The Washington times., 1912-08-20
Radical Reforms in District
Board Urged by House
Committee.
Continued from First page.)


bert J. Browne, a realty expert. Nu-
merous instances are cited to show
that the small homes are overtaxed,
while the finer residences are assess
cd far below their real value.
One OF the most significant recommen-
dations made by the committee is that
the power be restored to the Commits
sioners to remove the assessor or any
member Of the Board Of Assistant AS
SCISSORS for cause. Another is that there
be an annual instead Of a triennial
assessment of real estate, policy long
urged by Assessor w. p. Richards, him
self.
The separation of excise matters from
the assessors office also is recon-
mended.
The committee reports It's findings az
follows:
That real estate is assessed irregu-
larly. unscientifically. without system,
and with gross discrimination between
section and section. between class and
class. between land and improvements.
THAT in the practice of the Assessor 8
office, in the assessment of real estate.
the law that real estate shall he as
sessed at not less than two-thirds of its
true value Is a dead letter. and is kept
awe solely TO make a one dollar tax
rate appear to be one dollar and a
half.
Assessed Below Real Value.
That real property in the District of
Columbia Is assessed s414.Ooaoo0 below
It's true value: the true value being
S44,ooo,ooo, while the assessment is only
s3So,O00,0O0. This is not an assessment
at even two-thirds OF the true value,
but only slightly more than two-hfths.
That this underassessment does not
attach equally to land and improve
ments. but Overwhelmingly to land.
Land is assessed at slss.674,Oo one third
Of its true value. Improvements are
assessed for the triennial period just
closed at s1eo. 64s.4s1, two-thirds of their
true value,
That with respect to improvements,
there is great discrimination between
classes, the 1000 small homes of Gov
ernments clerks and workingmen gen.
orally standing assessed at an average
OF 80 per cent of their true value, while
the fine residences of the northwest
Even by the two-thirds rule, this shows
that the little homes in the District
are grossly overassessed.
That considering ground values by
small homes are assessed at so per cent
Of the true value; those by middle-class
houses at SO per cent; those by fine
residences at 30 per cent: the business
area at 30 per cent: and the large
suburban areas at 20 per cent. Here
again is heavy discrimination against
the small home. in comparison with
the better house and the business prop
erty, while the large suburban specu-
lative area bears less than a third or
its proper burden.
Favors Suburban Speculation.
That this showing indicates a pur-
pose to tighten unfairly taxation on
the mansion and business area. and
more especially to favor suburban spec
ulation.
THAT this state of things is not due
to CHARGE, but to deliberate policy. is
demonstrated by the following facts:
81. The assessor in hi annual report
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1910,
dated October !, 1910. near the compile
ton of the triennial assessment, fore
cat an increase Of .$30.oo0.000 in the
assessment of ground values Up. 400.
80. The assessor in his evidence before
your committee testified that the in