Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-21
ASSESSORS OFFICE
DOES BIG BUSINESS
Hundreds of Property Owners
Call to Inspect New AS
sessment Figures.
APPEALS ARE EXPECTED
TO TOTAL NEARLY 1000
Welcomed, Mr.. Richards Explains, as
Means of Aiding Board in
Equalization.

Unaware until yesterday, when their at
tentfon was directed to the matter by an
article in The Star. that their current tax
bills are based on the old triennial as
sessment and that new ratings may have
been placed on their property which will
serve as the basis of tax bills for the
next three years. hundreds of property
owners today called at the District build
ing to inspect the new assessment fig
ures.
III was the biggest days business ever
done by the assessors Office Assessor
William P. Richards was forced to utilize
the services of every available employe
OF the office in order to accommodate the
crowd. At times the number Of inquiries
was so large it was difficult for new ar
rivals to gain entrance to the rooms
where the assessment books are kept.
Not all of those who obtained the in
formation they sought registered appeals
nut great many did. Nine days re-
main in which owners may lodge CON-
plant against the findings of the new as
sessment and it is expected that they
will develop into the busiest appeal Pc
riod ever experienced by the board of
equalization and review.
Lack Of Appeals Explained.
In an interview published in The Star
two reasons in explanation of the failure
OF many owners to file appeals. One of
them was that some owners may have
confused tleir tax bills for the current
year with the new assessments and
therefore. were under the impression that
no changes had been made in the ratings
on their property. because the bills were
the same as those of last year.
The other explanation was that tax
payers. in frequent instances, may heSi-
tate to make appeals because they think
1t would be useless effort to try to per-
suade the board to change it's original
ratings.
The clearing up of both of these points
in statement by the assessor to the
effect that owners should Immediately in
spect the new assessments and that the
board is desirous of obtaining appeals in
order that it may equalize the assess
ments is believed to be Responsible for
building today
Until yesterday only about $500 eals
had been received. and it was not ex-
pected that more than 800 additional ones
would come in. This estimate was upset
by todayS developments, and 1t is now
regarded as probable that the total
number of complaints may be 1900
Books Close Monday, June L.
The board will receive appeals daily,
excepting Sunday, until pm. Monday,
June j. after which date the assessment
books are required by law to be closed
1t is expected that the new assessment
will show an increase of about $4,000 90.
Advances have been made on business.
residential and suburban property.
Assessor Richards again today mad, IL
plain that his office is desirous of receiv-
ing appeals No hesitancy, he said, should
be felt by any one in making an appeal,
as such action enables the board to OBTAIN
much enlightenment in its effort to equal
ize assessments. At the close of the ap-
peal period the board will take up one
block at time, considering ali-the ap-
peals made on assessments In that block,
and expects to dispose of the cases at the
rate of about 100 day.