Evening star., 1915-11-11

| NV ~ I'LL LxVBI
| Of D. c. TAXATION
Continued from First Page.)
terday discrediting the evidence sub
mitted by Mr.. Browne to the Georg'
committee, and upon which the Georg'
report was largely based.
Seventh Street Sale Discussed.
The first case about which Mr. Brad
ley questioned Mr.. Marsh was that IN
cluded in Mr. Brownies statement tt
the George committee dealing witt
1131 7th street northwest. Mr.. Browne
had claimed that this property was as
sessed at $11. .199 and was sold for Soo'-
O1O Under direction OF Mr.. BradleS
Mr.. Marsh read from the records OF the
title company to show that the prop
erty was traded, not sold. and that or
basis of $4,000. not Soo.ooo. Inc
other property involved in this trans.
action was located at the southwest
corner of 14th and L streets northwest
All the records of the TRANSACTION
were presented to the committee py
Mr.. Marsh. He told the committee
that this must have been the transac-
ton discussed by Mr.. Browne in his
report to the George committee, since,
SO far as the deeds showed, this prop
erty had not been involved in any
other transfer for number of years.
Mr.. Browne interrupted the questions
of Mr. Bradley to the witness, declar-
ing that it was evident that an at
tempt was being made to impeach his
testimony before the George commit
tee.
IT am not represented here by coun-
SELL" said Mr.. Browne. ''and I must
look to the committee for protection. I
insist that the records shown here be
those from which I took my data for
the George committee and not other
records"
Directs Witness to Proceed.
'The committee wants all the facts,
whoever they may reflect upon," said
Senator Works. He directed the wit
ness to proceed.
After Mr.. Marsh had completed read
ing into the record the statements con-
tanned in the papers concerning the
case under question, Mr.. Browne insist
ed that he read also the statements on
the jacket containing the papers.
ITO summarize the information given
the committee regarding this case." said
Representative Cooper, what was the
property at 1131 7th street sold for?
The property at 1131 7th street was
sold for s26,000," was the reply of Mr..
Marsh.
Mr. Marsh in reply to questions said
that when Mr.. Browne came to get in
formation from the title company he
requested to look at the ledgers, and
that the understanding was he was to
have access to all the papers in those
f,co NIrhi hiN1 ha IN ny ct GA a
Mr.. Marsh also testified that no one is
permitted to examine the records of
the title company except when sub
poena had been issued for them. He
said, however, that at the request of
Representative George, Mr. Browne
was given access to them.
Shows Embarrassment"
With the actual papers in the case of
each real estate transaction in his
hand, Mr.. Marsh. under questioning
from Thomas Bradley. developed the
errors in Mr.. Brownies testimony given
ment investigating committee, and pre-
ceded by Mr.. Brownies statement at that
time that it was an example of "notori-
Gus underassessment."
THE case Of the sale Of 1922 14th
street" said Mr.. Marsh, said to be sold
for $4,000. was settlement case. There
was trade involved. One side of the
trade was worth $4,000 and the other
side S28,0aD The two sides of the trans
Browne
There is no thought that you delib-
deliberate fnfsstatements. Mr.. Browne -
said Representative Cooper, but this is
an error. I suppose" 60
I admit there may be errors. I was
rushed with work and had no help"
answered Mr. Browne.
In the George report this particular
item was reported as having sold for
$55, 900. In reality IT sold for $26, 900, -
continued Representative Cooper.
You may rest assured the committee
IS not trying to discredit you, we mere
ly want the facts" said Senator Works.
No. but the persons making this ex-
animation are attempting to discredit
me- Mr.. Browne replied.
Examples Of differentiation.
. Mr.. Marsh took up another example
of alleged undera ssessment from the
George, hearings. lot 4s. square 1873, said
by the George report to have been as
sessed at s7.47o and sold for s37,11s:
"A case of double SALE" Mr. Marsh
explained. TT was bought in two sec
tions. Alonzo Bliss bought one half
for SS,773.s0 and later bought the other
half for Ss,335, total OF $1710s6O.
Later DR.. Bliss sold the entire property
to the Scottish Rite Organization for
s20,010"
1t was shown that Mr.. Browne. in
reporting this as case of underas-
sessment to the George investigating
committee (the information being sub
sequently reported to the House), had
added the sums, Of the three separa te
transactions.
That is evidently an error Doubled
up said Mr.. Browne.
somewhat similar error In the
Browne testimony before Representa-
tive George was disclosed by Mf Marsh
in the case of lot 40. square $50. Ac-
cordins to the George report this was
assessed at s5,693 and sold at s20,50O.
"In this case" explained the witness,
the price for the property was $4,000.
However. the purchaser OF this prop
erty also bought the adjoining lot for
$10.60Q and Mr.. Browne has evidently
added the prices of the two lots to-
gether. One lot only is mentioned, but
the price Is that Of two lots"
Assessed $14,524 Too Little.
The George report charged that lot
Al, square 1873. was assessed at $500
and gold for s21 1.4o4. Mr. Marsh, with
the papers in hand, today divulged to
the joint select committee that the total
price paid was s15,1S6. However in
order to make delivery of this niece
of land. Mr.. Marsh explained that the
purchaser had to buy another piece-
the south thirteen feet-and these +wo
transactions added made the sum ot
$21.404.
MT Browne admitted his error to the