The Washington times., 1915-10-21

o.
I nion-East Washington Council,
Mckinley Council.
knights Of Pythias- usians. No. 10:
Rathhone- superior, No. 20. Rathhone Tenn
pie: no $. rythian Sisters.
G. y. Society OF New York Avenue Presby-
tefian Church. reception, $40 to Ii p m. at
trict. nine-tenths OF whom would pay
less taxes than at present.
The partial shifting of the burden Of
taxation from improvements person
ATTY and licenses, Is only first step
along the well tablished economic
line Of assessing benefits on the thing
benefited. II IL done in the District
inadequately and unscientificaliy in
sidewalks. curbing, and paving. and In
street extensions. IN California irr-
cation districts generally assess the
cost OF irrigation plants on land values.
assessed on the lands benefited. Why
not carry the same Just principle 10
its legitimate conclusion in the Dis
trict? In Western Canadian cities all
improvements and personally are ex-
empt from taxation Land values are
the main source of revenue"
Taxation Inequalities.
Mr.. Browne reviews the taxation and
assessment investigation conducted two
ychrs ago by the George subcommittee
Of the House District Committee and
embodies the committees allegations re-
gardinE under-assessments In the Dis
tric'. Mr.. Browne also arraigns the Of
fee of Tax Assessor Richards and re-
news the CharS" made in the report
that there have been inequalities in tax
alton under the present administration
Of the Office
The state has the right and in time
II will be seen to be its duty. to collect
the full rental value Of the land holding
privilege" says the Browne brief.
Drawing a lesson from Mexico and the
I.atin-American countries. Mr.. Browne
says:
How Latins Blundered.
THE reason why the I.atin-Americsh
countries make so little progress and
have so many revolutions is because in
shaking Off Spanish political tyranny
they failed to dislodge the Spanish
economic system which does not tax
land holdings but taxes human EFFORT.
In cuba there Is no land tax. but there
is "A customs tax of 81 per capita There
fore. Cuba is a country of huge estates,
of great wealth, but with a poverty
stricken population always shoulder
ing with resentment and revolt.
In Porto Rico and the Philippines.
GOV ernm,nt by the United states has
failed to grasp the economic situation.
There has been an enormous increase
in land values. few have been made
wealthy, but the economic condition OF
the masses Is uretChcd, improved only
ny comparison with the degradation or
spanish rule.
The Mexican revolution is an eco
nonic uprising to restore to the people
the lands stolen FROM them under the
unspcakable corruption and oppression
Of the Diaz cicntitco' regime. and
taxation II land values is one OF tho
chief tcrets OF the revolution.
,spl .l...f, Il ylaN H1n nj n
United States has been due. not apne
to the Genius OF It's people and its IN
stitutions but to freedom % commerce
between the States, to free access 20 20
more to taxation of land values which
has served in a derrc" to restrain the
| unmeasured greed and injury of land
monopoly"
Proposals For Relief.
In conclusion. Mr.. Browne makes tho
following recommendations for relief
Of the present situation:
First, that The hall-and-half contri-
button Of the Federal Government
shall Immediately and fully cease.
Second. that tn. whole system OF
taxation in the District be reorEanized
on just and s,icutit" basis. abolish
ing all unjust and oppressive forms OF
taxation.
Third, that the drastic and complete
reorganization and reformation OF the
| District assessors office he urged as AN
| Indispensable preliminary to the JUST
and equal assessment of the objects or
! taxation to be determined upon.
ADMINISTRATIVE.
Full value assessments.
THE exercise by the assessor of his
full powers for the adduCing Of testi-
! mony relative to real estate values
under oath.
THE keeping by the assessor OF a
| record of all important leases to aid In
! determining property values
The publication of land value maps
| and assessment sheets.
THE establishment of n systematic
! method OF cQualLing land values.
| THE establishment Of tables of build
| ing factors and deterioration for de-
| tel mining tn" value of improvements.
THE energetic prosecution OF the
! legal requirement Of reforming the lot
numbers in squares,
/ THE consolidation OF lots that are
| portions of sites OF single buildings.
/ LEGISLATIVE.
annual. in place If tricnnial. assess
ments.
"rhc recording Of the true considera-
\ tion in all real estate transfers.
| THE abolition of the requirement for
| tho assessors in the field personally and
| Jointly to view each piece of prop
erty.
| from which the iield assessors shall be
/ excluded.
The power to he restored to the Com.
missioners to remove the assessor or
| any OF the assistant assessors for cause.
| THE establishment of an assessment
| roll and the transfer OF the duty OF
| making bills from the ASSESSOR office
| to the office of the tax collector"
|
Rangers Are Meeting.