Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-12
REALTY men ASK
tGRATz AID IN PROBE
William n. Wilson, Head Of
Board, Writes to Chairman
~. Of Revision Body
COOPERATION REQUESTED

The proposal to make a scientific
sarvey Of the city's entire assessment
and taxation system appears TO be in
fair way to succeed. William II. WI
son. president Of the Real Estate
Board. after n conference with Joseph
j. Greenberg, chairman Of the taxation
eommittee Of that organization. an
nounced that he had sent to Simon
Gratz, head of the board of revision Of
tsxes, q letter asking whether the board
would cooperate in such a survey,
looking TO the development Of any i'm
provements in methods which the study
might suggest.
Mr.. Gratz would make no definite
statement before receipt of this letter,
but he indicated that it would find him
disposed to welcome any suggestions
made officially. either sy real estate
board or the Bureau Of Municipal Re
search.
"a request will be made to the board
81 revision Of tnxes Immediately for
The purpose Of having the committee Of
the Philadelphia real estate board. to.
eether with representatives Of the Blu.
reau OF Municipal Research. privileged
=, Investigate thoroughly the inside
workings OF the system employed by
the board Of revision OF taxes in as
sessing all kinds Of real estate in the
city OF Philadelphia, due to the agi-
tation at the present time respecting the
Increased assessments, together with the
general belief of the Philadelphia real
estate board that the system IN use in
fniiadelphia can be improved upon ma =
eerially to arrive at an equitable basis
sf taxation.
The forms of procedure in assessing
reel estate are largely based upon the
opinion Of individual assessors consid-
eftns the property as Il whole. whereas
70 the belief Of the Philadelphia real
estate board that more practical
method could be used. and that method
could be arrived at and recommended
aftes complete survey of the present
systera.
"a new system. such as we feel could
- esta blished, would equalize assess
ments but 1t Is not our thought, nor has
u been al any time, TO make a whole
sale increase In the assessments
throughout the city. To equalize as
sessmeuts would mean to bring up to
proper basis the properties that are
underAssessed and to reduce to the same
level the properties that are over
aRsesscd.
As representing the bulk of the
property owners in our city, we are de-
sirous Of rendering valuable service
that will be fair and equitable TO the
largest number Of property owners and,
With this thought In mind. we intend to
continue our study. Hence the request
70 investigate the present system now
In operation.
As soon as we are privileged to cx-
anime all parts OF the board Of revision
Of taxes department, our committee Is
prepared to devote the necessary time
70 familisrize itself with every de-
tall, and then present our recommenda- :
tion for the betterment OF the entire
system
Mr.. Greenberg's taxation committee,
which probably will issue the invitation
70 the research bureau to make the
survey. in the event OF consent being
obtained from Mr.. Gratz. is almost
unanimously In favor Of q very compre
hensive study OF the entire taxation
system.
Horace Groskin and John G. Will
Hams. two members Of the committee,
today declared that the up date
methods which have been tried out with
apparent success in other cities should
not be ignored here. They fully agreed
with the four other members who were
quoted yesterday in the statement that
much Of the present machinery as
assessment has outgrown its usefulness
and should be replaced.