Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-17


almost negligible burden assumed BY
the Federal Government a. compared
with that which will be borne by the
citizens Of the District.
An an indication Of the heavy bur-
den now being carried BY that part
of the property In the District which Is
now subject to taxation, the following
schedule shows startling facts:
r,pma- Assessment al
city tinI rral eS'at"
Milwaukee $500. 5:UOoo t9l 600 udd
| Port aai 0,r&, :;.,0,nou 81 900 900
Newark ....... lSt 600 80. 600 DOT
!,Mlnupa3ois 1900 Az 600 ',5S. Uu,l Goa
DaAt ton ~ iS:.Dp0 ..j:i 900 UaU
CutInuart $500 10000 - 500 o0U
New Orleans -. 49, 900 f0' 600 0ot
Saltimorr .... sl"ohO ! u3?.0nO 0ou
PITTSBURGH $500 $50 U0o 060. 400 0utl
Washington 5.'S u0n 1870 Uno 00t
Chicago 31. 0On0 lO3 600 O0U
Teveland 800. o6o,"oo iilo,o20 600
1T will be observed that a number
of the cities in the list above are all
most twice our size. and one is seven
times our size.
There will be no dispute as to our
contention that real estate assessments
in Washington are abnormally high. A
glance at the total assessments on real
property in the cities mentioned above
will clearly demonstrate this.
"A further problem which is present.
ed TO us is that of divergent economic
conditions which necessarily have to be
compared when Washington. a nom
industrial and comparatively non-com
mercial city. which has sacrificed Its
advantages due to its transportation IA
cilities, its closeneSs to possible hydro
electric power and its potential indus
trial possibilities due to geographical
location for its position as the seat OF
the Federal Government. Is compared
with the financial statistics OF cities of
comparative size. which are almost
without exception the great industrial
centers OF the country.
AT the time of the preparation OF our
report We were informed by the Office
OF the assessor that the assessment basi,
in Washington was. roundly. 96 per cent
OF true value. To emphasize the fair
ness of this deduction we are introduce
ing here for the record a comparative
statement Of some 400 sales, giving
real estate assessments for the years
1927 and 1928 in comparison with sales
made during the years OF 1921 to 1926
lying within a boundary of Rock Greek
and Fifth street and between Florida
avenue and B street Aggregate sales
Sl48 o43 900, against assessments total
ing Sl3S.777, 458 and also 400 sales with
in the same area between the years
1924 and 1925. which indicate sales
amounting to sl6.399.9 9o as compared
with assessments amounting TO Sl6.-
844 900. or an excess of assessments OF
$4,000 over and above the actual sale
prices received.
The further We got into the question
OF assessment. the more startling the
6nf hnA nta@ d.
they were In demonstrating our tremen-
dous assessment increases. It vas dis
covered that Washington's increases for
last year alone were greater than a
three-year increase in any OF the fol-
lowing cities: Atlanta. San Francisco
Cleveland. Newark. St. Paul. Pittsburgh,
Minneapolis. Louisville. Boston. Mem
phis. Milwaukee and New Orleans Just
consider here that our increase since
1924 amounts 10 $3.50 900 900. or greater
b. $4,000 900 than the three-year net
increase In Atlanta. San Francisco.
Minneapolis. Newark. ST. Paul. Pitts
burgh. Cleveland. Louisville and Mem
phis combined.
"A perusal OF the tax rate changes
shown will show that only one city out
OF the group scheduled above had an
increase since 1924 equal To Washing
toms. Washingtons Jump has been so
cents per sl00 Of assessment in this
period.
Now that We have disposed of the
as cssment feature. let us look more fully
into the question OF the tax rate In
the following table 1t will be observed
that the tax rate for the other cities
mentioned has been adjusted TO the
common level Of 96 per cent assessment
basis. which Is the figure used for
Washington.
Second Highest In T.. S."
We are second highest in the coun-
try IN actual real estate assessments.
The question of the cost OF govern
ing and maintaining the city OF WASH
inctOn next drew our attention. be-
cause of the fact that IL was generally
supposed that part OF our burden here
was due 10 the Federal demands for
service. Our survey showed that the
payment for maintaining and operating
the District government Is abnormaliy
high. ranging from IS TO 80 per cent OF
the total amount OF our budget. thus
leaving in comparison with other cities
very small amount for permanent
improvements.
1T has been admitted generally that
the taxpayers dollar Is efficiently spent
in Washington, and the close scrutiny
Of the District finances by the Budget
Bureau. committees OF Congress and the
controller general OF the Treasury pre-
cludes any suspicion Of leaks or loose
management Then why this high cost
Of maintenance and operation In Wash
ington? There can be but one answer
and that Is because Washington Is the
Federal City and as such II must serve
both local and Federal demands The
following table indicates the Taxpayers
portion Of our citizenry:
Number OF taxpayers on
real estate ........... 70 900
Eumbcr Of properties
owned ............,. 1876 900
Amount Of assessed real
estate .....,.......,..&i i30, 900 900
Taxes raised on real
estate .........,,..... $is.5oo. 900
Average amount for each
real estate taxpayer s2.7s6
Average assessment per
capita taxpayer .... $3.50. 42B
As real estate bears by far the great
est burden Of taxation In this com
nuniiy u can be very well shown that
70 900 real estate taxpayers In the Dis
tsicf are Sh0uldering the greater portion
1f the burden Of Is per cent Of the cost
81 Ipktep OI the Hatoi'hi GhplthI, NhF"
ing sith ,hr other 100 900 900 people Of
the Nation less than rs per cent 0f the
responsibility Of maintaining Washing
ton. according 10 their desires. the most
beautiful city In the world.
A further survey which We made
}hnWS that Washington Is raising mare
ssxes In the way Of business taxes,
licences taxes on banks. public utilities.
tangible ana intangible property per
capita,
II should be borne In mind that IN
addition Washington pays 81 10 per
hundred on tI0S. 900 900 worth 81 tam
glble personal property and also siz-
able gasoline tax.
The Detroit Bureau Of Governmental
Research revised It's opinion In refer.
ence Ia Washington's taxes after our
visit there 10 the extent ~ writing II
flVe-UuRe letter In regard To our lax