The Washington times., 1915-11-10

heirs Of the late Senator Proctor for
on a number OF the transactions
page sso ssd OF ,Ss Mr Gsorxs sfaa,sy h..rns
cited by Mr.. Browne including a tract
on Bates road and a property at 1909
r street, Mr.. Bradley admitted that
Mr.. Brownies figures we're correct
On other sales he said he had been
unable to get authentic information.
Reads From Report.
follows: The matter of arriving at
values is very difficult. The assessor
has only part OF the information.
There Is a great discrepancy between
assessment figures and those OF con-
demnation proceedings. Therefore.
with a view to getting at the bed rock
OF this matter we trust you gentle
men will give the information"
That reading requires a prelimin-
airy statement" interrupted Mr..
ut certainly does" snapped Mr..
Browne.
Mr.. worthington. after a pause. con
tinued to explain that the reference
meant that the committee had not
wanted to trouble business men &C
so 1t had detailed Mr.. Browne to &c
out and collect information.
Use of Sidewalks.
The Chaconas property. at Ninth
and Louisiana avenue. which Mr..
Browne had claimed was under as
sessed. again came up. Mr.. Bradley said
that the income. from rental. was 4s OF
the basis of assessment Of that prop
ertv.
Il notice there Is q roofing over the
street down there. supported by iron
posts" said Congressman Gard "That
takes up fifteen or twenty feet on the
street"
That Is an awning. permitted In Ger.
tain market sections. said Mr.. Bradley.
1T Is done In every other city"
II don't know of any other city which
permits the free use OF sidewalks BY
merchan nts." said Mr.. Gard.
We have very wide sidewalks here.
replied the witness. "Once when II was
proposed to clear those sidewalks. I an
informed. the buyers protested. The,
like to 20 along the streets and look
at goods displayed there. instead oi
going inside the markets"
An Outdoor Business.
Mr.. Cooper asked whether Mr.. Brad.
lev knew whether rental was paid fol-
streets used In the commission hous,
district OF Chicago. Mr.. Bradley said h,
did not.
III that Chaconas property were i'm
proved there would be no need Of usins
the sidewalks" Mr.. Gard said.
, The business is an outdoor business.
said Mr.. Bradley. VERY little buying 1,
done inside"
! Nj. Worthington then directed aues
tions to Mr.. Bradley regarding the com
parative prices paid for property a
auction and regular sales.
Formerly auction sales sometime
transactions" said Mr.. Bradley. but /
! Is impossible TO, sell property at auctio,
now: In the last few weeks we hav
| tried to sell five parcels OF property a
auctions and there were no bidders
'Why?" asked Mr.. Worthington.
'Because the real estate business I
absolutely paralyzed." said Mr.. Brad
| ley.
Assessed and Sale Prices.
Asked to specify the parcels he ha
mentioned Mr.. Bradley said they wer
at III Ninth street northwest, 5l3
street northwest. and three houses O
! Fifteenth street between ID and
northwest. He said the assessment o
the last three pieces OF property wa
$500, and that the property had bee
offered for sale at 5000, or $500 les
! than two-thirds of the value. lie sal
, that was why he favored an annual as
sessment. He said 1t was no refectio
much within three years that the az
sessments became widely different fror
sale prices. Three or four years age
M Mr. ,hs bradley nd,s continued some propert
Thirteenth to Fifteenth, sold for yer
, high prices because OF boom In tha
section. lie said property on the Yves
side Of Thirteenth street had sold fc
$50 foot
Cause of Depression.
The impression has been conveyed t
this committee that the present depres
sion has been due to fear that tn
| half-and-half plan would be abolished.
t.,id sena tor Works. is that truc?"
That IL absolutely true" said Nj
Bradley. Some of it may have bee
! caused by the general depression a
over the United States, but that depres
sion has been emphasized mere ny tn
agitation about the half-and half"
Il WAS going to call your attentio
to the general depression" said Sena
tor Works.
The depression here began before
was noticeable in other cities" said NJ
Bradley.
Just what do you fear" asked scna
tor Works.
AN increase OF taxes" Mr.. Bradlc
said. I'VE fear that the impression ha
been spread among members of Coz
Grcss that the District has been undel
assessed and that Congress. acting hor
estly under this misinformation. wi
increase taxes"
Attacks George Report.
DO you think Congress would d.
liberately overtax your people?" aske
Senator Works
; mo; but as l stated" said Mr.. Bra
: ley, Congress might do 1t. with GOO
faith. II It acted under the misinform
ton conveyed In such reports as that
, the George committee"