Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-26

Argument by Mr.. Noyes.
Mr. Noyes opened his argument by
declaring that the foundation OF the
attacks upon the half -and-half plan Is
the erroneous belief that the National
Capital is not meeting its share OF the
burden of its own living expenses. and
told the committee that 1t would be his
duty to prove that Washington has not
failed to meet its obligations.
He recalled to the senators and rep
resentatives, sitting as joint select
committee, the charge of 1912 that the
true valuation of Washington's real
estate was s744,0oo. 900. that it could
raise s11.000.000 a year easily on its
real estate, and that it is in no need of
financial assistance from its partner,
the United States government He
would make Washington, without re-
sources such as other cities have.
worth twice as much. Tor instance, as
busy Baltimore and almost twice as
much as Cincinnati.
"Don't YOU think that this condition
comes from the speculative value placed
on Washington real estate?" asked Sen
ator Works. II have always felt that
real estate values here are more nctl-
tious than real, and that 1t comes
through real estate trades and deals.
Can you blame the ASSESSOR
COuDHI1SOu
Mr. Noyes said he was not complain
ing of the assessor. and that that Of
fetal had used higher standards in as
sessing Washington than those used
in other cities
my contention is.'' pursued the
speaker, that by using In Washington
the same standards used elsewhere the
assessment would be lower than 1t is.
h y- nyya O. "a
ing of other cities are underassessed
rs not the difference between these
figures found in the personal tax?'
asked Representative Gard.
The personal tax matter is not In
this argument just at this point" said
Just there" said Representative
Cooper, "is not the $744.000.OOo valua-
ton that which was placed on the city
in the House of Representative by the
opponents to the half-and- d-half plan?
Yes" replied Mr.. Noyes.
There may be questions concerning
the assessment that would necessitate
the assessor himself being here" sug-
citizens committee. would it. not be
wise to ask him to appear"
. This suggestion was approved by the
committee and Assessor Richards was
Brownlow. who is attending all meet
ings of the hearing, sending the mes
sage to the District building.
MI. Brownies Suggestion.
TT may appear" interposed Herbert
J. Browne, who had announced pre-
viously that he wished to get Mr.. Rich
ards on the witness stand. that others
than those speaking would like to
question the assessor: could some ar
rangement be made for that?"
I'VE will cross that bridge when we
come to it, said Senator Chiffon. chair
man of the committee; those matters
are always easily settled"
Mr.. Noyes then went on to discuss
census reports of assessments, values
and taxation figures from various
cities showing that accurate returns
were not the rule by any means and
that true valuation" based on many
of these returns is a fiction. He said
it is clear that other cities have ap-
piled a different standard for their |
assessments, and proved 1t by showing
that on the face of the returns many |
great industrial centers, of the same |
and greater than Washing !
ton, appeared to be worth millions and !
millions of dollars less than the taxed |
of Washington.
he said. "is accompanied by the delu-
sion that there is too low tax rate |
here. and this erroneous impression re-
ceived serious consideration in Con-
eress. to the incalculable detriment of
the District of Columbia"
Erroneous Method of Comparison.
Mr.. Noyes told the committee that
on erroneous method of comparison
hetween Washington and other cities
b.d been adopted by the critics of the
D,.trict who had attempted to show
not only that Washington was the
richest of cities but also that it was
underassessed and undertaxed
"Just what Is that erroneous method
Of which you complaint" asked Rep
Cooper.
accepting as correct method of /
one which accepts in turn