The Washington times., 1915-11-10

passed unanswered, BRAND explained: ::
perhaps later / shall be able to talk
more freely. The government is OF
we would not have bought the prop-
erty for an Investment This bank has
since retired from business. During the
first six months the disbursements were
81. 100 greater than the income"
Mr.. Browne had stated the property
at 1922 Fourteenth street northwest was
for .372 and sold for So5.0U:
This was not sale. said Mr.. Brad
ley. 1T was a trade In which the
purchaser regarded the cost as Sa2.bVp.
The property has since sold for Ss.5o
Replying to another question from
Senator Works. Mr.. Bradley SAID that
the George report had resulted In In
creasinG the assessments.
You believe you are overasscsscd.
said Senator Works. GLOW does the
half-and-half plan protect you?
The half-and-half plan insures that
the Government viii. pay its SHARE
said Mr.. Bradley.
Evasion Is Charged.
You arc evading my question: said
Senator Works.
Il can't always answer yes or no"
replied Mr. Bradley. lit !s true some
years the Governments contribution
mas been higher and other years lower.
but the general level has been about
half"
''lias there ever been An assessment
considered too high"
Yes. one assessment which was COM
pleted and afterward changed" the wit
ness replied. THE last one, for OK
ample. has been said to have been too
hlSh.'
leaving out the last one. l am try
ing to get your opinion of the others. -
replied Senator Works
Il believe they have been pretty fair.
said Mr.. Bradley.
scriptian of methods by which appro-
priatons for the District had been made
and concluded by saying that he could
not see where either the Assessor or
Congress ever paid any attention tc
tie half-and-half principle. Senator
half-and-half plan did not exist. wouldn't
affairs go on pretty much as they are?'
Fears Different Rate.
II fear" Mr.. Bradley started to say
what you fear is a different rate OF
assessment. isn't IT."
Yes" said Mr.. Bradley.
That Is exactly the fear said Sena
tor Works. land can't see that II hal
anything to do with the half-and-halI
plan. Suppose this committee recon-
mended .hat the half-and- half plan bt
taxation be maintained. on n two-third.
valuation. 1t seems to me the Districti
status would be about the same. Th'
only thing then that you could fehl
appropriate for the Districts needs
THAT is So" said Mr.. Bradley.
But any Congress can change thu
half-and-half plan. so you are at thu
mercy Of Congress. anyway" SALE
Coneressman Gard questioned Mr.
Bradley about what ne would have dom
with the surplus II Congress kept OF
appropriatinG half and the District
| half kept on increasing.
That will be taken up by othc
Mr.. Bradley replied. "Ofhand.
| should say II could go into more hospi
tails. rore schools and better salaric
for city employees
Proper Tax Rates.
/ The discussion then turned to
proper assessment and a proper rat
of taxation for the District. Mr.. Brad
lev said he would favor a ] per cen
rate and a full valuation were It no
tor tho fact that advertising Washing
ton as having l per cent rate woul'
arouse antagonisn from those citic
which have higher rate although
they have lower assessment on valua
ton.
| lie said the / per cent rate was opel
| to the further objection because full
| valuation worked injustice to som
property owners since exact valuation
never could be arrived at.
Mr.. Bradley then read figures 'fror
other cities which had high rates q
| assessment based on percentages rams
ing from only Is to 70 per cent.
you overlook the statements made o
! the floor OF Congress that the DistriC
assessments are very low said Senate
Works.
Favors a Rigid Rate.
{ "Thc point have been trying t
make" said Mr.. Bradley. "is that sucl
| formation. and what We fear Is tina
Congress will go ahead and raise take
on the basis of such misinformation."
! Are you In favor of rigid rate 70
the District?" asked Congressman Care
81 am In favor of rigid rate 70
Washington" said Mr.. Bradley, "bt
cause of the peculiar conditions exist
! ing here
I'm other words" said Senator Work.
you have here the anomaly OF eyncnd
lures which are controlled by your IN
come"
Questions Other Figures.
Referring to property at 1871 Sew
enth street, which Mr. Browne ha
said was assessed at s1l,l99 and sol
for S26. 200, Mr.. Bradley said that di
not represent sale either He sal
II represented the other side OF tn
above transaction, and that the SAN
property was previously quoted a
having sold for s55,000.
Mr.. Bradley cited property locate
at Vermont avenue and X sire,
which, he said. carries a deed ,
trust of 800, 900. indicating conserv,
lively a valuation OF not less tina
$4,000" according to Mr.. Browne.
Mr.. Bradley said purchase none
trust distinctly did not represent ar
such valuation. He said that previou
ly In the same year the property W,
| puIchased by E. E. Jordan from Il