Evening star., 1937-06-16

compare past, present and future
values. The figures determined by
this mode Of valuation have proved
conservatives; this is particularly true
for the District with its unusual con-
ditions. Also by no means negligible
is the factor Of personal viewpoint or
individual opinion.
"Puffed Prices" Here Now.
Today, the Washington real estate
market presents g. picture Of infla-
ton or "puffed prices" due princi-
pally to high rentals, purchases by
gasoline stations and other partic-
ular businesses, purchases by the
Federal Government, by art galleries.
national societies, ect. 1t remains to
be seen whether these boom values
will extend into the future Any large
scale change in Federal Government
personnel would affect the value of
real estate greatly, and particularly
any continuance Of the present ex-
tensive housing developments within
and adjacent to the District. Prob
ably as result of the construction
during the last IL months OF literally
thousands of ultra modern apartment
and single dwelling units, the rental
market has softened, with landlords
making material concessions over
1886. This may be, however, only
temporary condition. 1t is an axiom
that once the public has received
governmental service, Federal or 10
cal, 1t is loathe to abandon it. II
there should develop any expansion
in such Federal agencies as the So
cial Security Board, Rural Electri-
f1cation, power authorities similar to
the T. V. A., etc, there will arise au-
tomatically proportional increase in
the demand for homes in this area.
Market sales record changes imme-
diately; actual appraisals do not note
trends until after the trend has been
proven by sales. Recognizing the
peculiar value of each method of de-
termining the true value Of realty,
both have been utilized in this study
in the endeavor to obtain an accu-
rate ratio Of assessments.
Changes From 1885.
The real estate situation in Wash
lngton today presents quite a differ
ent picture from that Of the years
prior to 1885, excepting, of course, the
wartime period OF 1917 and 1918.
Today the demand for rentals Gre
ated by an extensive growth in popu-
lation during 1884, 1885 and 1886 has
caused realty values to change per-
ceptibly over prior years: consequently
it may be doubted if figures represent
ing a condition different from the
1885 and 1885 period should be used
to express 1885 and 1885 conditions.
For this study. from the District Offices
there were obtained assessed valua-
tons and market sale figures for the
years 1885 and 1886, and from the
District of Columbia Building and
Loan League were procured the ap-
praisals for the year 1886 listed be-
low.
Assessors Office Praised.
The assessors Office for the District
of Columbia has an organization op-
Grating upon high and efficient plane.
Most of the credit for this efficient
work can be given to William P. Rich
ards, who, appointed as assessor in
| 1912, to March IL, 1886, reorganized
the general assessment conditions and
developed state of equalization and
| full value of assessments. The meth
DDS thus introduced are being carried
on by the present assessor, Fred Allen.
The reasons for this efficient assess
ment organization can be classified
under three main headings:
l. An exceptional personnel. not
dominated by politics, serving on
full-time salary basis with tenure
of Office dependent upon ability and
conduct Of Office.
2. The extensive and vigorous
supervision exercised by the as
SCISSOR and his deputy.
3. The simple. yet highly eff
cient manner and method of main
tanning records.
The personnel is made up as fol-
loWs: An assessor, deputy assessor
and eight assistant assessors, all of
whom are appointed by the District
Commissioners for an unlimited period
dependent upon proper feasance in
office. Three of the eight assistant as
SCISSORS form the Personal Property
Tax Board. The other five make up
the Realty Tax Board, three for i'm
provements and two for land. The
remainder of the office. consisting of
field men, craftsmen, clerks, etc, are
civil service appointees.
Assessors Duties Outlined.
The code Of laws for the District Of
Columbia provides specifically for the
appointment and various duties of the
assessors. They must have been resi-
dents of the District for five years and
conversant with realty values. The
code also provides fore the use Of
proper books, maps, guides, ETC.; that
the assessment date be filed annually;
etc. 1t further specifies that property
shall be valued at not less than its
full and true value in lawful money.
The assessor, the deputy assessor,
l CA oo4lol IA dllu dh Dual us
sit as the Board of Equalization and
Review of Real Estate and the Board of
Personal Tax Appeals. The duties, as
the name implies, are to hear and
adjudge complaints and appeals from
the assessors decisions, Appeals from
these boards may be had to the Dis
trict courts. However, no appeals have
been taken within the memory of TIE
present assessor, Fred Allen, who has
been connected with the assessment
organization for 20 years. During the
last fiscal year approximately 1000
cases were settled by the Board of
Equalization and Review.
The assessors Office maintains a
simple yet highly efficient recording
system, composed Of field books, per-
init cards and sales data. The field
books list assessed values of land, i'm
proVementS and all changes topether