Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-07

cent
Georgetown Barge and Dock Com
pany, at per cent .............. s,153. So
Total ............ IS. 4ss, 800. 20
The amount Of tax severally levied on
such gross receipts and earnings was:
Building and loan associations. $40, 904. Sc
incorporated savings banks...,.... If, SOS. O9
Electric light companies. ............. 13.O1S.l3
Telephone companies ................ 65, $500
Gaslight companies ................. 1l5,9sS.I ~
National banks .-.................. ioo,5lS6o
Trust companies Observation-Disclosures IA, 231. 81
Street TsiIways oO4 1874 "a
washington Market Company .... 572ls
Georgetown Barge and Dock Company. 357.7S
A total of s677,S72.2s was received
cellaneous licenses. the nature of which
Is shown in the accompanying report
Of the assessor.
Triennia1 Assessment of Real Estate.
The trienniaI assessment of real
estate for tho year beginning July 1.
1914, was completed by the three as
sistant assessors on the first Monday
of January Of this year and thereafter
the board Of equalization and review
heard appeals until the first Monday
in June. About $500 appeals were re-
number received at any previous trien-
NAL assessment. All the appeals were
made in writing and supplemented in
some cases by an oral argument MOST
of the objections covered the business
section and suburban property and a
careful examination was made by the
board Of all cases. and probably 70
per cent of the appeals occasioned some
kind of readjustment in the assess
ments submitted by the assistant as
Ntn1 lnf nf
will exceed that Of last year by $40,-
OOO, 900, equivalent to a tax of 100000.
The board of review had at its COM
mand a greater amount of sales and
vious board. and in addition received
valuable information through the sworn
statement of those making the appeals.
Information as to all sales in the bust
ness section for the last five years is
practically complete, and the same can
be said of the large tracts in the
suburban sections. These average
sales, when compared to average as
sessments under the new work, are
found to be remarkably close in the
aggregate. so that 1t Is believed that
the new assessment 10 based on a fair
total valuation of all real estate in the
District. A better equalization can only
be accomplished by additional help in
the field work.
Annual Assessments Of Real Estate.
A better equalization of real estate
and a more systematic handling of as
sessments can be accomplished by a
yearly assessment. This has been
urged for many years past, and is more
urgent than ever in view of the rapid
changes in the value of certain high
class property.
In addition to this yearly assessment,
a field force of ten persons acting as
deputy assistant assessors is greatly
needed to handle the many details re-
lating to all classes of buildings, it be-
ing impossible for the assistant as
SCISSORS to go thoroughly into all facts
regarding the various buildings in the
District which are undergoing de-
terioration or else are affected by the
misfit of their surroundings.
The bill introduced and passed by the
House requiring true consideration in
deeds is a step forward and would
estate If it became law.
Exemption From Personal Tax.
The Commissioners recommend that
each person engaged in business whose
stock or stock and implements of trade
is less in value than $1,000 be exempt
from taxation on such property. This
would place the small dealer on the
same taxable status as the small house
keepers who now under the personal
tax law enjoy an exemption Of $1,000
on their household and other belong
ings not held for sale. An exemption
! of this nature would not only be eQuit-
able. but would relieve the tax depart
ment of duty which requires the ex-
penditure Of time and labor almost. If
not quite equal, in value to the revenue
produced.
The Collection Of Revenue.
The collector of taxes reports that the
collections of all kinds for the year
ended Juno 80. 1914. was $S.99s,149.O9,
showing a decrease of $133.121.S4. The
| amount credited to the general fund,
which is exclusively revenue. was ST.
| 321,155.33. This was an increase of
$3l, 7s0.03, but there was no increase In
realty taxes There was an increase In
personal taxes Of $s4.o7s.21. This in
crease would have been much larger II
several large accounts then pending
judicial adjustment had been settled.
The trust funds collected during tho
year amountedsto $1.417.73S.32. showing
q decrease of $13S.643.43, which was
due to the falling OF of collections for
the water fund, for building operations
ana for guaranty deposits.
! There was collected on account of
miscellaneous receipts credited to the
United States s232.S86.s5. The total
water-fund collections including water
rents, etc, was $743.O46.76.
| At the real estate tax sale last March
5,53S lots or parcels of land were sold
for tho sum Of $143,0 68.56.
Summary Of Collections
On account Of
| Really taxes. ......s...s.s...ss $S,063,273 ga
| Personal taxeo. LIZA, "a
1 Special selmhuxsable tAxoo...... 1850 AZ
| Penalties and interest. .....~.. l0,22S 81
| Miscella1eous eollecboD. ....... 1,0l2S53 a.
Total to general fund. 1921 .155. 81
Special and trust funds. 1,417,73s. 81
Repayments to appropria lions. &c, 36S. 40
J Miscellaneous receipts. United
/ States Observation-Disclosures. 232 $50 9J
Aggregate NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. s,99S, LAG. 90
Decreases and increases for fiscal year 1914
Decreases on account Of
Realty taxes general fund.-. 38 $50. 81
Special and trust funds. 1880: 1S6,6zS.<a
0tacellane1n ttan8 0peeial
/ fund. ugltss ststss....'..... M.so&si
AeEsGnts ........s..,.--. ao9Aos. "a