The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-10-05
District Government Injustices
to District Citizens

The District government threatened with numerous law
suits by property who have been assessed for bene
fits for street improvements and extensions made and
which in some instances may be made for years
This merely of many instances Of red tape nustiCe
20 citizens by the District government which should be cor
rected.
The District Commissioners for several years. have
advantage of the statute Of limitations to escape making
funds to citizens unfairly assessed for road
under the inqutous Borand law In at least two important
decisions the Supreme Court of the District decided that the
law did apply and that amounted Confscation These
decisions related to suburban properties which deprived
Of city benefits.
The decisions although bearing upon two special of
lands unquestonaby applied to hundreds of similar pieces of
land within the District unjusty assessed for road benefits
The Commissioners refused to take the responsibility of free
qued them to be paid They have put upon citizens owning
lands of these types the burden of going to the courts for
Lief most costly relief.
On the other hand large corporations in Washington with
big arrays of counsel and plenty of wealth to fight the local
government have held payment Of their taxes to the
tent large sums forcing the District to 20 to the courts
No government just which pursues the citizen in
Tax matters to the bitter end insisting upon compliance with
laws and regulations and yet fails to do the right thing when
q IS in the wrong.
This matter of assessing property benefits for
improvements not definitely provided for by law glazing
illustration of governmental highhandedness that the Com
mssoners should put end to-
would be far better wait until Congress has appropri
ated for improvements and then make the than
deprive people OF funds they need and upon which they
could be earning returns from deposits in banks invest
ents This might bring slight delays but would not do
justices
The methods used in assessments are all on the side Of the
District government It's pound of flesh must be had any
cost IT, however often the case it the pound
flesh wrongfuly the victim has, in sporting parlance fat
chance of prompt remedy.
When the District government grudgngy admits its error
and approves claims against it these claims be submitted
20 Congress- which may may not delay favorable action
them for years
Corporation Counsel Bride appointed to his position be-
cause of his eminence lawyer has been busy official
since coming into office but there will be opportunity for him
in the future to study and report the Commissioners
methods for the right treatment of taxpayers who have
legally paid taxes or assessments to the District
Drastic handling Of taxpayers who attempt escape their
responsibilities perfectly proper. There good many
Of that type The large majority of citizens however do not
make such attempts They their supposed Obligations
good citizens should When they have been unusty CON-
PEELED to make payments the relief should be Just az prompt
as the methods which compelled payments
The Commissioners should insist upon law that will war
rant quick refunds Of all taxes wrongfuly illegally col
ected just government should what the words imply
The entire tax system of the District government should be
renovated with the sole object Of prompt collection Of
about which there question and quick rembusements
those who have enormously paid The humble citizen and the
high and mighty should be treated alike.
The just tax collection methods are the less effort
there will be the part of to wgge of their tax
burdens The respect of citizens for their local
will increase.