Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-01
GRATZ DEFENDS
IINDERTAXATION
Revision Board Head Adj
mits Blankenburg and Nc
Nichol Assessment Cuts
SAYS REYBuRN ASKED IT
Granted Request So City Could
Get Parkway at Lower Figure
by Condemnation


Admission that the residence Of State
Benhtor James y McNichol, former Mayor
Rudolph Blankonbnrg and Or. Samuel sar-
tain IN West LogaR Square arc underas-
ocnsed and have been 70 since the Hepburn
adniiniatrntlon was made today by Simon
orntz. president Of tho Board Of Revision
% Taxea.
Mr.. oratz pleaded that he had not as
eesaed these properties up TO their fun value
becauso Mayor Reyburn had begged him
not 20.
''ywhy dId Mayor Hepburn neg you not
70 assesses those properties UP TO their fun
valueT was asked.
Tha aged president OF the Board Of Re
finion OF Taxes rolled m unlightcd cigar
around his mouth several times, and made
two or three revolutions In his revolving
chair before replying.
1T WAS LIKE THIS"
You nee II was like this" he said, with.
drawing the cigar and digging nt the band
with n fngcrnnii Mayor Reyburn came
20 me and begged me not TO Increase the
assessments IN that section through which
Tho Parkway was to 20.
~ remember perfectly by his very words;
MT. Gratz' no said lot those aHseHamentH
alone. II you keep your hands on | will
be able 20 buy those properties NJ ten per
ANNNNNth
you boost the assessments tho city will have
90 pay sight more money for tho prop
erties'
I'm all probability. n Mayor Reyburn had
not asked me 10 keep my hands OF. would
have raised tho assessments. But when tho
Mayor explained his plan TO me I agreed
20 Il. as would agree TO anything which
~ for the public good"
Public attention was called TO the wide
difference between property nHsenSmentB
and property valuations OF West Logan
Square last Tuesday, when former Mayor
Biankenburg testified before the Board OF
Road Reviewers In the matter OF damages
20 be awarded him for his home. 2ii West
Logan Square, which has been condemned
for the Parkway. The residence In assessed
by the city for the present year at $4,000,
hut Mr.. Blankonburg puts valuation OF
$4,000 on II.
benjamin T. walch. J. II. jackson and
Frank II. Massey, real estate experts, val
usd tho property at figures from s74, 1900 to
$4,000 The same experts valued Senator
McNicholB home nj 222 West Logan Square
at from si3S,5OO TO Si5a,000. Tho Me-
Nichoi property IN assessed at $4,000
Testimony was also taken Ms to tho value
Of the residence OF DR.. Samuel SRrtnln.
1t 2i2 West Logan Square. The doctor
values his property at $4,000. II ls as
scssed this year at $4,000.
OTHER OWNERS SUSPICIOUS
when the discrepancy between tho
assessments and valuations OF these prop
ertiea became public property. the suspicion
arose among thousands OF small property
hoiderH all over the city. who are assessed
right up the handle" that all was not
right with Philadelphas system OF prop
erty assessment. Charges were made that
II was case OF playing favorltes" and
that the little houHeholdors were being
forced unJustly 10 bear the greater part
of the burden OF property taxation
Asked II Il was true that numerous prop
ertyholderB, such as MeNlchol and Blankcn-
burg. were being ''let of easy" IN the matter
or aasesamegits to the disadvantage Of small
property holders, Mr. dratz replied
ut In no such thing. The situation as re-
CARDS MoNlnhoi and Blhnkenburg In West
Logan Square does not hold true In other
sections OF the city II II true that would
have raised those assessments In tho Rey-
burn administration. but have explained
why did not do 80.
-rhe small property holder 10 not being
dlBcriminated against, nor are there nny
property holders. big or little. who are be-
ing favored II you win talk with some
Of the big property holders In tho central
part OF the city you viii soon ind that
they feel that no fayoritlsm Is being shown
them"
but Mr. orats. Mr. Blankenburga rest
dence II assessed at $4,000, and Mr.
has testified that HIS house IL
worth $4,000. Three real estate experts
have testified 10 It's greater value. How
% you account for such discrepancy be- |
tween the amount OF the asaeasnnent $40
600. and the valuation OF ssa,O00T
Nothing to H." replied Mr.. Grats, roll |
Ing his cigar nom one end OF his mouth |
10 the other, nothing 10 It. / say"
BLANKENBuRG HONEST FELLOW
NOW Mr.. Blankenburg In an honest fell
low all right; give him credit for that
He may value his property at Ssa 600
{ he wants 10, or he may say II Ia worth
100000 II It suits him. No doubt he
nay think ais residence IL worth $4,000
But Il doesn't make any difference what
ie thinks II IA worth: what counts is the
Ium the property win bring In the open
market. dont doubt that MoNlehol
laA put enough improvements In his resi-
lenoe 10 make Il worth $4,000 10 him.
'ut the question Is, as I say, what II viii
ring under the hammer"
'But, Mr., Grats. experts have testified
q 10 the value OF these properties, and they
lnt It at or near the owners figures"
The veteral president OF the Board Of Re-
lision OF Taxes smiled ono OF those dry.
iaryous hiailes which are characteristics
With him
.'Expertsr he remarked contemptuously.
Who can't have expertsi Say. don't care
hat your proposition Is you can get an ex-
ert to gee up on Il II you are able 20 pay
e zee. Expert advice doesn't amount to
nythlng"
hr orata slapped the desk with a lean