The Washington times., 1913-08-05
M'KENz|E IS PUT
ON HOUSE GRILL
District Committee Quizzes As
siStant as to His Part in
Realty Dealings.
Continued from First Page.)

purchaser and probably talked to NJ.
kalbfus."
why do you think you first talked
to Mr.. Kalbfus?" asked Mr.. George.
Il think I had had some previous
business with Assessor Kalbfus,' said
MIR. Walker, and it is probable first
suggested the property to him."
Mr.. George wanted to know why he
bic. Il don't remember; it's been three
years ago, and / have many transac-
tons" said Mr.. Walker.
But this was a conspicuous piece
OF property which stands in the name
of the assessor. You ought to remem-
Der that peculiar fact
Answer Surprises George.
Il see nothing peculiar about it," re-
plieG Mr.. Walker. 1.-The fact that II
is owned by the assessors made no i'm
preston on my mind whatever"
Mr.. George seemed surprised.
Chairman Johnson asked the witness
If William Corcoran Hill or Mrs. Hill
owned a great deal or real estate in
the District. and if the former had had
dealings with Mr.. Kalbfus. The wit
ness was not able to give definite in
formation.
Chairman johnson said he understood
Mrs. Hill owned 140 acres in the Dis
trict.
real estate holdings, Mr.. Walker said
he always considered the assistant as
SCISSOR as "a man of good judgment en-
real estate"
The name OF the Riggs Bank was
mentioned, and Mr.. walker said II was
the natural place TO go" when closing
the deal for the Twentieth and Belmont
plot
You mean Glover's bank was a ma
tural place for the assessors to go?"
asked Mr.. George.
II didn't say that" answered Mr..
acquainted with values in the north
west and you can always get a quick
answer from him.
Both Mr.. Johnson and Mr.. George
quizzed the witness at length regarding
former testimony that when the asses
sors originally bought their property
the transfer was made to a clerk, Davis,
In the assessors office, and not to the
purchasers direct. Mr.. Walker said the
title frequently was taken by an out
slider.
Raps Dummy Transaction"
That is done frequently here in the
District" he said. "A great deal of my
property stands in the name of some
one else, and there's nothing unusual
about that in the real estate business.
Where transaction involves three or
four purchasers, married men, / would
suggest putting title in the name OF
some one person. One of the assessors
probably suggested the name of Davis &"
Mr.. George again criticised what he
termed a dummy transaction which,
he said, represented the difference be-
tween a straight and a crooked one"
There was nothing crooked about
this transaction" sharply commented
the witness, again explaining that for
business reasons real estate frequently
Is transferred to some one not the real
purchaser. Pressed for an answer re-
garding who suggested so transferring
the property In which the assessors
were interested and which was pur-
chased through him, Mr.. Walker said:
There is no doubt that one of the
purchasers don't know which one
instructed the making out of the deed
to Davis"
M'Kenzie Describes Holdings.
Assistant Assessor Alexander McKen-
zie followed Mr.. Walker on the stand.
and at the outset he was re-examined
contemplated assessments of real estate
at two-thirds and not full value.
when the law says assessments shall
be made at not less than two-thirds,'
then you hold you cannot go above two
thirds?" asked Chairman Johnson.
That is my opinion" said Mr.. Nc
Kenzie. 81 cannot go deliberately
above two-thirds; ! might do II by
mistake. l have held all along that
the law means that we shall assess real
estate at two-thirds value. and that has
been the rule for some time"
Mr.. Johnson and Mr.. George did not
shake the witnesses opinion, and the in
vestigation switched TO Mr.. McKenzie's
real estate holdings. He testified that
=
Twentieth and Belmont property, pur-
chased by the three assessors; a house
at 1904 East Capitol street, which he
lived in eleven years; a house at 1916
Harvard street which he now loves in.
and that he did own a lot near Sheri-
dan Circle.
Mr.. Nick enzie, quizzed regarding his
purchase of lot at 81 per foot near
Sheridan Circle, said he did not buy
expecting to lose, and that anybody
VINO purchased real estate with that
view was foolish
Deal Was Good Speculation.
What did you sell the lot on Massa-
chusetts avenue, near Sheridan Cir
Gle for" Mr.. George asked.
II paid 81 per foot and sold at So
Then ii was a good speculation"
Yes"
Referring to the fact that the real
ering some OF Mr.. McKenZie's property,
while a nominal consideration was
given in other cases, Mr.. George asked
II he favored a statement of real con-
sideration.
From the assessors viewpoint |
think 1t would be e good thing" he re-
piled.
The Assistant Assessor testified that
at the last assessment the figures on his
East Capitol street property had been
raised $IO0
Why did you increase the assess
ment?'
because / thought 1t was too low"
said the witness. who was frank
throughout with the committee and
seemed to make a fairly good impress
sion.
MI Mckenzie said his Harvard
street house was assessed at $5,74O, and
when Congressman George began 10 ask
reasons, Mr.. Mckenzie said:
You can have the property at what
II is assessed at
Gives Account of Purchase.
The witness said property seemed to
be depreciating in that neighobrhood.
Chairman Johnson took a hand and
observed:
You have tol dMr. George he could
have your property at the assessment
price. Had you rather lose little
money or admit you have assessed the
property too lOW?"
If IL was under-assessed | wouldn't
h"ve hcsitated to say so"
Mr.. Mckenzie gave a detailed account
OF his purchase of the HARVARD street
home eight years ago On the day b,