The Washington times., 1915-11-11
BUSINESS MEN TO Be
CALLED IN TAX PROBE
Senator Works Says Citizens
Committee Hasn't Fully
! Covered Main Points.
Continued from First Pase.)

Continued from First Pase.)
toor In Mr.. Richards face when the
otter brought certain Information asked
or by Mr.. Browne.
- When Mr.. Browne denied the charge
snator Works interposed with the firm
Statement that the committee did not
intend to stage any personal contro-
yersy between the Tax Assessor and
In announcing the committees dis
satisfaction with the testimony thus
f>l' adduced, Senator Works, addressing
Mr.: w1-thington, said:
There Ia >re thing we regard as i'm
portt mt which i,as not been covered by
you, and that Is the question of
whether the present assessment applied
to the tax rate fixed nv law imposes
reasonable or unreasonable burden on
the residents OF Washington. The com
rpittee wants to know that asked
Mr. Hoover. who seems to be we'll
Informed man. and he said he thought
the assessment was fair on the average.
Some Errors Made.
Now. there are doubtless some
properties here that are under-assess-
ed and others that are over-assesseI.
1t seems to me the citizens commit 80
ought to feel II incumbent to tell us
whether the tax burden imposed Is
question has not been covered. and 1t
IL the very question submitted to this
committee for determination, namely
the burden which the District and
Federal Governments respectively
should bear.
you have left that question up in
the air. II Is true you have taken
some specific cases as to values OF
land, but we know as practical men that
specific assessments are sometimes too
80 into the entire subject. We do not
want to guess at II. wish the citi-
Gems committee would bear that in
0llnd.
Members In Hurry.
When he called the committee to order
today Senator Works announced the
members were anxious to conclude the
hearings this week. He said they were
willing to give full opportunity to every
one. but that there ought to be some
end because members have other work
to do.
At this point Mr.. Browne interrupted
Senator Works with the encouragement:
Il have a matter Of such gittt i'm
portance to present to this committee
that ! do not think I ought to present
IT until quorum is present"
At that time only Senator Works and
Congressman Gard and Cooper were
present.
I'VE are going on with this hearing.
ana you can wait until a quorum is
here" said Senator Works. Just then
Congressman Rainey entered.
There's your quorum, go ahead"
said the chairman.
Mr.. Browne then made his request
that he be heard in secret. because. he
. said. of the gravity Of the matter l
wish to bring before you"
Can't Be Limited.
When the committee returned to tho
hearing room after listening to Mr.
Browne behind closed doors Senator
Works said:
Mr. Browne has suggested to the
committee in executive session tina. It
may be improper for this committee 10
committee of the House Of Representa-
tives. wish to say we are not mere
to consider the George taxation report !:
We are here to get facts and we can
not be limited in our inquiry because OF
matters covered in previous repor, or
oy the fact that we may reach a dirrer-
cnt conclusion"
That is precisely the view Of the
land.
NV objections" explained Mr.
} browne. were that the precedents of
the House do not permit reports Of
committees with witnesses under oath
to be examined further"
Charles f. Marsh. secretary Of the
Real Estate Title Insurance Company
armed with ledgers and papers, con-
cerning the property which Mr.. Browne
!iied TO show was underassessed. was
then put on the stand.
Mr.. Browne urged that evidence be
adduced to show that the transactions
about to be cited by Mr. Marsh were the
same ones referred to In the George re-
port. This led to a colloquy between
Mr.. Browne and members of the com
mittee.
MY veracity has been attacked" said
Mr.. Browne. "and I am not represented
ny counsel. think it only fair to re-
duire the witness to prove he Is dealing
win cases which l have referred to-"
Committee After Facts.
What we want Is facts" said Sem
stor works. no matter whether they
were or were not available TO you"
Mr. Worthington designated Thomas
Bradley to put the questions to Mr..
Marsh. because. he said, Mr.. Bradley
was more familiar with the transac-
lions Mr.. Marsh read into the record
tne contents OF papers to show that tho
real selling price OF piece of prop
erty at 1871 Seventh street northwest
was $260O instead OF $55 OoO as Mr..
Browne had contended In the sale Of
this property was involved another par
eel at 1922 Fouri eenth street, on which
there was a deed OF trust representing
the difference between the sale price
given for the Seventh street property
IN the trade and the actual cash which
changed hands IN that transa ction.
Upon request Of Mr. Gard Mr.. Marsh
went into detailed statement Of the
operations OF his COMPANY in looking
up titles and handling transfers Of
prnnerty.
Then there Is m actual difference
Of $40 100 between the actual price paiG
for this property and the figures cited
by Mr.. Rrowne?" said Congressman
Cooper. Mr.. Marsh said there was
"But you note the figures s5S 100 ap-
peared on the record" said Mr.. Browne.
"It Is on the records in Ssettlement
case" sold Mr.. Marsh
"And the records also show that the
property wns traded on a basis of
So 0O0" interrunted Mr.. Bradley.
Turning to Nv. Erowne. Congressman
Cooper said "This committee has no
thouGht Of charging YOU with deliberate
inaccuracy but do YOU not now admit
your mistakes?"
"May Have Made Errors"
IT am quite willing to admit I NAV
have made errors while working under
the conditions that did" said Mr.
Browne. There was large amount OF
work to be done. and the facts were
not always easily accessible"
Mr.. Bradley then turned to a piece OF
IL II