Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-11-01
Gas Plant Assessed at $780,
900 and Market Building
at 100000.
LAW SUIT TO FOLLOW,
Assessment Made Today By Commits
sioner of Revenue Callahan OH Or
der of {. Lee Moore, State Auditor.

A hotiy contested legal fight between
the city of Alexandria and the state
of Virginia was commenced tod ~
when Charles H. Callahan, comm,S-
sioner Of revenue, acting under orders
of c. Lee Moore, auditor for the state
made an assessment for state taxes
against the gas plant owned by Alex
andria and the city hall building which
is occupied by the municipal officers,
the courts, Jail and public market.
The gas plant is assessed at 100000
and the market building at 100000
and at the state rate Of taxation thirty
five cents per 500, the city will be
compelled to pay the state about 500
per annum. The assessment made
today is for the 1912 taxes which are
due on December 1st.
Mr.. Callahan notified Samuel p.
Fisher, corporation counsel Of his ac-
ton who in turn took up the questi n
with the finance committee of city
council. The finance committee IN
structed Mr.. Fisher to prepare pc
tition to city council which will be
presented at its meeting on November
u, asking for authority to take tie
necessary legal steps to have the as
sessment made void.
As soon as the necessary authority
i; granted Mr. Fisher he will file no
tice on The Commissioner Of Revenue
and the Commonwealth attorney Of his
intention to petition the Corporation
Court or certain date to be fixed IA
ter. to have the assessment corrected.
The action of State Auditor Moore
as explained in yesterdays Gazette,
is due to his Interpretation of the
state law which provides that the
property of any municipality shall pe
exempt from taxation unless fs be-
comes a source of revenue when 1t
shall then be liable to state taxation.
The assessment Of city property by
he state is the first in drama when
is likely to cause a commotlon III the
state of Virginia. 1t has heretofors
been assumed that city Il part anA
parcel of a state, and to insist upon
taxing the public utilities of conf
munity is as hard to swallow as some
of the drastic laws which our fore
fathers resisted in the days Of George
the third.
State taxation has been on a steafy
Growth ever since the state was re-
admitted to the union, and cities have
been especial targets of constltutio"
conventions and legislatures. Repre-
sontatives of cities are always in the
minority, and are forced 10 defer TO
the rural interests. 1t has been
charged that assessments in the coun-
trv are far below those imposed upjh
city property, and in some instances
,onorts have shown that state eXpeh-
cos in certain counties exceed zoe
amounts paid into the state treasu:'
IN other words, taxes from other se:-
tions Of the commonwealth go towar Is
r,,L;nr mission ..c.us Of other local.
ties.
In connection with the above 1t may
he stated that the lot on the nor'h"e>'
corner Of Cameron and West reefs
recently acquired by the city for pup
lie school purposes, seven-eIghts OF
which are in Alexandria county IS u
ho assessed by the county and tax 5
mon the same demands Of this city
The Injustice of this procedure needs
No comment. The lot is the property
of the city of Alexandria, purchaSeo %
for public school purposes ana u
compel the city to pay taxes, Wh'e
;nyolvinp but a trifinc amount IS an
other straw calculated to breah UHe
camers back. -, c;.,,
The france committee of the Clfy
Council will take the matter up au'-
ing the next few days.