Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-28
SHOWS |NACCURACY
OF BROWNE FIGURES
A. S. Worthington' Before Joint
Committee Riddles the
Henry George Report.
QUOTES ACTUAL SALES TO
PROVE CONVENTIONS
Real Values Shown to Be Far Less
Than Estimated by Organic
Acts Enemies.

A. S. worthington of the citizens
Joint committee yesterday concluded
his argument before the congressional
joint committee on the relations be-
tween the District Of Columbia and the
federal government. He read from a
table containing records Of more than
100 actual sales in various sections Of
the city to show that the assessed
valuation of the property appropriated
closely the valuation arrived at from
sale He contended that these figures
proved conclusively that property in
the District was not underassessed. as
charged by Mr.. Browne.
He dealt first with suburban property
which Mr. Browne had insisted was
grossly undervalued in making assess
ments. He read Of one tract of forty
five acres which sold for s22.650 and
which was assessed at $18.120 on two
thirds of the real value. Taking $lS.120
as two-thirds of the real value. 1t was
assessed at the value OF $27,l77. he
said. or considerably more than the
property brought when sold.
According to Mr.. Brownies conten-
ton that suburban property here is
assessed at only one-ffth its real
value, this property should have sold
for 100000 or more" said Gr. Worth
ington.
He quoted from the list of sales a
number of other sales Of suburban
property showing that the assessed
value was we'll up to the prices actual
ly received for this property.
What the Totals Show.
'T will not read all this list, but mere
ly place 1t in the record" he said. TAX
ing up the totals for the various sec
tions however. 1t Is shown that in sec
ton No. 1. embracing suburban prop
erty about the District. the aggregate
sales amounted to S1.400,5ss. the as
sessment to ss79,737, the assessed value
or basis of assessment to $1.12l.ooe. and
the valuation according to Mr.. Browne
to s4.39S,695.
"In section No. 2. the business section
Of the city between the Capitol and the
Treasury and between Pennsylvania
avenue and Massachusetts, avenue, it Is
shown that the sales amounted to 1901
$50, the assessment to $305,366, the ba-
sis Of assessment to s619.SS6 and the
valuation. according to Mr.. Browne, to
Sl,526,s30.
I'm section No. 8, a section of small
homes. 1t Is shown that the sales ag-
gregated $561,220; the assessment, $685.
366: the basis Of assessment, $703,oe6.
and. according to Mr.. Browne, the val
udtlOn BAOulQ nave O6en $l,Sf0,6dU.
"In section No. 4. another section of
small homes, 1t IL shown that the sales
amounted to S432,620, the assessment to
$231.0e7. the basis OF assessment to
s52s.s44. and. according to Mr.. Browne,
2s5.
Looking at the totals we ind that
the aggregate sales for all these sec
lions amounted to $2,s96.40s. the as
sessment to $1,sll:sss, the basis OF as
to Mr.. Browne. the total valuation Of
these properties should have been &c.
05s.640.
Justified by Incomes.
Mr.. Worthington took UP Mr. Brownies
contentious concerning a corner property
at 10th street and Louisiana avenue to
the effect that it was a most valua bic
site with low assessment. Aocordins
to Me-. Worthington's Information. given
him by Thomas Bradley. who has been
connected with the management OF that
property, the net income is less than
| per cent and the taxes are 30 per cent
Of the income. Also Mr.. Worthington
Mr.. Browne headed 1.-The widows mite
| wherein an example of alleged heavy
overassessment had been shouldered
| upon a poor person. The American Sc
curly ana lrust company DOCKS showed
that the net income from the particular
| mite" involved has averaged about 8
per cent in the past i've years. fairly
valuable investment.
| II might say" continued Mr.. Worth
| ington, that II Mr.. Brownies testimony
showing thirty or forty typical cases Al
| Illustrative Of the entire work Of the as.
SCISSORS ONCE is as correct as these two
| instances are shown to be, then he Ia
not entitled to fifteen minutes before
| this committee"
| "And I might say the Same thing II
your statement was correct" heplted
Mr. Browne from his chair.
| Mr.. Worthington then took up vari-
| Gus matters found in the George re-
port, the hearings preceding the George
report and in the brief OF Mr.. Browne
contrasting them with facts ascertained
| by the subcommittee of the Joint citi-
zens' committee. One item picked out
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