davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1927-10-09
WASHINCTONIANS FEEL EFFECT
OF RISING TAX ASSESSMENTS

SCISSORS office for not levying full as
ressmentS. And when Congress leaves
on, the tax assessors office Is at
tackled for making assessments too
high.
AS a matter of fact, and granting
that there must be many cases where
the assessment is justified neither by
the asking price nor the actual sale
consideration. the total assessment on
property changing hands is lower by
good margin than the amount of
money changing hands in the trans
IerS. Sales prices are used as guide
by the assessors, but neither the high
est sales price nor the lowest Is made
the one standard for assessment. An
average is sought. and where there
nave been no sales to show actual
value many other factors are taken
INTO consideration by applying demon.
strated values in one community to
theoretical values in a similar com.
munity. The result is that in some
instances the assessment falls below
the sales price, while in others it is
above the actual value as set down by
a sale.
Assessments for last years taxes
were carried over from those made in
1919, 1920, 1921 and 1922. The assess
ments for this years bill were made
since 1922 and on rising real estate
market. Next years tax bills will be
based on later assessment still. In
some instances these assessments will
be lower, the result of a slackened
activity in real estate, with lower
prices as consequence. On the other
hand, prices are holding firm for the
most part, although there are indica-
tions that the demand has caught up
with and exceeded the supply of houses
for sale, as compared with the situa-
ton Of a few years ago. Assessments
in Washington are made on land and
on improvements. For this reason as
sessments increase much more rapidly
in the downtown business district
than in the residential communities.
In the business section the total as
Sessed value on property may be $780,
900, the building being assessed at
$40, 900 and the land at $50 The
assessment increases almost auto
matically from year to year. and the
increase is usually rapid, although the
building may be old. deterioated and
becoming more useless every year. In
the residential property the situation
is reversed. The building may be as.
sessed at $4,000 and the land at only
$4,000. Every year the building Is
subject to depreciation. At the same
time the land increases in value, some
times very slowly, so that the assess.
ment may remain fixed for years at a
time. The decrease of surrounding
vacant property, building of apart
ment houses or the infiltration of busi-
ness will all combine to increase the
value of the land and therefore it's
assessment. The same condition will
result from a brisk activity in real
estate, when large demand and short
supply combine to send property
prices above their normal value.
The trend of assessments and their
comparison with sales prices are indi-
Gated in the table which follows. The
figures were chosen from those at the
tax assessors office:
Evening star., 1927-10-09

ma Canal, are squeezing the interior
more tightly.
That rivers can be made to carry
freight traffic cheaply and efficiently
has been demonstrated by operations
of the Inland Waterways Corporation,
which, under the guiding hand Of the
War Department, operates barge lines
on the Mississippi and Warrior Rivers.
This, it is to be noted, is only in.
directly Government control. A large
committee Of shippers and receivers
of freight in the Mississippi Valley
appeared before Federal officials Fri.
day to urge a recommendation that
Congress authorize $5O.OOO,OO0 in.
crease in the capital stock of this
corporation in order that additional
equipment may be purchased as the
need arises. All the capital stock is
owned by the Federal Government,
the present amount being $4,000, 900.
The barge lines have been obliged to
reject shipments which have been ten
dered because of inadequate equipment
capacity, these shippers asserted.
The esto-the-sea deep waterway
project probably will not be in shape
for presentation to Congress for final
action at the coming session, yet the
engineering and economic studies have
progressed so far that the subject
probably will be put forward for de-
bate in preparation for future action.
1t appears certain that flood con-
troll, Muscle Shoals policy. Colorado
River problems, with the Boulder Dam
project included. and general water
ways Improvement will he more or
less linked in the discussions on the
floors of the two houses next Winter.
The fight will be to separate from the
general situation those items which
are ready for immediate action, 1t be-
iSg generally recognized that agree
ment on an all-inclusive program is
hopeless. even IL all projects were in
condition where final settlement
would be practicable.
lCopyright. 1921 4.azsz-.
Evening star., 1927-10-09
This and That

'If at first you don't succeed.

'If at first you don't succeed.
Try, try again."
Perhaps no creature In the world
better exemplfies the spirit of this old
copy book maxim than the house cat.
For sheer persistence the domestic
cat makes the average human being
look like a piker. 1t keeps on trying
until it accomplishes its purpose.
whether 1t be in opening a closet door
or catching mouse.
The latter Is one Of the classic In
stances of sticking to a thing; but
cat displays the same trait hundred
times day to it's friends.
There is a certain element of stub
bornness in the creature, of course.
Persistence is partly stubbOrnness In
any case. The stubborn child, other
things being equal, is likely to turn
into "Go-getter," who keeps on ham.
wants.
The cat Jack Spratt recently took
sudden. liking for the dining room
table as a general reposing place.
Now and then. during the past four
years, Jack has shown a disposition to
sleep upon the table, but his latest
fancy went far beyond that.
This time he hoped up morning,
noon and night.
In fact, he practically had to be
bodily removed in order for meals to
be served.
The placing of new cloth upon tha
table was a sure sign of Jacks ar
rival. No sooner would the cloth so
on than old Spratt would hop up.
The thing was automatic.
X X y y
Jack conducted a great deal of his
daily ablutions upon the dining room
table, therefore, as well as constitut,
ing it his favorite sleeping place fot
the nonce.
Those who understand cats will real
ize without further words why this
action upon the part of the household
pet was tolerated.
There was no thought of fon
bidding him his preferred place. The
only problem was how to SECURE
enough tablecloths for daily use.
Jack is an inveterate washer. spend
ing many hours day in this faverits
cat pastime. AS clean as he Is. the
constant licking Is bound to leave
stray hairs around.
Sometimes they will brush of. and
sometimes they won't. In the latter
case the only thing to do is to put on
a fresh cloth.
X X -
One evening particularly fancy
tablecloth was spread out.
No sooner was the back turned thar
up hoped Jack Spratt.
He was promptly removed.
keep off that table, now" was the
But cat. like some peo
pie, readily fails to understand wheI
it does not want to understand.
The moment the room was empty
up went Jack.
"Stay off that tablet" came the sterI
as Jack Spratt, striped tai
and all, was lowered to the floor once
more.
He sat looking up with determined
gleam in his gooseberry.green eyes.
Lets go away and see what HI
will do"
Every one knew what he would do
No sooner was the room empty that
there came the sound of soft thud
as Jack sprang onto the table again
When we looked in, there he was
curled up asleep by the bread plate
1t Is perhaps unnecessary to stat, I
that he remained there during thu
meal, constituting somewhat un
usual but pleasing table decoration.
Evening star., 1927-10-09

The American Institute Of Archi-
tects is the latest organization to
enter the campaign to save the gorge
Of the Potomac from ruin through
power development. From its head
quarters in Washington it has pub
lished "a protest Of national ideal
ism" against any power development,
public or private. either in the gorge
or in the Great Falls district. The
protest, which Is published elsewhere
in today's Star, is in the form of a
communication addressed to Maj.
Somervell, the Army engineer in
trict, and presents impressive argu.
ments in favor of the preservation
and development Of natural beauties
in the Capital region.
The late James Bryce. long British
Ambassador at Washington, is quoted
as asserting that mo European capi.
tai, except Constantinople, has such
beautiful scenery in it's environs; that
no European capital has such a noble
cataract as the Great Falls of the Po-
-tomac," and that. Nature having done
so much in the way OF opportunity
for a superb Capital, 'it would be
almost an act of ingratitude to Provi-
dence, to history and to the men who
planned the city" If advantage was
not taken of the opportunities pre-
sented.
In the same connection the late Am.
bassador inquired: MAY not the city
Of Washington feel that its mission in
life Is to be the embodiment Of the
majesty and stateliness of the whole
Nation, Capital of capitals, represent.
ing all that is finest in American con.
ception. all that is largest and most
luminous in American thought; en-.
bodying the Nations ideal of what the
Capital OF such a nation should be,
. the highest aspirations as to external
dignity and beauty that a great peo.
pie can form for that which is the
center and national focus of their
. life."
If that great and understanding
friend Of America could return to
: Washington today he would be graft
hed at the progress made toward the
city Of his dreams and would repoice
at plans for further development. but
he would be grieved and bewildered,
perhaps. that any responsible au.
thority or any considerable body Of
citizens could seriously contemplate
destroying the beauty of the river
that he admired and loved.
Evening star., 1927-10-09
Prepare for Triangle Building.

With start soon to be made on
p the two largest buildings in the tri.
, angle program. each to cost upward
of $10,000,000. it is high time to get
d. certain preliminary work done, and
out OF the way, to minimize traffic
congestion.
The Commission Of Fine Arts in
conferences with those in charge of
, the Federal building program has ad.
vocated such forehandedness. One of
the things that should be done at
once is to raze the buildings on the
south side Of Pennsylvania avenue be.
d tween Fourteenth and Fifteenth
streets. The Government has owned
= all Of this property for some years.
81 The buildings are by no means orna.
mental. They should be torn down
e now and the people given advantage
of the open space until the Depart.
ment Of Commerce Building progress
.es. The Avenue end Of that square
will not be occupied by the new build.
= ing, so this corner will eventually be
parking. if it Is not curved off to make
an easier swing Of traffic south or
west Of the Treasury. This work
should be done at once or otherwise
1t will increase the traffic blockade If
coupled with the actual construction
work
In conferences with President Cool.
idge it has been pointed out that while
nothing definite has been done in get
ting started on some important con-
struction work to memorialize the bi,
centennial of George Washington's
birth in 1882, the triangle building
program offers an opportunity to exc.
cute at relatively trivial cost the long.
planned formal garden terracing
around the Washington Monument
from Fourteenth to Seventeenth
streets.
1t is recalled that when the Interior
Department was built the contractor
cleaned up some $4,000 by laying a
temporary spur track and dumping
make the mound for the Lincoln Me-
mortal. Profiting by that lesson. 1t
is now recommended that use be made
of the superabundance Of dirt from
the excavations for the triangle build.
ings to terrace around the Washing.
ton Monument.
But as a part of that project there
u contemplated, because 1t can be
done now at more reasonable cost
than later, to extend Fifteenth street
through the Monument Grounds, past
the Bureau of Engraving and Print.
ing. This is part Of the Mcmillan
Hlan of quarter of century ago,
Evening star., 1927-10-09
A Question of Taste.

The Office of Public Buildings and
Parks has very properly refused to
set itself up as a dictator Of woman's
fashions, especially as to the length
of a skirt, but the office has taken the
commendable stand that it is the sole
dictator of public behavior and good
taste within its jurisdiction. At
hearing yesterday to consider charges
against policeman for courteously
requesting woman to pull her skirt
down" because he thought she was
conspicuous, the policeman was ex.
onerated for his actions and the GEN.
sorship Of public behavior in the
parks was upheld.
This case has attracted almost as
much attention as somewhat similar
affair in Cleveland when a police ser.
geant arrested and charged with dis.
orderly conduct young married
couple parked on a deserted street.
When the case was taken to court it
was dismissed and the man and his
wife promptly sued the policeman for
fifteen thousand dollars apiece for
false arrest. The woman was awarded
a judgment of nearly four thousand
dollars, but the husbands suit was
dismissed.
Undoubtedly If the local policeman
had arrested the woman he would
have found himself in much the same
predicament as the Cleveland guardian
of the law did. Neither offense was
an arrestable one and the Cleveland
policeman apparently erred in his Wig
orous treatment Of the young couple.
Evening star., 1927-10-09
An immigration Problem.

That the question of the restriction
of immigration from Canada and
Latin America will be given serious
consideration by the Seventieth Con.
gress seems an assured fact. At least
one bill to this end, that of Repre-.
sentative Box of Texas, which was in.
troduced in 1925, is ready and waiting.
Mr.. Box has announced his intention
of reintroducing his measure.
The principal argument of those ia.
voring Canadian and Latin American
restriction is based upon the claim
that the purpose of the immigration
acts Of 1921 and 1924, covering all
other nationalities, is being defeated
as result Of our open-door policy to
our Northern and Southern neighbors.
1t is pointed out that while thousands
of desirable immigrants from Great
Britain and Northern Europe are
being annually excluded, thousands of
Mexicans, who do not readily become
American in their ways of life. are
being admitted. The sauce for the
goose, say those who deplore this con-
dition Of affairs, should at least be
sauce for, say, the Mexican banana.
bird.
Opposition to the restriction pro.
posed is based upon the claim that
freedom of movement across the Cana.
dian border is traditional, and that
Canadians make excellent citizens, and
that unrestricted Mexican immigra-
ton (the influx from other Latin
American countries being negligible
is essential to the industrial prosperity
Of the Southwest.
1t is, and should be. frankly recog.
niZed that the Mexican situation, in
volving as it does huge increase in
the percentage Of our total immigra-
ton in recent years, is the crux Of the
immediate problem. During the period
1901 to 1910 Mexican immigration was
6 per cent Of our total influx. From
1911-1s20 the percentage increased to
3.S. For the current year the Bureau
of immigration sets the amazing esti.
mate Of 20.2. And this, Of course. is
exclusive of the numbers Of Mexicans
who cross the Southern boundary
without the formality of advising the
authorities of their act.
There can be little doubt that we
are creating for ourselves a social
problem fraught with menace in con.
tinuing this condition of affairs. The
difficulty lies in discovering a cor.
rective formula which will achieve a
ch-to-be desired end without appear.
ing harshly to discriminate against
our Southern neighbors. And when
one adds that even IL such a formula
can be found the business of prevent.
ing Illegal entry across the Rio Grande
presents a physical impossibility with
out huge increase in the personnel
and cost of the immigration service,
the problem before Congress becomes
so perplexing as to insure keen popu-
lar interest as its solution is sought.
Evening star., 1927-10-09
LESSONS WE NEVER LEARN
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

challenge them to demonstrations of
speed.
In motor vehicle accidents last year
approximately 1000 children lost their
lives and 100000 were injured. AL
most all of these accidents might
have been avoided or prevented, 1t Is
declared.
About 95 per cent Of the motorists
Of the country are reasonably careful,
according to Safety Council figures.
The remaining 5 per cent, however,
represents a large army of more than
a million reckless and incompetent
drivers fitting about the country with.
out regard for the safety of them.
selves or their fellowmen.
Evening star., 1927-10-09
SHOOTING STARS.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

Man and His PhlIOSOphieS.
Philosophers in every day,
AS we'll as every land,
Have been compelled to pause and say
II do not understand"
And one of them will weep because
Mankind seems in distress.
Another laughs and claims applause
For his light.heartedness
In common purpose for awhile
Opposing minds draw near;
The wit who greets us with a smile,
The poet with a tear.
Evening star., 1927-10-09

.~ Comments by Mr.. McAdoo show he
is still willing to take an interest in
the game even il he ceases to lay claim
to any great prospect of personal ad.
vantage. There is nothing more habit.
ually unselfish than the demonstra-
tions Of true craftsmanship.
Evening star., 1927-10-09
Member OF the Associated Press.

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled
90 the use for republication OF all news dis
tied in this paper and also the local news
published herein. All rights of publication
Of special dispatches herein are also reserved
Evening star., 1927-10-09

This city's new filtration equipment
should afford some added encourage.
ment to the avoidance Of queer alco.
hol and the use Of plain old "H'O" as
a beverage.
Evening star., 1927-10-09

This table indicates a much greater
proportion of cases where assessments
exceeded sales prices than actually
exists. Such cases were chosen for
this table deliberately for the sake-of
illustrating why there are complaints.
A grand total for 122 squares, CAT
sales and 811 lots comes to this:
Assessments Tentative. Actual sales
I0o5-CR 1929 prices.
S44 g44 7S5 S55 4O3231 S5S S.237
Evening star., 1927-10-09

Always occupied with some urgent
and practical work, Herbert Hoover
begins to look like a man too busy
even to give the time needed for a
presidential boom.
Evening star., 1927-10-09

American soldiers have found that
the only way to dispose of some rumors
about mental attitudes in Europe is
for man to go over and learn the
truth for himself,
Evening star., 1927-10-09

The tariff asserts itself from time to
time with renewed reverberations. It
is one Of those old political volcanoes
that never become wholly extinct.
Evening star., 1927-10-09
Dancing Autumn.

When north winds make us shiver
The roaring will. by chance.
Set up q jazzy quiver
And call the world to dance.
Evening star., 1927-10-09

"A good disposition" said Uncle
a man puts on an wears all day don't
mean muffin mo- dan a collar an
necktie"
Evening star., 1927-10-09
In the Bargain Rush.

Her headwear has no feathers gay
To make a sign Of battle fame.
Yet you will hear her husband say
It's a war bonnet. just the same.
Evening star., 1927-10-09

Events continue to show that Mexico
has small hope of developing a pacifist
movement.
Evening star., 1927-10-09

Base ball brings new relief. Thanks
to Pittsburgh, 1t is possible to mention
Pirates" without raising apprehen.
sions concerning rum runners.
Evening star., 1927-10-09
Waste Effort.

From the Terre Haute Star.
The narcotic squad might as well
give up trying to restrain the millions
addicted to the base ball dope.
Evening star., 1927-10-09

So far Remus has had everything
that money can buy, including all
kinds of trouble.
Evening star., 1927-10-09
A Possible Candidate.
)klahoma City Times.

From the Oklahoma City Times.
Probably neither party is consider
Ing Babe Ruth as a presidential can
didate. but it begins to look as II h
could carry New York
Evening star., 1927-10-09
Weak Bonds.

From the AshevilIe Times
Those Russian bonds held in France
do not seem to bind the two peoples
any closer together.
Evening star., 1927-10-09
Long. Long Ago.

Fom the Detroit News.
Blackstone defined law asnthe rule
Of action, but that, as we recAN 1t. was
manV years ago.
Evening star., 1927-10-09

''He who talks only of himself" said
Hi Ho, should have pleasant voice
that will not disturb the slumber of
others"
Evening star., 1927-10-09

From the Arkansas I

From the Arkansas Democrat.
But don't think that little apple
sauce day will always keep your
creditors away.
Evening star., 1927-10-09
Rate by Mail-Payable In Advance.
Maryland ard Virginia.
An Other States and Canada.

Daily and Sunday ! yr.. sl2,o0: mo. 81 100 90
Sanday Sd on oniy. onniiy'.1 VI. W. $500: mo-. 35c
Evening star., 1927-10-09
Keeping in Training,

What conclusions were reached In
the conference?"
mo precise conclusion" answered
Senator Sorghum. I'VE thought it
would be a good idea to have the con.
ference so as to remind the public that
we are taking an interest"
Evening star., 1927-10-09

Jud Tunkins says he loves horses so
much that he can even forgive them
for the way they always fool him on
the race track.
Evening star., 1927-10-09
THEODORE w. MOVES. A.. Editor
The Evening Star Newspaper Company
o..

1lth Sc. and PennsyIv ania Ave-.
New York Office: ITO East 42nd st.
Chicago Office: Tower Building.
European Oflice: IA Regent St.. London.
England.
Evening star., 1927-10-09

The Evening Star with the Sunday morn.
ing edition is delivered by carriers within
the city at 80 cents per month: daily Only.
As cents per month: Sundays only. 20 cents
per month Orders may be sent by mail or
telephone Main 5000. Collection is made hy
carrier at end OF each month.
Evening star., 1927-10-09
Fifty Years Ago
i'm the Star

The heavy rain which hit Washing.
ton last Monday night was almost on
The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1927-10-06
CROWD GREETS
GENE TUNNEY
IN NEW YORK

Gene Tunney returned to New
York September 27 to receive tumul-
tuous home town greeting from
Grand Central station. 1t took a fly
ing wedge of special police to keep
the heavyweight champion from be-
ing rushed off his feet by a wildly
cheering throng.
The train on which Tunney came
from Cleveland arrived at 10:11 but
it was fully Is minutes before the
champion, arm in arm with Eddie
Eagan, ex-Yale boxer, and Bernard
Gimbel of New York, was able to
work his way through the constant
ly increasing jam of fans.
Tunney waived his hand in reply
to clamorous demands for speech
and devoted his first few minutes to
greeting friends and newspaper men
clustered about him.
When the crowd surged in about
the champion, the Gordon of police
tightened and led an underground
dash to the Biltmore hotel, from where
Tunney was escorted to the office OF
his manager, Billy Gibson, for inter
viewing purposes.
The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1927-10-06
STOCKMEN WIN CASE
AGAINST RAILWAY

Montana stockmen have won their
case against the Great Northern, rail
way company, according to word re-
ceived by the state railroad commits
sion.
Stockmen complained to the com
mission about a plan outlined and
adhered to by the railway company
to load on certain days Of the week
in each district and then consolidate
the shipments into a stock train.
Although the railroad company
contended that this system would be
better, the stockmen took the posi-
ton that the consolidated shipments
flooded the markets, affecting prices,
and held that they should not be
compelled to hold their stock await
ing shipment.
The state commission was advised
today by the railroad company that
stock could be loaded any day of the
week satisfactory to shipper.