Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-14
Plan Of Assessment Proposed
by Representative George.
NEW SYSTEM IN DISTRICT
Radical Departure From the Exist
ing Methods Probable.
PEOPLE ASSURED OF HEARING
Bill in Preparation for Submission
as Substitute for the Com
missioners' Measure.

Strong efforts to have radical changes
made i'm the present methods of ASSESS
ment and taxation, including a single
tax on real estate to become operative
at the end of a five-year period, may be
the outcome of the Commissioners pro-
posal for annual instead Of triennial as
sessments of real estate in the District.
Representative Henry George, jr., of
New York son fthe late Henry George
of single tax fame. and himself of that
economic belief, to whom the District
heads referred draft of the proposed
assessment bill. has written into the
measure, 1t was learned yesterday. re-
forms not contemplated by the Com
missioners and which practically have
brought them to the point OF adopting
some of the single tax ideas of the New
York member or abandoning altogether
the legislation originally desired
Designed to discourage speculation in
real estate, but stimulate building ac-
tivity, the single tax plan. said to. have
been suggested by Mr. George I'm his
amendments, provides for assessing land
to the full amount of it's value, and ex-
empting from taxation improvements on
land.
Present Rate Of Assessment.
Al present DOln ldIu dIlu ldilu ifIPtoNc-
ments in the District are assessed at
two-thirds of their value. The George
scheme. it is asserted, contemplatcs in
creas.ng at the rate of one-fifteenth a
year assessments on land and decreasing.
at the same rate, assessments on improve
ments. This. 1t Is estimated, will mean
that land will be assessed on the basis OF
year period. while improvements. by that
time. viii be assessed on the basis OF
one-third of their value
If the Commissioners refuse to adopt
the amendments offered. Mr.. George, 1t
practically Is certain, will introduce a re-
vised measure of his own. Mr.. George
amendments to the Commissioners bill
will. it Is understood. provide graduated
system of taxation increases on untm-
proved property In, the District. with q
corresponding decrease in the assessments
on improvements. His bill will be modi-
fication of the assessments and taxation
laws of the District, the latter two fea-
lures having been supplied by Mr.. George.
Holds Key to Situation.
In view of the fact that Mr. George
is chairman o fthe subcommittee on taxa.
ton Of the House District committee the
Commissioners are said to be cbgnizant
of the impracticability OF attempting to
put through n bill which will not meet
with his approval. There is believed to
be little or no Likelihood of their agreeing
to the single tax provision.
If Mr.. George insists that his recon-
mendations be Incorporated in the bill. the
Commissioners in all probability, Will take
no further action, leaving to him the OPP
portunity to introduce his own bill. In
the event he takes such action the Com
missioners probably will send to Congress
an adverse report on the bill
When the one-third basis shall have
been reached in connection with the
latter assessments. it is provided that
improvements on land shall be el1minat-
ed from taxation altogether.
Should such a plan be put into opera
ton, it Is conceded it would be big
step in the direction of general single
tax The Commissioners. it is learned
upon reliable authority, are not con-
WINGED that the time is ripe for recon-
mending legislation of this nature
In giving consideration TO the draIt
of the bin submitted to him by the
Commissioners. Mr.. George, 1t is SAID
has gone into the matter thoroughly
and has revised the bill with the OBJ
ject of having it become the general
law Of the District on matters relating
TO assessment and taxation.
Incorporates Existing Provisions.
Several assessment and taxation laws
are operative at the present time. some
fury, Mr. George. 1t is said. in revising
the Commissioners bill. has made a
thorough study of these laws, selecting
the best features of each and Incorporate
ing them in the measure. Practically
all of the existing laws will be repealed If
the general legislation to be proposed
meets with the approval of Congress
Referring to the bill he proposes to in
troduce last night, Mr.. George said:
II cannot discuss the bill in detail. as
there are some features l have not den
nitely worked out in my own nina as yet
The bill will be ready for introduction
within the next week or ten days. IL Will
call for the repeal of the existing laws
| of assessment and taxation as applied
| to real estate in the District of Columbia.
and will stand as the Districts code Tor
such taxation.
Procures Compilation.
..In seeking a working basis for reforms
/ hope to institute in the Districts sys-
tenn Of taxation and assessment | found
no comprehensive act upon which to work.
The existing law Is made up of acts and
parts of acts running back to at least
thirty-five years. There was no adequate
compilation of these acts. In response
to my request for this information Com
missioner Rudolph requested Assessor
Richards to make such a compilation.
which he did. He also added an index.
"Eyen with this, however l found the
laws of the District In regard to the tax
alton and assessment OF real estate diff
cult to understand because it was neces-
sary to jump backward and forward
through the statutes. For this reason
II appeared that a cOdiication of what
might be called the live laws should be
made and should be embraced In an act
introducing such improvements as seemed
to me to be required here in the Dis
trict.
What I am working on, therefore, is
not only an act requiring annual instead
Of triannual assessments and other i'm
portant features but a codifcation OF all
| existing laws that will not be changed
by these features. In other words, :!
| hope to make this act q substitute Tor all
other acts on this subject.
I'm preparing the codtfcation. l have,
| of lourse used all the material could
from the other statutes. the only changes
| in the wording being changes l think
will work Improvement in the action OF
the laws.
Opportunity for Hearings.
whenever the bill is introduced in the
House, 1t will not be reported out for
final action before ample opportunity
shall have been offered for hearings. 1
want all who are interested in this ques-
ton to come before the committee and
give it the benefit of their views.
| II have found that there is a great
deal of interest in the House on the
question of District assessments. A num-
Der of members on both sides OF the
| chamber have asked me when my bill
will be ready and have expressed de-
| sire to enter the discussion on 1t. But ]
| want the people of the District who will