Evening star., 1914-12-15
DISTRICT IS NOT
UNDER-ASSESSED
Diagram Based on Census Re-
ports Prepared by the
Commissioners.
TWO-THIRDS VALUATION
CLOSE TO ACTUAL WORTH
Washington Compares Favorably
With Other Cities in Respect to
Taxation Basis.

Representative Prouty. OH the floo'
of the House. December 10, 1914
stated:
II find that property in the District
of Columbia is assessed lower on the
| basis of the law-that is, two-thirds-
| than it is generally in other cities
There is no dispute about the propo-
sition that property in the city OF
Washington instead of being assessed
at two-thirds is only assessed at one
third
Real estate in the District of Colum-
bia is now assessed at a little more
than $500, ,OOo, 900. Three times this
amount would be nearly $1,000, 900. 900, CT
more than the assessment of the
wealthy city of Boston. with double
the population. Such an amount is
absurd and the statement falls of its
own weight.
Figures From Assessors Report.
Moreover, 1t may be said that the
report of the assessor of 1914 not only
disputes the proposition that property
Is assessed at one-third of its value,
but proves that it is assessed above
ing the past year was by board of
three assistant assessors, two of whom
were not on the board four years ago.
and the agreement between the two
assessments is stated in the report as
follows:
In April 1912, Commissioner Rudolph,
appearing before subcommittee of the
committee of the District of Columbia.
House of Representatives. stated that
ground values in the District of Co
1YrV hi I,oY i'm oil oh =
100000 per year, and in addition build
ing operations were going on at about
the same rate. The assessment of last
year was about S345.124.o00. Adding to
this three-year increase of SEA. .000, 900
for ground values and over $5.5O0.000
for new buildings would make an
assessment for 1915 of about 1875, ,000.-
600, and this amount approaches within
per cent of the assessment just COM
pleted and upholds the contention made
in 1912 as to the general accuracy of
the assessment at that time and as to
the general Increase per year in ground
values"
An examination. of the sales or offers
seventy-five large tracts aggregate
two and one-half million dollars and
are assessed on a basis of 100000.
In answer to the argument that
sales made in the business district be-
tween 1st and 10th and B and X
streets northwest. during the last four
years. prepared by the assessors Of
sessed at about three-fourths instead of
two-thirds of ffs true value.
Since 1910. 900 sales, scattered over
the entire business district, aggregat-
ing approximately $l6.so0.ooO. have
been made. The property was assessed
on valuation of s1S,5U0.00O.
Custom in Other States.
How closely other states follow the
law can be shown from their own re-
ports, made by various tax commits
sions. In 1912 the Minnesota. tax COM
mission covered the subject of taxation
in that state in a voluminous report.
suggesting improvements in methods Of
equalization, etc. and stating, among
other things, as follows:
Ever since Minnesota became a state
we have had law among our statutes
requiring that all property shall be
assessed at its true and full value in
money. Never since the first assessor
started on his thankless task has prop
erty of any kind in Minnesota been as
seSsed at its true and full value, or.
with few exceptions, has any serious
attempt ever been made to so assess
it. The uniform. universal custom has
cent of actual value; and this custom
has had the long continued approval of
the people, the silent support of the
iaWmaking and, in a large measure.
the acquiescence of the law-cnforcing
departments of the state government"
The same is true in Iowa and other
western states, and a report by COM
mission of the state of Kentucky in
1912-1914 states that all property not
even real estat, and not even all land
is regularly and uniformly entered in
the assessment books. Some property
and even some land escapes taxation
every year. In many counties there are
more acres in farms than are assessed
III tracts The trouble is laid to the
law and remedies are suggested in the
report
Comparisons by Diagram.
An examination of the census bulletin
tNo. 1ls) of 1912 carries a further refu-
tation of the statement that property il.
the District of Columbia Is assessed
lower on the basis of the law than In 9TH
er cities. a diagram was complied a