Evening star., 1927-11-16
Taxes on Property Would Be
S374,000 Yearly, Rich
ards Finds.
CAPITOL NOW WORTH
$50 100000, HE SAYS
Completes Survey of Federal Prop
erties-Taliaferro Backs
60-I0 Fiscal Plan.

The White House and the grounds
that surround it are worth at least $22,.
600 900 at present date realty values
and is by far the most valuable resi-
Dental property in the District accord
ing to Tax Assessor William +.
Richards.
The tax assessor has Just completed
IN assessment of all Federal owned
tax exempt property in the District
and of the total of $470,000,00 the
White House valuation is third high
est, exceeded only by the Capitol and
it's grounds, which is assessed at $751;
300 900, and the Treasury Building.
S314,O00 i'm Taxes.
President Coolidge should consider
himself fortunate, indeed, that he is
! not required to pay the tax on the
White House during his occupancy
as it would amount under the present
tax levy of $l.70 on every 500 of as
sessed valuation to $374,000 a year
nearly $500 900 more than his annual
salary.
The Treasury Building. which fanks
the White House on the east, is worth
Just $1,000,000 more than the Presi'
dents home, according to Mr.. Rich.
ards assessment. while the State,
War and Navy Building, on the west
ern flank is valued at $l3.500,000.
These three buildings. occupying the
two squares between Fifteenth and
Seventeenth streets. therefore. have
a total valuation of S5S.500 900.
The House Office Building Richards
has valued at $500 900, While the
office building of the more dignified
Senate is assessed at $3,000.000. The
Congressional Library and it's grounds
Mr.. Richards values at $4,000. 900
and the Patent Office. in his opinion
is worth $4,000. 900.
Mr.. Richards said his assessments
on the tax-free, Government-owned
property are based on the cost of sur
rounding private property.
Revealed by Richards.
The figures were revealed by Mr.
Richards today. in further expla ma ton
of statements made before the Wash.
ington Real Estate Board last night by
Commissioner Taliaferro, who an
nounced his declarat ton for return to
the 6040 fiscal relations plan.
Commissioner Taliaferro indicated
that he wonkl support the growing
movement here for restoration of the
60-40 plan. under which the Federal
Government would bear 40 per cent of
the cost of the maintenance and up
building of the National Capital, and
voiced the belief that Congress, when
fully informed of the actual tax stu.
alton in Washington, would make
local appropriations on that basis.
!. Pointing to the unusual expendi-
lures made necessary here due to the
great program for development of the
Capital, the Commissioner stated he
believed the taxpayers of the District
stand ready and willing to pay their
just share for the privilege of resi-
dence in Washington. And, he con.
cluded, Il believe that Congress wishes
to be fair to the District of Columbia. "
Willing to Pay just Share.
"All of us are deeply interested in
the physical development of Washing
ton as the Capital of the Nation" he
told the local realtors. Il believe that
we are willing to pay our just share for
the privilege of living here-and it is
privilege. / do not believe the citi.
zers should be called upon to carry
more than fair proportion of the
load of developing and maintaining the
District of Columbia The Federal
Government owns tax-eXempt real
estate estimated at $470,000, 900, and
when the triangle property south of
pennsylvania avenue goes to Federal
ownership, this total will be substan.
TALLY increased. In my opinion, the
tax-exempt real estate owned by the
Federal Government is but one of
many items which should be taken
into account in attempting. to arrive
at what is IL fair division of the cost
as between the District and Federal
Governments.
There are several such items which
may be considered upon mathemati-
cal basis, but in addition thereto. there
Is rather intangible element which
should be taken into account in de-
termlning the amount to be contribut.
ed by the Federal Government. Ex
penditures in the District of Columbia
are made on larger scale. by reason
of the fact that it is the Capital of the
United States. than would otherwise
be the case" he declared
Commissioner Taliaferro stated that
while many persons do not realize it,
the substantive law now in force caNs
for the 60 40 division of the expenses
of the District of Columbia For sew
eral years, he pointed out, this sub
stantive law has been set aside an
nually by Congress-but never re.
pealed-in the making of lump sum
appropriation of $4,000, 900 toward the
cost of the National Capital.
Il believe that Congress wishes to
be fair to the District of Columbia" 1"
he concluded, land l am one of those
Continued on Page ., Column 81