The Washington times., 1915-11-10
BRADLEY ASSA|LS
GEORGE TAX DATA
Witness at Fiscal Inquiry Seeks
to Retute Figures Given in
Report.
CONTINUED from First PaseJ

CONTINUED from First Paseo
: serious thing. in,erposed Congress. ,,1I IS.
port is based on certain alleged facts
tupposed to have been substantiatcd by
testimony of witnesses.
granting what you have said TO be
true. these alleged facts are not backed
at all, but are utter perversions OF the
truth, and they have misled not only
Congress but the public sentiment IN
The country
Now you make statement here
which seems to demonstrate an even
more astonishing distortion OF facts.
This committee must find out what
aimee have been In the House there
had been a dispute here as to facts
which ought to be readily obtainable.
and I was informed on that occasion
that there was no doubt whatever OF
thc facts.
Here we have today absolutely de-
pial OF what witnesses have testified to
under oath before committee OF Con-
eress. In order that we may be able
TO set at rest this question we must
know the truth and ! think the time
has come to get at It,"
Senator Works said nc agreed with
Mr. Cooper. adding:
"wc should have somebody here un-
Scr oath so that some persons viii pe
tespons bic on both sides. agree with
Mr.. Cooper that this is very serious
matter which probably ought to be
taken into account by some other de-
partment of the government. these
Ptatenients have been made under oath
before a committee of Congress and
bre not true"
Senator Works referred to the state
rnents before tho George subcommittee
OF the House District COMMITTEES. which
made the report on taxation ana assess
mcnt which has been quoted IN virtu-
ely every Senate and House debate on
fhe half -and-haf controversy Tor the
past three years.
The committee took no formal action
under oath but the matter Is to be
taken up later when Chairman Chiffon
and Senator salisbury. Who are absent
todsy, are In attendance.
Browne Will Reply.
Almost the entire morning session was
consumed by Mr.. Bradley In direct con-
tradiction of the essential features Of
the George taxation report and the Her
bert j. Browne brief filed with the
present committee. After his hgurcs
had hecn assailed from every angle.
Mr.. Browne OBTAIN L consent OF the
committee to make answer later.
Congressman Cooper read from the
George hearings wherein Mr.. George
stated that proceedings before his
subcommittee did not constitute a
regular hearing. but the committee
lieved by II to be able to throw light
upon the subjects which interested
the George committee.
Following this, \. 5. Worthinston in
troduced Harold IL. Doyle. of Thomas
J. Fisher Company. who was witness
before tho George subcommittee. Mr..
Doyle said that Mr.. George was the
only member of the committee present
when he tCstih,d. that he never saw
bis tostimbny after 1t was taken ny a
stenoerai her and that 1t contained a
number Of clerical errors.
Value of Mclean Property.
Mr. Doyle said further that his opin.
ions z ven the George Committee were
cff-hani opinions. relating largely to
corner values and not half-sauare val
ucs, but he did not believe he would
cnange ms testimony materially II given
Ill opportun ty today.
Mr.. Doyle was asked number OF
questions regarding property values IN
Gestion of Mr.. Browne that the Nc
Lean property is worth anything like
10000 an acre. Land in this vicinity
he said. is selling at from 5000 to 100
Mr.. Doyle had not been interrogated
regarding the Mclean property wher
he was before the George subcommit'
tee some years ago: although thos ?, Doyle DeSn
prty value. and the George report wen,
Into the alleged under assessment OF
Friendship.
l2o.6oo an acre" interrupted Herbert
well. It might be owned by a mil
uonaire who wanted to hold It. and 70,
SSa .sS sS eSu.s sa.d M Mr. of Doss SGss"
Nj. Doyle told the committee h
though the assessment of unsubdivide'
land b.S r the na Dts ; " si sSoH wbe5 pc, wSs
bring the assessment figures in tn
event OF forced sale. Mr.. Brown
served notice that he would cross
examine Mr.. Doyle during the afternoon
session Of the committed.
BOmbarded With Questions.
Firing question after question a.
Mr., Bradley. and occasionally accus
ing him of evading direct answers t,
his INQUIRIES. Senator Works endeav
ored to get the witness to commi
himself to the proposition that th'
District Is not assured the annua
appropriations from the Government
now any more than 1t would be unde
lhe plan embodied in the Works bill
and urged by Commissioners New
At one point Senator Works said
rYour evidence goes to show that tn
Government has paid little attention
to the half-and-half principle. You sa!
belled to pay too much Everyone Wit
has appeared says that the Assesso
goes ahead and fixes assessments oil
what he believes to be true value. ir
respective of revenues needed. Con
Rress, il has been shown, appropriate
more or less, according to the Dis
tricts needs. I can't see that the half
and-half plan has benefited the Distric
at all"
Average Maintained.
To this Mr.. Bradley replied that
while certain years showed appropria
tons over or under the Districts con
trihution, the average had been main
tanned within less than 2 per cent of tn
balf-and-halt mark over the cntir
period since 1875.
4. S. Worthington and Herbert ]
Browne were on the verge of verba
hOstiltics again this morning whe1
the committee called a halt by direct
ing attention to another subject. NJ
Bradley had quoted that phrase at
tributed to Mr., George In the Georg
committees report which said that. 4
tho assessments attacked by Nj
Bradley, had constituted the be
rock" of the George report
"Will YOU please point out that ref
ercncc," asked Mr.. Browne.
Mr.. Bradley quoted from MIR. Browne
statement about tho Home Life bu Id
tRll lN.EFk ~.