The Washington times., 1915-11-05

w. Oyster had been criticised by Mr..
Browne. but Mr.. Oyster desired TO
answer these cr1ticisms himself.
Mr.. Newman then referred to the old
charge Of 1912 that the four assessors
had been interested In, real estate at
Twentieth and Belmont road. and had
reduced the assessment on their prop
erty. The Commissioner said after an
investigation he dismissed this charge.
as the amount involved was only S52
to think Assessor Richards and his as.
sociates would seek to save such small
amount by improper assessment. The
same Board of Assessors, he said. in
by Mr.. Richards. SO that he paid in
taxes n net increase of e10.82.
Entering upon refutation Of Mr..
Brownies charges. In so far as they re-
lated to 1916 assessments. Commlssioner
son of Potomac Park and Analostan
Island. The two properties are not COM
parable. the Commissioner said. because
Potomac Park contains wharfage area.
while Anaiostan Island has never been
used and Is practically virginia land.
On Price Paid Basis.
"The assessment Of Analostan Island
for 1916" he said. was on a price paid
basis.
1t was puI chased by Joseph Letter
for s9O0tO for the possible future use
OF the Washington Gaslight Company.
This Is A case OF expression In dollars
OF the meeting Of the minds Of a sci.
Ter willing hut not required TO sell. ana
a buyer willing but not required to buy.
"hs TO Mr.. Brownies criticisms OF the
1915 valuation Of Government property
here. my opinion frankly Is that 1t Is
all a guess. The assessors have not
the time and II Is not proper that they
L.. H., sl<xa e. .sl1 ~
the values Of Government property. 1t
Is not essential that they do" ~
Commissioner Newman referred to
MIR. Brownies complaint that the Com
missioners could not furnish him with
n statement OF the cubic factors used
In assessing buildings. The Commits
sioners explained that these cubic fac
tors are only rough guides used in the
preparation Of the field books and they
are thrown away when the books
m the books. he explained represent
a compromise among all the elements
which must be considered In arriv-
ing at the value Of given struc-
ture.
Not Concerned With 1912.
Turning to charges made by Mr..
Browne regarding the underassessment
OF various pieces OF property. Commits
sioner Newman again disclaimed con-
nection with the 1872 assessments. He
mentioned first the Clifford Pinchot
residence, which Mr.. Browne said was
not properly assessed even after MIR.
Pinchot requested that the assessment
be raised.
This property was assessed at 3i21. $50
in 1872" said Mr.. Newman. Mr.. Pin
chot's request came after the 1912 books
were closed. In 1915. under the new
board. the assessment was raised to
3ltl 60.
''Mr. Browne said that Friendship
Uhe country place OF John r. McLean
was inexcusably undcrassessed; that
is was worth $1,000 an acre. This prop
erty was assessed at S.0oo an acre. two
thirds valuation. In 1872 The new
board Of assessors, after a complete in
vestigation. raised II TO 500 an acre.
which is in keeping with the price land
IL bringing in that vicinity. The prices
at which property Is being offered for
q SO 400 per acre value absurd.
"Mr. Browne also said that Mr..
Dante. trustee OF the Hutchins estate.
csme down TO make an appeal from
certain assessment In 1915. and that he
said afterward he might as well have
argued against stone wall and he
was told at the District building there
Lad hecn so much agitation about
property In that neighborhood they
must assess II properly
Wants Dante Summoned.
Il earnestly request that rs matter
OF right and Justice Mr.. Dante be sum-
mored by the committee to verify or
disclaim that statement.
III the statement is true no ono IS