Evening star., 1915-11-10

ANcoNA
turn Of s,d: as .sg on the assessors full valua-
IS. That the true value of the prop
erty is $4,000.
| Against these we present the follow
| ing facts:
'The actual rent collected for the
year ending May 21, 1915. was $4,000.
not $4,000. The property is assessed
at $140,S5s. ! The error to which Mr..
Browne refers is in a private publica-
| ton not issued by the assessors office.
The taxes paid were s2,112.s7. other ex-
penses were-s662.05, making total de-
duction from the rent collected of $2,-
| 77492, and making the net Income
$1o,125.0s.
'The assessors valuation is $211,2s7.
not s196,2S7, and on this amount the
net returns to the owners of the prop
erty was 4.s. surely not an excessive
rate. The taxes are over Is per cent
| $13,2O0 were 16.1 of the rent actually
| collected, and are POST per cent of the
net income. So much for the contrast
of facts.
"on page twenty-four of his brief
Mr.. Browne gives an argument consum-
| ing nearly two pages to show that the
house at 1877 Emerson street north
east is overassessed. Following are
| the actual returns for five years past
on 1877 Emerson street northeast,
showing an actual net income for that
period on the assessors full valuation
! as follows: 1910, 7.81; 1911, 7.S1: 1912,
s.s4: 1913, 9.s4: 1914. 9.S4, average. 81.
Statements of Importance.
Mr. Bradley had not been talking ten
minutes, uncovering several errors in
the George report, when Representa-
\ Hn
closest attention. said:
These statements are of the great
est Importance and interest in cor
recting a wrong impression. 1t Is
nothing short of remarkable that such
errors could be made and presented to
a committee OF Congress- Mr.. Cooper
| was referring to the erroneous state
mony before the George investigating
4 committee.
Il can well remember when the
George report came into the House."
Mr.. Cooper continued, "and I can re-
call the impression that 1t made, which
was that the property in Washington
| has been underassessed. These figures
showing that the fundamental state
ments Of the George report were mac
curate are of tremendous Importance"
Question as to Assessment.
|
alleged erroneous statements. Senator
Works interrupted him to say:
Il think it is very important to know
whether the present assessment on the
property here is correct or not. Mr..
Cooper believes the statements by Mr.
Bradley are important, in that they tend
to discredit the George report. but 1
believe it is much more important to
know whether the present assessment
is just and correct
said Col. Worthington, ito show the
present assessment to be a gross exag-
geration."
He continued:
The committee should know that we
believe the George report is at the
basis OF this whole matter, and the
statements made herein are of extreme
value. Herbert ]. Browne was asked
to get typical real estate cases to show
that the sales were at higher figures
than the basis of the assessments; in
other words, to show that we are un-
lderassessed. He produced these cases.
which Mr.. Bradley is discussing and
showing to be erroneous, and on these
cases Is based the statement that we
are underassessed, which led to the
statements in Congress that II we were
properly assessed we could raise enough
money to pay all the expenses of the
National Capital, which led in turn to
the fight eliminating in the appoint
this investigation"
"At the proper time" interrupted Mr.,
Browne. II think I will be able to salts
fy the committee as to the whole re-
port
Sale Was Not for $55, 900.
Mr.. Bradley took up his statement Of
real estate sales again. mentioning a
case which the George hearings de-
| cIo ~ hA I'M ~
assessment in that the property was
assessed at s21.372 and sold for $55, 1000
w. j. Kehoe, who bought the property,
was present in the room. He mentioned
to Mr. Bradley that he had written q
letter on the subject and Mr. Bradley
read therefrom to the effect that in
stead of $4,000 the sale was in reality
at s32, 1000; and that the assessment had
since been raised, SO that Mr.. Kehoe
tune of $1,000"
Nr. Bradley's statement that these
discredited cases had been considered
as "the bedrock of the George report
produced an objection from Mr.. Browne:
will you indicate where he made
that statement?" he asked.
Certainly; on page 280 of the George
hearings" returned Mr.. Bradley. who
then read from statement by Repre-
sentative George to witness that
it Is with view of getting something
that shall be bedrock" that Mr.. Browne
was going into the various real estate
offices, etc, for his Investigations. Mr..
Browne indicated strongly that he
would make an answer to this portion
of the joint citizens committees crit
icisms of his work.
Cites Fear Of Tax Increase.
Senator Works asked Mr.. Bradley II
the half-and-half controversy had
smothered real estate values In the Dis
trict, to which Mr.. Bradley made an
emphatic reply in the affirmative.
That is undoubtedly the case" he
explained. "Of course. there has been
a business depression all over the coun-
try. but conditions here have been made
worse than they would have been by
the fear that taxes are to be increased
and they are already too high. We fear
! that Congress thinks we are under
! taxed. We believe we are not under
taxed. but never before now have we
had the opportunity to present our case
to Congress"
DO you think Congress would de-
liberately overtax the people Of the
District OF Columbian" asked Senator
, Works.
IF Congress is not fully informed 1t
!, hight honestly act under misappre-
|. hepsions' explained Mh Bradleys "and