The Washington times., 1912-08-23
RICHARDS GETTING
Up FULLER ANSWER
TO LAX|TY CHARGES
Assessor to File Series of
Reports In Refu-
tation.

Following his first general denial,
Assessor w! p. Richards is preparing
a series of reports to be submitted to
the Commissioners in refutation of
the statement of the subcommittee OF
the House District Committee that
real estate in the District is assessed
1rregularly, unscientifcally and
without system and with gross dis
elimination" .. ."a
From records of sales and other
data in his office, the assessor will
show, 1t was said today, that the board
of assessors has performed it's duty
In accordance with the law, and with
cut fear or favor.
One statement to which emphatic de-
NAL Is made that large suburban
areas are assessed at 20 per cent of
the true value. In support of this,
attention was directed by the COM
mittee to the assessment OF $500 an
acre on Friendship, the property of John
r. Mclean, in Wisconsin avenue. The
assertion was made by Herbert j.
Browne, the realty expert employed
to aid In the Investigation, that $20. 900
an acre would not buy II.
The Assessor will produce figures 10
show property in the immediate neigh
borhood and considered equally as valu-
able can be purchased at a figure no
greater than the valuation upon which
the assessment of the Mclean property
is based.
Agree on Many Things.
Many Of the changes in the laws re.
lating to the assessment and taxation
of real estate recommended by the COM
mittee have long been urged bv the
-, H.
following:
Annual instead of triennial assess
ments.
The recording of true consideration In
all real estate transfers.
Increase In the personnel of the AS
The creation of a board of appeals
from which the field assessors shall
be excluded.
The divorcing of excise matters from
the Assessors office. @.
Concerning the last recommendation,
both the Commissioners and the Board
of Assessors are in hearty accord.
1t is their opinion that the time OF
the Assessor, should be devoted exclu.
slvely to real estate matters, and that
the duties of the Excise Board should
be placed on other shoulders.
Considered Before.
The proposition that an excise board
"
the Police Court and the Juvenile Court
was under consideration last winter,
but, after careful consideration. the
Commissioners decided it to be imprac-
ticable-
The appointment of an excise COM
missioner, leaving the administration
of the excise laws entirely in the hands
OF one nan also was suggested. The
problem Is still under COnside ra tiOn h,
the commissioners.
The question will be taken up again
in the fall, and 1t is probable, that 4
report containing recommendations fol-
the transfer of the duties of the ex-
else board from the board OF assistan,
assessors will be forwarded to Congress
at the beginning of the next session.
Denied Fair Deal.
The statement is made by members
of the Board of Assessors that in the
hearing before the subcommittee they
were not allowed full opportunity tc
cross-examine witness for the purpose
of bringing out evidence favorable tc
their side of the case.
In his statements to the Commission.
ers Assessor Richards will take up the
report Of the committee item by item
and will cover In detail the variou:
points of evidence presented.
1t Is asserted also that the investiga
tion was conducted almost wholly by
Congressman Henry George, jr., of New
York, assisted by Herbert J. Browne
who was employed as realty expert
At no time, II Is stated, was there NOR,
than one member in addition to Mr
George In attendance at the hearings.
The committee consists of Congress
Henry George, ir.. William c. Redfield
G; Q. Lobeck, Cyrus Sulloway, Leonida!
q. Dyer, and Victor l.. Berger.