Evening star., 1915-11-10
MANY DISCREPANCIES
IN REPORT ARE CITED
Committeeman Freely Express View
Congress Is Being Imposed
Upon.
WHOLE TRUTH Is DEMANDED
Utter Distortion of Facts to Make
Out Case Charged by Representa-
tive Cooper, Who Attacks
George Report.


Browne. upon which the Henry
George, lr., report alleging gross
underassesment in the District
OF Columbia were based, were
riddled today by representatives
of the joint citizens committee
before the Joint select committee
of Congress inquiring into the
fiscal relation of the United States
and District of Columbia. Mr..
Brownies brief filed with the con-
gressiona1 committee also was at
tackled at the hearing before that
committee today
So startling were the discrepan-
cies between the figures of Mr..
Browne and those presented by
the Joint citizens committee that
members of the congressional
committee freely expressed the
belief that Congress was being
imposed upon.
Senator Works and Representative
Cooper demanded that the whole truth
of the facts at issue be ascertained.
Senator Works suggested that testi-
mony should be taken under oath. He
further suggested that il 1t became
apparent that witnesses In tho past had
gone before a congressional committee
and testified to alleged facts under
oath which were false another de-
partment of the government" should
be called in. His words were taken to
indicate that the Department of Jus-
tice might be asked to take up the
matter.
1t is evident that there has been
somewhere an utter distortion of the
truth to make out CASE said Rep
resentative Cooper. The George re-
port was based on alleged facts, sworn
to by witnesses appearing before the
committee. 1t appears now that these
facts are not facts at all. but a per-
version of the facts. 1t seems that II
the contentious made here today are
true, the people of the District, the
country and Congress have been mis-
led"
/, Thomas Bradley, the real estate Of
fcer OF the Washington Loan and
Trust Company and secretary of the
subcommittee on taxation and assess
ment of the joint citizens committee,
was before the committee and present.
ed the facts in regard to the Browne
figures on behalf of the citiZens' COM
mIttee. Harold E. Doyle, a real estate
expert, followed Mr.. Bradley on the
witness stand.
Again Attacks Browne Figures.
When Thomas Bradley resumed his
testimony today he continued his at
be hS.
Herbert J. Browne. upon which the
George report assessment and tax
alton in the District was based He
took up additional cases cited by Mr.
Browne showing underassessmsnt
along the line taken up by him yes
terday afternoon.
| MIR. Bradley referred, also, to the case
mentioned in MIR. Brownies statement
| OF the northwest corner of 18th and
Church streets. Mr.. Brownies state
inent shaved that this los was assessed
for 1858 and sold for $20.5OO.
The above SALE" said Mr.. Bradley.
| included two adjoining lots not men
| toned by Mr. Browne. The figures
given by him are incorrect and the
property sold close to the basis Of as
| sessment, S17,449."
The next case taken up by Mr.. Brad
| ley Is that OF the sale of 1907 G. street
| northwest According to Mr.. Brownies
| statement, this property was assessed
| Tor si4,ieo and sold for $4,000
These figures are correct" said Mr..
Bradley. but this was a forced pur-
chase. The property was adjoining
/ ana Is now part of the Palais Royal.
| one OF our largest department stores. .
| another case contained in Mr..
! Brownies statement was that Of tne
southeast corner of 11th and H streets
| northwest. Mr.. Browne showed ,hat
| this property was assessed for s15.6s7
| and sold for $4,000.
These figures are correct" said Mr..
bradley. Note that the sale is within
. per cent of the basis of assessment.
s23.530." -
Two Sales Added Together.
The case of the sale of 72s 11th street
northwest was next considered. Mr..
Brownies statement showed that this
property was assessed for $13.s12 and
sold for s35,220.
These figures are incorrect" said Mr..
| Bradley According to NJ. A. Leese
Mr.. Leese paid $4,000 for that proper
ty. 1t was sold for $1,000 and then
for s1S.0ZO in the same transaction, the
difference being the brokers' commits
sion. Mr.. Browne actually added the
two sales together"
| Mr.. Browns statement showed that
1905 G street northwest was assessed
for s1S.950 and sold for $4,000.
This is a true statement" said Mr.
Bradley, but 1t was a forced pur-
chase. This was another transaction
in the enlargement Of the Palai.
Royal"
4 MIR Brownies statement showed that
lots "a and "a in square 291 were as
sessed for $59,765 and sold for ys7,-
s03.
This Is a misstatement as. to assess
ment.' said Mr.. Bradley. The correct
figure of the assessment liz $69765
; which takes the basis of assessment
i $104,647, greater than the sale. Chris.
tian Heurich. the purchaser. said thai
the property was bought for specia
purposes which has not materialized II
1