The Washington times., 1912-08-22
ASSESSORS SAY
DISCRIMINATION
CHARGE UNF AIR
Favoritism In Levying Taxes
Denied BY Head
of Board.
Shoreham Hotel Case.
Continued from First PageO

report. ut is easy to criticise. and II
ought to be easy to be fair. and 1t Is
with fair-minded persons e.
Shoreham Hotel Case.
THE report refers to a certain prop
erty which pays handsome dividends on
81, ,000, ,OoO although it cost less than $780,
coo to erect. Notwithstanding this alle-
CATION, the owner was before the board
ard stated he would be very glad to dis
pose Of the property on a basis of the
assessment, $335,000.
Another building referred to is the
| Shoreham Hotel The report says 1t
Is an antiquated structure, which should
| be torn down. On the contrary, II Is
| very substantial building and could
! be modernized at comparatively small
cost. The land is assessed on the basis
of the sale of land opposite, the best
| guide to values we had at this time, the
Southern building site.
| THE assessment on the hotel build
| ing proper was increased for the rea-
sons given before, that we thought 1t
| underassessed and not for the reason,
as alleged in the report that 1t would
| have compelled a readjustment OF the
assessment of the entire square,
which is a reflection without founds-
tion. We have positive Information
that It was worth as a whole $500. 900.
THE report deals with Friendship,
the property of John r. Mclean. Quot
ing from the statement OF Mr.. Browne
which the committee evidently lays
great value upon, he say. The most
| striking instance of undervaluation ma y
| be found in connection with the prop.
erty known as Friendship, CONSISTING
of 7G.92 acres, bounded on the east by
| Wisconsin avenue and on the west Dy
| Arizona ,aven0e.'
This description might mislead some
to the opinion that Arizona avenue Ii
open and accessible to traffic, but as
thirty feet below grade. very large
portion of the Mclean tract is in a
ravine, but Notwithstanding this fact
land equally, If not more, available o.
better grade, can be purchased directly
opposite for 5000 an acre.
"Mr. McLean's property, taking gooc
and bad, is assessed at 1850 an acre
We do not know that Mr.. McLear
wants to sell his property at any price.
Richards Quotes Purdy.
Concerning the question of overas
sessment Of property in the District, AS
SCISSOR Richards today directed attention
to the testimony of Lawson Purdy
president of the board of tax commits
sioners Of New York When he appear
!, | ed as witness before the committee
the following question was directed a
Mr. Purdy by Assessor Richards:
Il would like to ask Mr.. Purdy
question In regard to the rise and fal
Of values. 1t has been the experienc
here, where a certain section has .beei
, we'll assessed and there has been for
number OF years fall in values, tina
people do not like to make appeals o
, to have 1t known that there is fall Il
the value of their property. In conse
uuence property becomes overassesse
by the assessors not taking notice o
the fact.
"Is 1t your experience in New YorI
that property, where it Is on the de
cline is assessed irregularly, and
harder to assess than property whej
II is on the rise?"
The answer OF Mr.. Purdy was:
, There is an inevitable tendency 70
> the overassessment of property declin
ing in value, because the assessors al
e ways follow the evidence. There is |
( the borough of Manhattan propert
that is overassessed and has beel
overassessed for the last ten years, be
cause 1t is either stationary or declir
ing and people do not know"
Assessor Richards is studying care
| fully the testimony introduced at tn
. hearing of the subcommittee and late
g will submit to the Commissioners &C
e ditional reports in refutation of II
= statement that real estate here Is al
e sessed 'unscientifcally. without systei
=, and with gross discrimination"