Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17
Census and Tax Statistics.


lions made in 1929 by the Bureau of
Efficiency dealt largely with compare
tive per capita tax burdens, and these
were based on the estimated populations
Of Washington and the fourteen other
cities studied. Final census reports of
the 1880 populations have, of course,
rendered the former estimates of no
current value. Washington's population,
for instance, was estimated at $4,000,
while the real figure turned out to be
465S69 The same differences between
estimated and actual population figures
apply, in more or less degree, elsewhere
Nine of the cities studied had a smaller
population than estimated, and six of
them exceeded the estimates by actual
count, 1t is to be presumed that the
Bureau of Efficiency will recast its
tables on the basis of late and actual
findings. This must be done if the
bureau is asked to submit new data
comparable e the findings 1t reached
In 1929.
Washing on, st. Louis, Cleveland,
apolis, Rochester and Jersey City showed
decreases in population under the es-
Inmates. The greatest decrease was in
Cleveland, the difference between es-
tiniated and actual population being
10000. Washington came next, with
a difference of $4,000. Buffalo, Mil
waukee, Minneapolis, New Orleans and
Cincinnati all showed increases over the
estimates varying from 5000 in the case
of Minneapolis to $4,000 in the case of
Cincinnati.
Decreases in the population figures
tend to il crease the per capita figures,
while inc. eases in the population fig
ur& have the opposite effect.
Washing Uon's tax levy per capita for
real and personal property, for in
stance, was estimated by the bureau as
S44.55-not including the United
States as Is property holder or tax
payer. TlA bureau estimated the
population Is SIS, 900. The actual
population count, however, increases
the per capita to $47.S2. The bureaus
tax, levy per capita, counting the
United States as a property holder and
taxpayer, was estimated at $5s.63.
But actual population figures increase
this to $63.l!.
After dedu:tirg State taxes and per
capita interest and sinking fund pay
nents from the total per capita tax
payments of 3ther cities, the Bureau of
Efficiency figres showed Washington's
per capita, when not including the
United States as a property holder or
taxpayer, to be less than the compa-
raoie figures for Cleveland, Boston,
Pittsburgh, Buffalo. Milwaukee, New
ark, Cincinnati. Rochester and Jersey
City, and greater than those for St
Louis, Baltimore, Minneapolis, New Or
leans and Indianapolis. Counting the
United States as a property holder and
taxpayer, Washington's per capita was
greater than that Of any other city ex-
cept Boston.
Of those cities whose balanced per
capitas were less than Washington, &C
crease the per capitas of St. Louis,
Baltimore and indianapolis and de-
crease the per eapitas Of Minneapolis
and New Orleans. OF those whose per
capitas were higher than Washington,
population counts will tend to increase
the per capitas of Cleveland, Boston,
Pittsburgh, Rochester and Jersey City,
but would decrease those of Buffalo,
Milwaukee, Newark and Cincinnati.
Population estimates, however, are
not the only figures that are now out
Of date. Washtngton's real estate and
personal property assessment for 1928,
as used by the bureau, was $l,7l9,654, b.
ITO and from this the bureau COM
puted per capita assessment Of 50, 1919.
The 1880 assessment, however, is ST.
555,e01 002 and the actual population
for 1880 raises the per capita assess
rnent 10 S3.S80. The 1928 real and
personal tax levy of $23,2s4, s87 COM
pares with the 1880 levy of $26, 9ss, 73s
and the bureaus tax levy per capita of
s4435 for 1928 is raised TO $685. for
1880
The Districts population in 1920 was
437,57l and increased 1l.3 per cent in
1880. The real and personal tax levy
per capita in 1920 was 2l7l and has
increased more than ass per cent In
1890.
These increases. denoting a continued
niling up of the burden on real estate
ard out Of all proportion to the increase
in the Districts taxable population
should be as carefully noted by the
bureau, in making it's new comparisons
of per capitas, as any of the factors
to be considered in the new studies.
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