Evening star., 1915-11-11

the statement Of what some one in
Baltimore had told some one else ABOUT
what was coming out in census ouile-
tin
After fencing back and forth. Mr..
Worthington brought up the Friend
ship assessment again.
Why do you keep dragging that M.
asked Mr.. Browne. Il have told you
But the fact that 1t was not testt-
mony was never presented to the
House." said Representative Cooper. II
is in the report, this $4,000 an acre,
but when you turn to 1t this testimony
is not there"
Refers to High School Site.
Mr.. worthington asked Mr.. Browne II
the new Eastern High School site could
be included in the small home area:
Yes"
Well. the assessment there was $52.-
900. and the award something like
S13s.ooo. very much in excess Of the as
sessment. You wouldn't consider that
an overassessment in the small home
area. would you!
Mr.. Browne said that he did not "a ke
the case az q proper example at all.
and that he believed the testimony OF
Harold Doyle in that case rather tnan
the fury. Mr.. Worthington made note
Of the fact that In some instances Mr.
Browne accepted jury figures, in others
witness figures, to prove his contention
of overasse ssment OF small homes.
Mr. Worthington questioned MI.
Browne about the condemnation OF the
property on which the Senate once
building stands and also that on which
the House ONCE building stands. He
brought out the fact that these areas.
which.were small home areas, were as
sessed far below the values put upon
them In the condemnation proceedings.
In the case of the Senate office build
ing the assessments were SIS per cent
below. and in the case of the House
Office building. "a per cent.
But" said Mr.. Browne. that has
reference to the assessments on the
ground only. and my contention is that
the assessments are too high on the
improvements owned by the small
home owners, not the ground"
Discussion Of Leases.
Mr.. worthington then went into the
matter of the leases used by Mr..
Browne before the George committee
to show the value OF properties in the
business section. He tried to pin Mr..
Browne down as to what method he
adopted in selecting cases from the
office of the recorder of deeds to use
in his presentation before the George
Il don't remember exactly bow 1
picked these leases" replied Mr..
browne. "I only know that they were
typical Of the business area, character
tstic. You'll have to take my word for
chat"
He said he took all the leases he
wanted. and then stopped. They speak
for themselves" he stated.
Mr. Browne said he had made no more
effort to select them than Mr.. Bradley
of the citizens committee had made to
select cases for his presentation of
statistics before the investigating COM
mittee.
Mr.. Browne was questioned about his
statements to the George committee in
regard to the capitalization Of proper
ties in the business area. He said that
business properties in Washington are
strongly held and are not subject for
the most part to speculation. He pre-
sented q page torn from an issue of
The Star, showing number of adver-
tisements of trustee sales of property.
Nearly all Of these are small homes"
declared Mr.. Browne.
Aren't there many more small homes
in the District than any other kind Of
property" asked Representative Rainey
.Might that not explain the reason for
so many forced sales OF that kind Of
property"
MI. Browne said he did mot think SO.