Evening star., 1914-10-12
Assessor Richards, in Report,
Discusses Suggestion of
House District Committee.
QUOTES NUMEROUS SALES
SUPPORTING CONVENTIONS
Submits Figures in Annual Report
Showing Increase Would Make
Small Owners Suffer.

Denying the conclusions Of the House
District committee that real estate in the
District Of Columbia Is inequitably as
sessed, William P. Richards, assessor, in
his annual report made public today, ex-
presses the belief that to raise between
eleven and twelve million dollars of tax
on real estate, which Is the approximate
the committee thinks should be
produced on an equitable assessment
basis. would result in practically doubling
the tax paid by every small home owner
In the District.
Mr.. Richards quotes numerous sales in
support Of his contention that there are
no extensive inequalities in the assess
ment and strongly takes the position that,
assessment is adopted or a fixed rate
employees, the raising Of twelve millions
in taxes annually, or as much again as
the present amount Of revenue produced
by taxation. can have but one result
hardship for the small home owner
Answers Many Proposals Indirectly.
ITO raise between eleven and twelve
million dollars of tax on real estate
in the District of Columbia" he states,
will not affect large property holders
as seriously as it will the small home
owner, and If an assessment could be
made with perfect justice and equality
over the entire District and a rate
fixed SO as to raise such an amount Of
tax as the above. 1t will practically
double the tax on every small home
in the District and wipe out the equity
in many pieces of property now being
on time"
Mr.. Richards report answers indi-
rectly many Of the propositions ad-
vanced during the course Of the in
vestigation by the George subcom-
mittee of local assessment and tax
alton matters. It probably constitutes
asanst sGhees. she Of
Browne, realty expert of the COM
mittee, that an equitable assessment
of real estate in the District would
produce sufficient revenue to justify
act under which the federal govern
ment contributes to the support of
the District.
In answer to the claim Of the COM
900, 900 worth of taxable real estate In
the District which is approximately
200,000,000 more in value than the
new assessment will show, the report
states:
Variance in Land Estimates.
The assessors have examined with
care into the claim that there exists
$744 ,OO0, 900 worth of taxable real estate
in the District of Columbia OF this
amount $50e,00e, ,O00 is claimed to repre-
No. lp,
estimate makes ground values aggregate
$500 900, 900, which, at a two-thirds as
is s20e.O0o,ooo, there would ap-
ing at one of the above amounts.
1.-THE difference between the two
amounts are due mainly to different es-
Inmates Of ground values in three classes
of property. First, the business section
between 1st and 18th streets and B and K
streets. Second. the so-called fine resi-
dence section lying north Of H street.
between 14th and 21st streets and extend
ing northwest to Rock creek. Third, the
parts Of the District, especially
property.
'The business section has been care
fully studied by the present board Of
assistant assessors, and property val
ues In that section have been critical
ly examined by the board of equaliza-
many appeals an assessment has been
placed on land and buildings of less
than $90,000.000. Practically all large
sales made within the last five years
were in possession of the board. The
same property is said to be worth
$214, 100000, of which 1854 200, 900 rep
resent ground values which enter into
the aforesaid large estimate.
- The Tn fine residence property: which
$10O, 100000. has not been assessed on
the land much over a third of this
and yet the board studied the
ground values in this section with es-
pecial care.
In the Suburban Section.
'Tn the suburban section a heavy ad-
dition has been made to the old assess
ment. but the claim that the true value
Of the ground was five times the old
assessment was not found to be sub
stantiated by either sales or offer of
sales. An unusual amount Of appeals
and discussion was held relative to this
section and the new assessment can be
shown to slightly exceed two-thirds of
the average sale.
I'm the county. rise in value is nat
lral over three years, but one example
as to the reckless statements regarding
county values can be shown in the claim
that land near Chevy Chase Circle Is
worth 81 foot for well located lots. The
board, after hearing given to lot owners
and home owners of this section, found
that the highest value ever paid on any
ot does not approach a dollar a foot, but
hat one Of the best corner lots lately
sold for less than 40 cents per foot and
hat well located lots are on the market
1T 80 cents per foot Two and one-half
million dollars worth of sales of large
racts scattered over the entire county
would have to be established to be worth
'S. 600, 900, in order to agree with the five
hundred d-miilion-d dollar estimate.
ut is certain that full-value assess
ment at rate of l Y per cent cannot
be made without affecting the small
homes, foF it SO happens that the two
thirds valuation practiced in this city
comparable assessments in
many other cities where full value is
required. One Of the best real estate
of the country has expressed
he opinion that most of the large
cities are assessing about so per cent
Of the true value even where the law
the full valuation"
Quotes Sales to Justify Findings.
The report quotes the following sales
in justification of the findings of the
1ew assessment:
I'm the sale of seventy-five pieces of
suburban property aggregating over
1000 acres, made within the last four
years, the assessment is on a basis of
t2.700.0oo. The sales aggregate ST.