Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-16

son: and then. per capita receipts
from cities OF greater or less popula-
ton than Washington will give you
direct line on that comparison. TIL.
only absolutely accurate figures that
anybody can produce are the tax re-
cetpts. the amount OF money actually
realized and the levy actually I'm
posed
S.
In these comparisons we stand "a
taxed higher than tho great majority
OF the American cities. higher than Ifs
out OF 227 cities having over 10000
popuiation. and no one can question
-, Iacts. because they are Official
~ reported by the United States CEN
sus. All you have to do is to com
pare, in the different classes, the Dis
cities.
In these comparisons We are some
times asked whether We include state
taxes In certain OF the comparisons
We do. TO the extent that they are
applicable to the District of Colum
bia. to the extent that we have SINH
lar penents to those which are given
to the state. But We really ought not
10 include any comparison on state
| taxes. because this is not a state and
we have not the government of
state: We have not any one Of the
privileges Of q state. We have not
states to sue in the federal courts.
We have not representation in Con-
gress or the electoral college. We
have no legislative or other state
government, and we have had no
share in the land grants given to tho
states. or the donations, as for ex-
ample. the $4,000. 900 under the Nor
| rill act, and others. We are not r.
state ana we have not the benefits or
privileges Of the states. Therefore We
tn hn ~
question OF state taxation.
In 1915 we showed to the satisfac-
ton OF the joint select committee of
Congress- that we were adequately as
| sessed. One way that We did it was
| actual sales all over the District of
Columbia. upon which 1t appeared.
from a comparison Of the actual
prices. ascertained by the assessor
| with great care. with the basic as
| the purposes OF assessment. that It
| was 100000 more than the actual
prices obtained.
Now, we have the figures for the
| present time. from July 1. 1916. to
July /, 1919, covering 1893 sales In
I trict Of Columbia. including IS per
cent Of all the sales in the business
| district. in the heart Of the city.
which, OF course, Is the most stable
part Of the property here, as else
where, for purposes OF comparison.
| and including representative sales in
| the northwest, in the southwest, in
| the northeast and the southeast.
which give you typical sales in all
| those sections.
for basis Of assessment was 1880
526. while the actual sale prices OF
these same properties was $36,546.631,
or 100000 more OF valuation for the
purposes OF assessment than the
actual prices realized by actual sale.
| in the business district, the very
heart of the city. where the facts
| are strongest Of all because they are
stable.
The gross undervaluations in many
cities claiming to make true valua-
tions and used to the disadvantage Of
the District of Columbia are dis
credited by the comparison of the
actual figures. According to the
census report Of 1918 Uf we assume
ment are accurately the Washington
| realty values in the taxed portion.
leaving out the government and other
exempt holdings, amounted to $685.
100000. Cincinnati. larger both in
area and population than Washing
cial city OF far greater wealth. re-
ported that its real property. which
is practically all Of the city. there
; being little exempt property. ID
valued at $4,000. 900. $122.00o.0oo less
trict Of Columbia. Baltimore and Mil
| waukee. both richer than the District
of Columbia, reported each about
$143. 900. 900 less realty value than In
the District Of Columbia, although: as
t., al AL rifioo the Dis.
trict Of Columbia. exempt property is
insignificant in comparison. Buffalo.
a very rioh commercial and indus
trial city. reports $s0.000.000 less.
Minneapolis. also great manufac-
turing center of wealth. reports $751;
000, 900 less. Newark. which Is in the
same class Of rich commercial and
industrial cities, reports $254.000.OOO
less, while New Orleans reports $780,
OO0, 900 less, although 1t also IL rich
commercial and industrial city.
It stands to reason that either the
District Of Columbia Is greatly over
assessed or these other cities are
greatly underassessed with respect to
their realty. and also that the claim
ana ana NeWark are assessed on a 100 per
cent basis cannot be correct.
This seems to US to prove con-
clusively that the basis OF assessment
here Is higher than the actual sale
Qf1Ce0, ana tuAI tu0 dooSScAuoAS
higher than In q great majority OF
the cities Of the country where such
comparisons have not been made.
They have been made in some cases
by the tax commissioners OF wash,
ineton. Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Ohio, but they are not made In the
case of other cities, and the esti-
mates which have been sent In IN
letters and kilograms as to the rela-
0nessea or in some cases prejudiced