true
consideration bill, which is on the cal
endar of the House and which will be
brought up for a vote at an early Dis
trict day"
Richards Favors Changes.
William P. Richards, assessor of the
District Of Columbia, was present at the
hearing, and said to q Star reporter. after
it had closed, that he is in entire favor
of the changes advocated by Mr.. Purdy,
especially the increase in the assessing
force. Mr.. Purdy's arguments all were
predicated on the assumption that an an
nual assessment. in place of q triennial
one, would be of inestimable benefit to
the District. In asking questions of Mr..
Purdy, Representative George left out en-
tirely all reference to elimination of taxes
on improvements.
In reply to a question as to the worth
of annual assessments. Mr.. Purdy said:
Il would have an assessment every
month. if practicable: but as that is
not practicable, 1 would have one every
year, for the reason that the burden of
taxation should be spread equally.
There are changes in real estate value
! in every town, sometimes very rapid
ones. There are increases in some sec
tions and decreases in others. The
longer the interval between the assess
ments the greater the discrimination
in favor Of properties which are in
creasing in value and against properties
which are decreasing"
Should Handle Districts.
Under further questioning lie said:
Assessors should work at the job of
assessing all the time and should be in
touch with their districts. Their duties
should be confined exclusively to real es-
tate. They should, il practicable. remain
in the same district, in order to gain a
growing and intimate knowledge with
the people who do the buying, selling and
renting"
I'm this District Of Columbia" said Mr..
George there are three assistant as
v~r~, .<r1
to view each property. Do you think
three men are enough and should they
proceed over the territory together?
Three men, replied the expert, would
find it imp possible to make an annual
assessment"
Assessor Richards explained the various
duties Of the board Of real estate as
sistant assessors. saying they devoted
some Of their time to excise work, per-
sonal tax appeal work and board OF
equalization work. and that there are
14O 600 parcels of real estate and be-
tween 5000 and 10,000 houses to be
viewed.
IF three men perform this duty said
Mr.. Purdy, "they are doing far more than
is possible to accomplish with satisfaction
to themselves
"Or to the public?" suggested Mr..
George.
Il am not informed as to the opinion of
the public in this city," answered Mr.
Purdy with a smile.
Advocates 16 to 90 Men.
Il think this city should have from
sixteen to twenty assessors" he continu-
ed. "It is an outrage to expect men to
perform serious and important real estate
work and at the same time to have their
minds diverted with the details OF the
police work in excise matters and with
A. a. daysf
think the man who makes the original
assessment ought to sit on a board of
review.
He explained his method of reaching
his conclusion as to the increased num-
Der of assessors by showing that his ex-
should handle an average Of about 5000
parcels a year. Twenty assessors in the
District would mean an average, there
FORE of about 1000 parcels apiece.
Mr. George turned his inquiries in the
direction of the methods of assessment
at two-thirds of the actual value. and
the witness replied that 1T is better, in
his opinion, to have assessments made at
full value. He said, also, that at full
value property owners are quicker to see
increases in their assessments.
True Value Measure.
On the subject Of the true considera-
ton of real estate Mr.. George asked:
I'm the District of Columbia we find
difficulty in arriving at the true value
and therefore there has been introduced
a bill to compel the recording of the
actual consideration in real estate deals
The Commissioners and the assessor are
in favor of this bill. What would you
say about itr'
s.It is of the utmost Importance" was
the reply. Il can see no objections to
having the true consideration a matter
of public record. In my experience the
greatest objections come from men who
want to sell land for more than ii Is
worth to ignorant people who do not
know what 1t Is worth
OLYMPIC FINALLY GETS AWAY.
Many of the Crew Who Struck Re-
l.. Nl>:.. n..&:A.