The Washington herald., 1914-04-30
TAXES IN DISTRICT.
Representative Madden Upsets Theory
that We Don't Pay Enough.

| that We Don't Pay Enough.
Mr.. Madden-Mr. Chairman, suppose
II Is quite out Of order for any person
to tell what his personal experience Is
anywhere. and particularly in the Dis
trict Of Columbia: but I happen to be
one Of those men here who own a little
house, and ! will sell that house to any
| body here who wants IL for $1,000 and
IL we are only being taxed 1-2 mills on
the value Of the property. I want to say
| that am paying over $50 a year taxes
| on that house. I paid $1,000 for the
house: II Is not worth more than $4,000.
and j am willing TO sell ii to anybody
who wants it for that price Now. that
, Is s1.30 instead Of S cents on 500 There
Is no place in America where the money
Is expended as judiciously as IL is in this
city.
Mr.. Borland-Then the gentleman
would not be hurt by raising the assessed
value to the full valuation, take it?
Mr.. Madden-I certainly would be hurt
by raising it. because l am paying on
| the full value Of II now
Mr.. Borland-Then the gentleman
would gain, perhaps. by having other
people pay on the full valuation. like
| wise.
Mr.. Madden-I take II everybody In
paying on the same basis as am.
Mr. Chairman. We are living in the
Capital OF the Nation. and every man,
woman. and child in America is Interest,"
ed in having this the most beautiful city
in America.
Mr.. Cooper-win the gentleman yield
for an interruption?
Mr.. Madden-Yes
Mr.. Cooper-How is IL possible N n
great many cases to determine what /,
the full valuation o, property?
Mr.. MaGden-Why, nobody on earth can
tell. 1t is only the imagination Of the
assessor.
Mr.. Mann-But when il comes to writ
ing chart they can tell exactly
Mr.. Madden-Yes; when il comes to
writing a chart YOU can tell. but there is
no way on earth that any man can fix
the full value and know that he is right
in fixing it.
Now. take it nobody cares whether
you assess property on the basis Of the
full value OF il or on the basis of 10 per
cent OF the value
Mr.. Garrett. Of Texas-How does the
gentleman arrive at the value of his
house?
Mr.. Madden-I do not arrive at II. I
am simply saying to you that will sell il
TO you for $1,000
Mr.. Garrett. Of Texas-I understand
the gentleman is paying on the full val
uation- l ask him how he arrives at
that.
Mr.. Madden-I am simply SAYING that
will sell the house for $4,000. and that
am paying sl3o a year taxes do not
know whether il is full value or half
value. but I am offering to sell this prop
erty to You for Sl0O0a. if YOU want TO
buy it. and I am saving TO you that in
stead Of paying s1-2 mills on the dollar
on the full value I am paving I cent and
mills on the dollar
Mr. Garrett of Texas-who fixes the
assessed value of the property?
Mr.. Madden-I suppose the assessors
do
Mr.. Garrett OF Texas-Did they have
any idea what II cost the gentleman?
Mr.. Madden-I do no; know anything
about that I am only telling the gentle
man what I paid for it. and what 1 con-
slider II worth
Mr.. Garrett, of TeXas-T did not under
stand the gentleman to say what he paid
for the property
Mr.. Madden-I told what paid for il.
and what il is worth. and what I will
sell It to YOU for.
Mr.. Garrett. Of Texas-I did not catch
what the gentleman said he paid for :
Mr.. Sims-I want to know il the gentle
man knows of any village anywhere in
Of taxes on a piece Of real estate does
not exceed $50 a hundred.
Mr.. Madden will say TO YOU right
row that l own a piece of property in
Chicago that is worth A good deal more
money than the house in which I live
here is worth. and on it. instead Of pay
ing $3.50. I pay only s5s.
Mr.. Sims-I said any village
Mr.. Madden-I am talking about a
great city.
Mr.. Sims-There is not any village II
the United States whose taxes are as low
as they are here.
Mr.. Madden-N n nrorertv in the
great city of Chicago is only taxed s79 a
year. and property which IS worth 10
more pays $50 taxes here. | assume that
the people in Washington are not un-
taxed. And l am paving in Chicago the
same rate that everybody else pays.
am not making this argument on account
want this House to understand that there
amount Of taxes paid. according 10 the
value of the property, BY the people OF
the District of Columbia.
In all the States Of the Union in all .he
cities of all the States Of the Union. We
have great manufacturing enterprises.
These manufacturing enterprises employ
our people. Here there is no such thing.
The government departments take The
place Of the factories in the District of
Columbia. and the department is the only
place where people can md employment