The Washington times., 1915-11-09

hearings OF the George taxation ,hxes
tigation, wherein II was Asserted lnet
the assessors do not go INSIDE OF houses
In estimating their value, but .ne as.
sessments are made from an 'hspee''o"
OF the exterior. .,,
Cooper. -
"It is impossible for three men to
make assessments In any other way
said Mr.. Richards.
Of these homes In the southeast. winch
are mentioned In the George report
continued MIR. Cooper. AND suppose a
fresh coat OF paint had been put on the
outside-the assessor might get one
Idea from the outside and another from
he inside"
Deterioration Wouldn't Show.
THAT IL true" said Mr.. Richards.
The deterioration within would not
show from the outside Inspection
NO, SIR"
Don't you think assessments should
ne made from both exterior ana In
terior Inspections
"Ycs: that is why say we need
more men,
Then. the fact Is" continued Mr..
Cooper. THAT up to this time assess
ments have not been properly maze 10
" sshingtonY'
We would not have asked for help
II they. had been 50 made. sa'd MT
I'm other words. 1t Is impossible for
only three men to do this work prop
srlyT"
congrpssman Cooper said assessments
should be made with care as to the
property OF the poor man. the ordinary
| wage Garner. such property owners ne
! said. have not the time to enter pro.
| tests, for the time he loses In Ming and
| pushing such appeals Is worth moro
| than the amount saved In the long run
| is the present assessment. the 1915
| assessment. equitable and falr?' asked
| AIR. Cooper.
1T Is as between section and sec
| tion," replied Nr. Richards. But II
| these three men could not render an en-
! tirely equitable assessment II would not
he necessary for me to ask FOR addi-
can go into every detail. It 10 physic-
| ally Impossible.
Simply Doing Their Best.
"You are simply doing the best you
can with the help you have" suS-
gested Mr.. Cooper.
! THAT is IT," said Mr.. Richards. I'VE
| sCongressman Gard asked what sys-
tenn Mr.. Richards would like to EN-.
, ploy granting that this additional aid
II extended his ofnee.
Mr.. Richards said he would like Ia
| constitute the three assistant assess
view to supervise the work Of the
field men. equslize their assessments
and pass on appeals.
"Wouldn't you have an appellate
board asked Mr.. GarN.
, Il think II IL II rather dangerous
thing. II the assessors are fair
minded men they should be able q
eauallze the assessments. woul1
have complaints heard by the nelt
men and assessors sitting as bosri
but ! would permit only the Ihres
assistant assessors to vote on the ap'
peals"
Congressman Cooper read further
! extracts from the George hearing,
which alleged that property In tn,
southeast section was over er-assessed
Mr.. Richards said he didn't think
there had been any discrimina tior
against that section OF the city. Sucf
discrimination. he aided, hadn't beer
shown by sale figures. Assessor Rch
ards denied that there had been dis
ordinations either In the 1912 or 1911
assessments.
Were there any Determinations IL
the 1908 and 1909 assessments." asked
Congressman Gard.
II cannot say onhard about that.
was not assessor then" Mr.. Richards
replied
HbsNbosuNHsb.
Mr. Richards said his office was II
favor OF annual. instead OF triennial as
sessments. and coupled with this sug
gcstion ne made a plea for a large fielC
force. Mr.. Richards said these fiel,
men would alternate In the various sec
tons OF the city "a experience In New
York and elsewhere had demonstrated
that some men were l'esimists ant
Others optimists about values. II woult
be the duty OF the assistant assessors
he said to equallze the confiiCtini
view as to property values in any sec
ton.
Defending in a general way the as
sessments OF his Office. Mr.. Richard
said that In the heart OF the northcas
section OF the city certain propert!
has sold FOR Sl.012.5S. These same piece
OF property. he said. had been assessed
at sl.Oi2, 456. showing that the assessor
office had been correct almost to tn
dollar IN its assessment as compared
with sale values.
In q neighborhood east Of the Capito
building. he added. the assessment O
certain property was S402. .s75. and
sold for siG06ll. Property near tn
NAVY Yard assessed at A0S 4s4 sold 10
3.ll $50. and u typical southwest sec
,tion had produced sales figures Of $50
$40 against an ass" ssment Of $3N. 2S3.
The Assessor said thnt areas in whiC
: property In Columbia road. Fourteent
street, MASSACHUSETTS, avenue extende
end near the Zoo Park figures the sale
ihad been for 81. 700 O0. and the assess
ors had figures this same property at
sum within one thousand dollars OF tn
sale prices.
Richards Outlines Work.
Mr.. Richards outlined his copnectto
, with the District Cove tnment sine
= the days when he was connected wit
the Engineer Department. He made
fiat denial OF the statement of Her
bert J. Browne that he had ordered
reduction In the assessment OF prop
rrty owned by e. c. Glover after
whispered conversation In the Distrie
building.
Il lrive never ordered any rSduc
I tions in assessments." said Mr.. Rich
ards. "SCch reduction would be
= matter for action by the board &
{ assessors. 1t follows that I ordere
: no reduction in the assessmSnt ,
l Nj. Glovers property. The taN bill
show that"
Tuinin. /" the question OF increase
assessments Mr.. Richards pointed
parts of the city which. in his opinion
had been underasaessed.
1T has been shown here" sal
senator Works. that in some year
the District has not paid half. Ha
= that been due to The fact that proI
, crty was not assessed at Its fu
L, yalue?"
"certainly" replied Mr. RIcha rd 9