Evening star., 1934-05-10

Nv per capita Is nlgner tnan
Y Y the average of $32.20 per
capita for city taxes in 2l
principal cities throughout the coun-
try. District Assessor William p. Rich
ards demonstrated to the Senate sub
committee which has just completed
work on next years District appro-
priation bill
The Senate hearings, made public
today. show Mr. Richards based his
calculations on figures gathered within
the past month directly from the as
SCISSORS in the cities used in the COM
parison.
The data show the fallacy of judg-
ing the tax burden of Washington,
or of any other city. by the rate
without taking into account the level
of assessments, and the relation Of
the resulting tax levy to population.
Per Capita Basis Used.
The table presented to the Senate
group by Richards shows. for exam
pie, that the average of the tax rates
in the cities responding to his re-
quest for statistics, is 1928, and
Washingtons rate is $3.50 When
the actual tax levy is worked out and
Washington's per capita becomes
S35.05, as compared with the average
per capita for the u other cities Of
S322O.
The foregoing average represents
city taxes alone. Mr.. Richards also
submitted figures showing that when
other taxes, such as State and county.
are included for the other cities the
average per capita was $43, but Wash
ingtonians have always contended
that State taxes should not be in
cluded in comparisons with the Dis
trict, since local taxpayers do not en-
joy the privileges Of Statehood. And
this contention was recognized by
Chairman Thomas of the Senate SUBJ
committee in the discussion accom-
panying Richards testimony.
Mr.. Richards also showed that
when Washington's tax rate was $l.70
in 1888. its per capita tax burden
was s4l80.
The assessor explained he also OBJ
tanned data from New York City.
making % cities in all in his table.
In the foregoing comparisons before
the committee. however, Mr.. Richards
excluded New York which, because of
its unusual size. is out Of proportion
to the other cities.
Other Cities Compared.
The 2l other cities on which he
based his average comparison with
Washington are Philadelphia, Detroit
ST. Louis, Baltimore. Boston, Pitts
burgh. San Francisco, Milwaukee,
Buffalo. Cincinnati. Newark. Roches-
ter, Louisville, Portland, Oreg.; Den
yer, Providence. Richmond. Nashville,
Des Moines, Reading and Wilmington
AT the suggestion of Commissioner
Hazen," Richards began. Il sent let
ter on April to about 35 of the large
cities. We asked for q real estate as
sessment for 1888; how it was divided
as to land and improvements. the
total amount. the rate in the city. the
rate of school, county and State and
total taxes"
After explaining that he got %
answers and prepared the accompany
ing table, the assessor continued:
1T shows at the the top the popula-
ton. total assessment, city rate, total
rate, city levy, total levy. city per
capita and total per capita.
Includes Realty Only.
This is against real estate, does not
take in anything else. and its purpose
he hA hRro
on their real estate, are paying any
greater rates or lesser rates than they
are elsewhere. 1t leaves out any in
tangible or tangible property, or in
comes, or anything like that. 1t Is
merely on the bare real estate values,
and out of population Of $4,000, 900
and total assessments of 5000, ,00O-
600, the average city rate is 1928;
the total rate average is 1854; the
per capita average is s43.446. and the
total per capita averages $50,253.
Now, you see. you have not got
such a great difference there between
your total city per capita and the
county. State and other taxes added in.
Now, in New York City, in that
list, of course, New York overtops
everything else. New York, with q
population of nearly 100000. has q
total assessment Of nearly $4,000
600 900 and has q rate of $233, and
1t has q per capita Of $62,05O. The
total of which, OF course, Is away
ahead Of any other city that We have
here.
III leave out of this calculation
New York and merely take the re-
naming 81 cities, I have the per
capita rate as 1920 and a total per
capita of $43. and the District Of CO.
lumbia in 1888, when 1t had SIT per
thousand, had q rate of $4l.80. and
in 1894, with a rate of $3.50, it has
a per capita of $3505.
Nov. at the rate of $3.50 with that
per capita Of $35.05. that exceeds
slightly the per capita OF the cities
alone. but when the county and State
is added in, it is less. The State and
county and city Is s43. as against our
rate Of s35.05, per capita, at the $l.50
rate"
Richards Gives Conclusions.
Asked by Senator Thomas what con-
clusion he reached from this data, as
to Washington's tax burden, Richards
replied: Paying fair amount on
their real estate, at $3.50"
Senator Thomas of Oklahoma-And
that compares with the tax paid in
other cities?
Mr.. Richards-Yes, sir, the per
capita.
Senator Thomas of Oklahoma-And
there Is no
Mr.. Richards dnterposing) g)-Leav-
ink out New York as explained,
which is very high.
Senator Thomas of Oklahoma-No
favoritism is shown to the citizens of
the District of Columbia according to
that tabulation of yours?
MIR. Richards-No. Fair treatment.
Senator King-That leaves out the
county and State taxes in other cities?
Senator Thomas of Oklahoma-Yes;
they do not have any county or State
taxes here.
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