Evening star., 1919-12-01

states Military Academy during the
year. To the Naval Academy at An
ed: Robert F. Nicholson. Henry c.
Burgess and George 8. Brock, jr.
The Commissioners appended to
their report summary of the work
of the District Council of Defense,
created to further war work in the
National Capital This appendix shows
how the council Of defense found
housing accommodations for thou
sands of war workers before the gov
ernment housing bureau was created.
1t also shows how the council devel-
oped the war garden movement here
as means of increasing the food
supply. The Commissioners commend
the men and women who served on
the council under the leadership of
William H. Baldwin.
Revenues, Appropriations and Surplus
financial statement contained in
the report shows that $S32.004.29 was
paid off the bonded Indebtedness OF
the city during the fiscal year. The
statement gives the bonded indebted
ness of the District or June 80 last
as $3.075. 5.s6S.4o. The financial state
ment is summed up in the following
excerpt from the report:
1.-THE cash revenues OF the District
Of Columbia amounted to $9.S4751S.
which. with the amount of unused
appropriations of prior years charged
off to the credit of the District of
Columbia by surplus warrant of June
credit of s1O.o44,73S.99.
Against the foregoing revenues
there was charged during the fiscal
year. on account of the Districts
leaving a surplus of revenues over
appropriations for the year of 81 0o5.-
977.22-that is. for the current fiscal
year itself
Pursuant to certain provisions
contained in the District Of Colum bia |
1919. the District Of Columbia was
required to reimburse the United !
States. on account of the construction |
and e1uinment of the District jail. |
as provided in section 1897 Of the |
Revised Statutes of the United States.
the sum of $125,000. and on account |!
of advances to pay teachers in the |
District public schools, as provided |
by the act entitled An act making !
appropriation for the payment of |
trict Of Columbia. and providing for
the levying Of tax to reimburse the |
same, approved April IS. 1874 the !
sum of s97.74O50. thus reducing said
surplus by the above sums. leaving |
a net surplus for the fiscal year of
the amount of surplus at the close
of the fiscal year 1918 of $3.2S0,6S
gives a. surplus of District revenues
over all appropriations and charges
June 80. 1919. of s4.063.922.1s.
This surplus is accounted for as
follows: Cash to the credit of gem
eral fund of the District of Columbia
in the Treasury of the United States,
81. .064 .465.62: cash in the hands of
the collector of taxes of the District !
fund. s11s.77s; against which there is
a liability of the District on account
of. appropriations on the books OF
the Treasury Department unbalanced 1,
June 80. 1919. of S3,120,s22.44, leaving
a net free surplus over all charges
June 80. 1919, of $4.063,s22.1s."
Net TAXABLE Assessment.
Under the heading of real estate
the report shows that
the net taxable assessment of new
for the last fiscal year
was $7.424,S77. after deducting the
value of structures damaged and de-
exempt from taxation. This total
assessment was substantial increase
over the preceding year. when the
total was only little over $6,00O.O00.
Under the heading of personal prop
erty assessments, the report shows an
increase in the tangible tax in 1919
over 1918 of $3f2344:72. and de.
crease in the intangible tax OF
slo.2so.o5.
On the assessment of real and per
ASSESSMENT OF r
The District of Columbia appropri
(3s Stat.. L., 67S), provides that real es
be assessed every two years. The real
ending June 80, 1919, is as follows:s
Assessed valuation of land. nd.....................
Assessed valuation Of improvements. ..........
Tar on land and improvements.
New buildings and additions to buildings AZ
during the fiscal year 1913 for assessmeI
Less value Of structures damaged and destroyed
Less value of buildings exempt from taxation
Leaving a net taxable assessment Of new
ASSESSMENT OF PEE
The personal tax Isl derived from
First, an amount derived from levy Q
(above $1,000 value), merchandise, jes
what is commonly known as tangible
tax on the gross earnings of banks, tr
or gross receipts of public service co
on money and credits, including NOR
shares of stock, or what is generally k
The. following table shows the an
erty for the fiscal year ended June 80,
Tangible personal property at I v per cent on
Building and loan associations at per cent on
Incorporated savings banks mt per cent on
interest paid depOstors. ................
Electric light companies at per cent on gross
Telephone companies at per cent on gross en-
Gas light companies at per cent on gross ear
Georgetown Barge, Dock, Elevator and Railway
cent on gross earningB.
National banks at per cent on gross earnings
Trust companies at per cent on gross earnil
Washington Market Company at per cent on
cenduits .............s........ .........
Street railway companies at per cent on gros
Total assessment Of. and tax on tangib
Tor 1919.
Intangible personal property at three-tenths
assessment valuation. Observation-Disclosures.
Total assessment and tax on person
Increase in tangible tax. 1919 over 1918. -.
Decrease in intangible tax, 1913 over 1915. :.
The report states that the biennial
assessment of real estate for 1920
and 1921 has been completed and is |
being entered upon the ledgers. 1t
is pointed out that in making this as
sessment the assessors were con-
fronted with the choice of two prop
ositions: Either to appraise the
dwellings. at. the abnormal prices
created by the war, or at what they
considered would be a fair value un-
der normal conditions. They adopted
the latter course. The selling value
of the property previous to the war,
together with a certain allowance
for the probable condition of the
market after number Of years, will
have to be the clue for present value,