Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-18
EXTRA TAX BARRED
Pinch0t's Offer of Additional
$500 Excluded by Law.
APPRAISAL Is DEFENDED
Assessor Richards Denies Under
valuation Of Residence.
CLAIMS PUBLICITY INJUSTICE
Declares Figures for Property in
Vicinity Bear Out Assessment.
Cites Fallibility Of Experts.
CLAIMS PUBLICITY INJUSTICE

Clifford Pinchot's complaint filed with
the subcommittee on taxation of the
House District committee to the effect
that his Washington residence property
at 1915 Rhode Island avenue northwest
Is underassessed and that he should be
paying $500 more year in taxes will not
result in enriching the Golfers of the
District Of Columbia.
The assessment is made for the years
1912, 1918 and 1914. and, even though
his Office should become convinced that
the valuation placed on the property was
not sufficient, it would not have author
ity to change the amount before the ex-
piration OF the three-year period, said
District Assessor William P. Richards to-
day.
Richards Defends Appraisal.
Mr.. Richards defended the appraisal
that had been made Of the Pinchot prop
erty, submitting a lengthy communication
to District Commissioner Rudolph in
which he declared that 1t is not just to
the work of the assistant assessors to
have 1t given to the public that because
one expert places a. value on q certain
piece Of property their estimate Is wrong
The novel complaint made by Mr.. Pin
chot was the subject Of much comment
generally by District officials today. In
some quarters 1t was charged that the
move was made for the purpose Of EN-
barrassing the administration, but this
Hiew is not generally held to because 1t Ii
pointed out that the assessor Of the Dis
trict Is not appointed by the White
House.
In his letter to Representative Henry
fr NJ ffo &c.
trict committee, which Is investigating
taxation and assessment matters in the
District, Mr.. Pinchot states that he be-
lieves he has been taxed on a valuation
ton Of the property was made by a
Washington real estate firm on request
of Mr.. Pinchot.
George Congratulates Pinchot.
Replying to the latter, Representative
George congratulates the former forester
OF the United States who. he says, is
entitled to all honor and the unique dis
tinction Of being the first wealthy man
in the city of Washington. II not in the
United States, to come forward and vol
unteer the information that his own prop
erty is grossly underassessed."
Assessor Richards today asserted oi1at
both Mr.. Pinchot and Representative
George should know that the assessment
Is made for three years and cannot be
changed. The assessors communication
to Commissioner Rudolph Is as follows:
1.-THE daily Washington papers Of yes
terday and today contain a news item in
which 1t appears that Mr.. Clifford Pinchot
has at this late date discovered that his
property is greatly underassessed. and
Mr.. Pinchot very generously agrees to
required, all Of this. according to the
newspapers. being based on figures fur
nished by a Washington real estate firm
Holds Property Fully Assessed.
Il have had the assistant assessors
look carefully into this matter and they
believe that Mr.. Pinchot's property IL
assessed at its full amount and that II II
were placed for sale in the ordinary way
the chances are that it would bring less
than the basis OF assessment.
TT is assessed In the same proportion
or at the same rate. as property In this
neighborhood, and there are recent sales
that indicate that neighboring property
is about as fairly assessed as it is pos
sible for a board Of assessors to make it.
Because one appraisement has been
made by real estate firm OF certain
piece OF property. 1t does not follow that
the figures are absolute or that no one
else shall be allowed to submit different
figures or place q different estimate on
the value Of the property.
"It is not true that even two or three
real estate firms can determine the value
of property beyond any cavil, nor it is
likely that any two Of them would agree
as to the worth OF such property. The
assessors. in arriving at their figures
have been guided by the opinion of a
| great number, by sales in the locality
and by an experience which is intimate
and which has extened over a number
Of years.
Cites Fallibility Of Experts.
"As an instance Of what experts will
testify to, attention IL invited to the re-