Evening star., 1933-06-02
|C|TY TAXPAYERS
| DEMAND RELIEF
Vigorous Plea for Drastic
Cut in Assessments Made
by Delegation.
Continued From First Page.)

undergone heavy reduction.
Richards contended, however, he is
obeying and must obey the law, which
| requires full 100 per cent assessments.
During the session it was also revealed
that most Of the reductions granted
this year, effective July l. have been
for properties in the central business
area.
Charges that the new assessments
are maintained at an unfair level for
the home owner so aroused Mr. Rich
| ards that he at one time became, so
filled with emotion he hardly could
speak. Dramatically waving his arms,
filled with books of statistics. he de-
clared the record showed for many
years he has attempted to aid the home
owner and that he has "hit" owners of
business properties in assessments more
than he has the home owner.
Warn Commissioners.
Principal spokesmen for the fedora
ton warned the District Commissioners
of their fears that Congress would re-
duce the Federal contribution to the
District further if city heads carry out
their intention of reducing the tax
rate from $170 a hundred to $1.55.
The argument was that Congress would
not consider the high level of assessed
values but would make only a cursory
comparison of the S155 rate with that
in their home districts.
James @. Yaden president Of the
federation; George E. Sullivan, chair
man of the Law and Legislation Com
mittee; L. A. Carruthers, chairman of
the Fiscal Relations Committee; Ed
win S. Hege demanded an assessment
reduction. They pointed to the general
progress Of deflation of values, imposi-
ton Of wage cuts throughout the city
Harry N. Stull, one of the speakers,
also. warned of the dangers of the re-
suits of tax strike such as have
occurred in Chicago, and some other
cities. He did not go so far as to voice
fear that the Chicago tax strike might
be duplicated In washington, however.
They also cited the heavy reductions
which have occurred in cost of labor
and materials which have adversely af-
fected reproduction values Of homes.
Not a Fiscal Agent.
| Mr.. Richards, his voice shaking with
emotion, then declared. 'I do not care
how much Congress appropriates for the
District Of Columbia out of Federal
revenues.
II have nothing to do with that. I
simply try to keep within my bounds as
an assessor and to carry out the die
tates Of law requiring that I assess
properties at their full market value.
am not looking for new sources of
revenue for the District. am not a
fiscal agent.
"I do not know of any official who
gets more kicks than the assessor, yet
there Is no other District official who
should know better what his own duties
are than the assessor.
One Of the arguments for lower as
easements offered by Mr.. Sullivan was
that holders Of mortgages on Washing
ton homes since 1929 have been call
ing on the home owners to curtail the
amounts Of their loans. He said this
merely indicated recognition of the
slump in market values of properties.
Mr.. Sullivan declared the facts are
undeniable that property values here
have slumped considerably from the
1929 level. He said present compari-
son Of taxes and property income would
! appear to show it doesn't pay to own
land here under the present system.
He charged that District property own
ers are paying more In dollars for taxes
than anywhere else in the United
| States in relation to value
Later Rate Boost Seen.
i Discussing the danger Of reduction
| of the Federal contribution as the re-
i suit of a reduced tax rate, Mr.. Sullivan
declared this would result merely In a
ring around the roses" since it later
would result in boost In rates.
Mr.. Carruthers, while paying tribute
to the honest service of District officials,
declared the local administration Is not
as responsive to the people as it should
be. There is too much of tendency
he said for them to favor increased
taxation, such as proposed by the Mapes
Committee of the House. Such pro-
posals. he declared, have the objective
of reducing the Federal contribution.
Mr.. Carruthers, at one point, quoted
Mai Daniel j. Donovan, District audi
tor, as having declared In favor Of re-
ducing the real estate assessments
rather than to make heavy cut in the
! tax rate.
Mr.. Carruthers said Donovan told
him II am with you-you are 100 per
cent right"
Carruthers quoted District records to
show there has been IS per cent in
crease In the assessed values of land
| in the District since 1928, despite the
| fact that millions of dollars of prop
erty had been withdrawn from taxation
for public purposes
Home Owners Held Neglected.
Mr.. Carruthers also charged the as
SCISSOR had granted reductions in as
| sessmentS "in certain zones" rather
than generally throughout the District
| He said this provided double relief for
property owners not entitled to such
assistance, whereas no help had been
granted generally to home owners as a
class.
Mr.. Carruthers declared the Federal
1 k,-;kx 10 nk Ie ,,k
sufficient and that there Is not q
shadow of doubt in my mind" that
Congress would seek to reduce its share
In sthe cost of the District II the tax
rate were reduced. He said he would
favor a reduction Of realty assessment
even If it would require an increase
| in the tax rate.
Mr.. Hege pointed out that reduction
in assessments would provide relief for
the renting class as well as the prop
erty owner He quoted testimony given
by Rufus S. Lusk, statistician, before
Senate committee, which investigated
/ rental conditions here, showing that
1917 per cent Of the rent dollar" went
for tax payments last year. Because
Of the wage cuts, loss of jobs and other
difficulties suffered by Washington peo-
i pie. Hege declared 1t necessary that
something be dope now to afford relief
from taxation. He favored application
of the same percentage Of reduction Of
assessments to all property owners from
the 1929 assessment level.
Warning of the danger of loss Of
revenue through inability of property
owners to pay taxes. Mr.. Hege reported
there were $4,000 parcels sold for nom
payment of taxes last December. Un-
less some early relief Is granted, he
/ declared, the District can expect an
even greater number of properties sold
| for taxes next Winter.
! "The District should order a reduc-
ton of assessments from the 1929 levels
| and then should issue a proclamation
to landlords calling upon them to get
| into step in movement to help the
average citizen This Is no day for
L landlor.de 70 c,,Iil,l,Ia IN asserting kheir