Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-19
TAXATION IN DISTRICT
SUBJECT OF ADDRESS
w. I. Swanton Discusses Assess
ments Under the Half-and
Half System.
Alleges Discrimination Against the
Home owner-Compares Existing
System With Single Tax.


Taxation in the District Of Columbia
was the theme of an address before the
Takoma Park Citizens Association last
night by W. l. Swanton, secretary OF the
Tax Reform Association of the District OF
Columbia The association met In the
building occupied by the Takoma Park
branch of the public library.
In the course of his address Mr.. Swan
ton presented several charts, showing
comparative statements Of the financial
transactions of the District and those OF
the federal government Many OF the
charts we're administrative reports pre-
pared for Representative Henry George
and were based on official figures
Mr.. Swanton showed the assessed val
uation Of land and buildings In the Dis
trict and gave an idea OF the metnoo
pursued in obtaining the figures on winch
the assessments were made. Inc Valua-
ton of land and buildings. he said, had
increased from $SO,O00OOO in 1919 TO ap-
proximately $345, 900, 600 in 1914: The num-
Der of charitable institutions IN IsoI; ne
said, numbered $500, While To-Day thele
were $500 such buildings. Building per
mits in 1910, estimated in value at S16s-
600, 600, dropped in 1913 to s'O,ooo'ooo.
Receipts and Sources of Revenue.
The speaker then showed the re-
CENTS of the District and the various
sources from which they We're optalneo.
The tax on land and buildings last
year he said, was about equal, oelnS
Tho first time since 1873. The receipts,
he said were from water. persona,
LIQUOR and real estate taxes, puolIc
utilities, trust funds and miscellaneous
sources. The expenditures ne deh haiu ~ vt" the
city. charities, health, police, water oe-
partment, fire department. adm1nlsefa-
ton, parks, interest, etc. NJ,
The exemptions OF land IN .ne ~
..half-and- half plan was taken up
showing the extent to which the DIS
trict and federal governments pafeiGio
pated and the manner IN Wnlch the
districts share was raised. The SPEAK
err presented a large map of the DIS :
trict showing the small house area
middle class area, fine residence area
business area and the SUBURBAN area.
Mr Swanton alleged discrimination
in realty taxation in 1911 and 1872. he
showed by a chart where Small noms
owners would have paid. II assessed
eouitably, S590,000 less taxes; the MD
d1e class S2O500O less taxes and the
owners Of fine residences would have
maid s15O,0O0 more taxes. The business
area would have paid S237,OOO and SUD
urban owners $4,000 more taxes me
total discrimination amounted to $780,
600
Present System and Single Tax.
A comparison of present taxes and
single taxes was then made. under
single taxation the small home owners
against 81, 100000 under the present sys-
fem. The middle class would pay under
the single tax proposition $4,000, as
against SOL 600. while the owners OF hne
residences would pay under the single
tax 81 100000, as against S93'.O0o as at
present Business property would pay
$4,000 as against s1,1s7OOO and sub
urban property 81, 100000, as against
S521 600 The personal taxes would re-
main the same under either taxation, as
would also the water TAX, liquor laA
and public utilities.
The speaker concluded his remarks by
showing the number of parcels of land
in several of the larger cities and the
number of assessors engaged IN HELD
| work In the District there were ap-
proxmately 10000 parcels of land. with
| but three field men, or at the rate OF
iG, 7Gs parcels Of land for each assessor
to look after. In Houston there were
| men; New York. $4,000 parcels, with
seventy-six field men: Philadelphia, 49,
| 900 parcels. with seventy men; Pitts
| burgh. $4,000 parcels, with nine field
| men, and. Boston, 10000 parcels, with
| fifty field men. The large number of
| field men in Boston, he explained, was
| due to the fact that in the Hub poll
| tax is collected.
Business Transacted.
| The association adopted resolution,
presented by DR.. ]. A. LIE Clerc, approx
| ing the investigation of contemplated
public utilities by the District Commits
| sioners.
President D. n. Shoemaker announced
| that up to the present time no license
| had been granted for a poolroom in Ia
| koma Park, and that the matter Of the
| citizens of the town arranging a central
| point of amusement in the town would
| be considered upon the appointment of
| committee, which would be at an early
| date.
| H. w. Rutledge was elected a member
! of the association.
! 1t was announced that a meeting of
the Takoma Park Historical Society
would be held tomorrow night at 8
o'clock in the Takoma Park branch of
the Washington Public Library. The
speakers of the evening will be James
A Sample. cashier of the United States
| Treasury, who will speak on Personal
| Recollections of Abraham Lincoln" and
former Mayor ]. B. Kinnear on the
Adoption of the Town Charter by the
| oFT To