davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-02-05
MONTGOMERY COUNTY REASSESSMENT CONTROVERSY
County Funds to Be
Increased for
Needed Work

gomery County can look forward
to the largest increase in recent
years in the assessable base to
which the $3.50 countrywide rate is
charged. The base jumped from
s45 100000 In 1928. to s74,O00,00O in
1928, or $29,000,000 in a flve-year
period, during which the scheduled
reassessment required by law was
made. During the next f1ve-year
period, the base increased only about
Sc, ,OOO, 900, and had reassessment
been held in 1888 the increase might
have been less. Most of that increase
was due to construction in 1929 and
1890. The increase in the base from
1888 to 1885 was less than 100000,
but since that date has grown by
leaps and bounds so that the base
rose from s83,OO0,0O0 in 1888 to
$1O2 100000 in 1888. jump OF S19,-
100000. Had the scheduled reassess-
ment been made, the increase would
have far exceeded the s29,000,000
increase recorded between 1923 and
1928, it is estimated.
This increase in assessments and
consequent increase in tax revenues
will enable the county to reorganlze
it's finances on a sounder basis. The
growth of population from less than
$4,000 in 1880 to an estimated $4,000
in 1888 brought additional burdens,
especially in the suburban area, to
supply the need for schools, police
protection and general county serv-
ices which could not be provided by
special water, sewer and street
assessments. The school budget, for
example, rose from $4O5 900 in 1885,
to $826,OOO in 1888, and other ex-
penses increased in lesser measure.
Bonds we're issued because revenues
did not increase rapidly enough,
until today more than one-third of
the $3.50 county rate is used for
interest on bonds.
The increased revenues will make
it possible, the county delegation be-
lieves, to provide additional schools
without raising the tax rate, al
though $220,000 in bonds were issued
last year and nearly 100000 more
bonds will be issued during the next
two years to carry out the school
construction program. The major
portion of the programs expense will
thus be borne by the lower part OF
the county, where most of the con-
struction will be done, through the
increase in assessments.
How the reassessment will be made
is a matter still to be determined.
The Montgomery County Civic Fed
Grafton has suggested that an out
side agency technically qualified be
brought in, to eliminate local preju-
dice or influence. The county dele
cation is considering asking some
impartial organization such as
Brookings Institution to suggest a
panel of 20 or Is names from inside
or outside the county from which q
non-partisan board of assessors
could be chosen. Whichever plan is
adopted, taxpayers, large and small
have high hopes the reassessment
will relieve the tax burden while still
] allowing for needed improvements.
Evening star., 1939-02-05
Individual Owners in
Some Areas Get
New Standing
By Ben II. PearSe.

After seven years of delay. during
which Montgomery County has ex-
perienced the most rapid growth
of any period since it was carved
out of Frederick County in l776,
the county's delegation to the State
Legislature is pledged unequivocally
to bring about the first reassessment
of real and personal property in
more than a decade.
The last Statewide reassessment,
which Maryland law requires shall
be made every five years, was in
1927. But by 1882, when the next
one was scheduled, the county and
the entire Nation were in the depths
of depression. No opposition was
offered to the bill to postpone the
reassessment that year and what
started as an exception became the
rule. At succeeding sessions of the
Legislature, the Statewide reas-
sessment has been postponed. At
the last session in 1887, several
delegations voted to exclude their
counties from the postponement,
but Montgomery's was not one OF
them.
The primary purpose OF q gen.
eral revision of county property
values is to raise more revenue.
AS the population of the District
spread across the boundary line into
Maryland during the last 10 years,
land values rose rapidly in the lower
portion of the county. The cost Of
improvements was added as homes
were built, but land values, set just
before the rise, remained stationary.
How much a revaluation would in
crease the assessable base is prob
lematical. Some estimates run as
high as $50,0OO0O0, which might
be possible if the land were as
sessed at the full cash value" as
required by law. AS a practical
question, full cash value" Is a mat
ter of opinion, and usually has
meant about 70 per cent of the sale
price estimated by the assessor.
More practical estimates put the
increase at not more than $20,-
100000, but even that figure would
bring in 100000 additional revenue
annually to the county.
Hardly less important than the
increased revenue is the problem
of equalizing assessments, which
have gotten out of line during the
past decade. This inequality is
not only apparent between different
residential areas placed on the tax
rolls at various times, but can be
noted also between residential
property in general and farm land.
Farm land was bringing a good
price in 1927, and consequently was
put on the tax roll at relatively
high rate, even compared with the
values of today. Much of the farm
land of 10 years ago in the lower
section of the county has been
subdivided and sold to home owners,
but is carrying assessments nearer
to the farm land it was than the
residential property it is now. Hence
the Pomona Grange. the Farm
Evening star., 1939-02-05

Bureau and other agricultural
groups favor the reassessment, be-
lieving the residential area will be
required to bear a larger proportion
of the mounting county tax burden.
But the Montgomery County Civic
Federation and residents of the
lower part of the county in general
also favor the reassessment, hoping
to equaliZe assessments among
themselves. For various reasons,
groups with divergent interests are
unanimous in wanting the reas-
Sessment.
When the county was young coun-
ty business was relatively simple.
In 1913 expenditures were $8,O1342.
The justices of the Levy Court,
which served in somewhat the same
capacity as the present Board of
Commissioners, authorized tax of
IA cents per 500 valuation for
roads. 1t brought in $2,03978. The
expense of maintaining the court
house for a year, including sweep
ing and cleaning, making and keep
ing up good fires with good hick-
ory wood from sunup until the
court adjourned in the evening, was
$48. The clerk to the commission
ers received $217 for a years work,
and eight assessors $40 each. The
tax collector worked on commits
sion and received $448.33. The larg-
est single item during the year
was $1,152 for support of the poor,
which was supplemented by an ex-
penditure of $500 for support OF
out pensioners. A small but re-
current item was bounty for crows
heads.
The assessors had a lot of ground
to cover on horseback over bad
roads, but their problem was sim
plifled by the fact that practically
all of the land was agricultural.
They placed value of $860,592 on
the 3O3,842 acres in the county, or
about $2.75 an acre average. As
sessing silver plate was merely a
matter Of weighing 1t and putting it
Evening star., 1939-02-05

for the erection Of a substantial
brick structure, which now forms
a part of the building of the pri-
mary department.
Essential as were these services,
they were by no means the most
valuable rendered by Mr.. Kendall
to the institution
Estate Divided.
In 1854 Mr.. Kendall subdivided
his estate. where is no| the Colum-
bia Institution, into tWo-acre tracts,
the property We now know as
Kendall Green, which he called
Kendallville. Upon these tracts he
erected several houses on tract
running east and west. In one Mr.
Kendall himself lived, his son-in-
law, William Stickney, lived in
another, while the others we're Of
fered for sale. He was equal to the
real estate promoter of the present
day, and to encourage settlement
Evening star., 1939-02-05

on the roll at 81 an ounce. There
were 6,649A ounces found by the
assessors, and it was valued at the
same number of dollars for tax
purposes.
With slaves, the largest single
item next to land, 1t was differ
ent- The tax roll listed 1921 male
and female slaves from to IA
years of age at $4,000, about $50
each; 1871 male slaves from IA to
As years at $172,078, or $125 each:
1,O75 female slaves from IA to SO
at $86,9S0, or $50 each, 2,181 male
and female slaves under 8 years, at
$4,000, or SIT each: and 1923
male slaves over As years and fe-
male slaves over 36 years at SAL, ,239,
or $50 each. The value of all other
personal property, presumably
houses, barns and stock, amount
ed to $202,593, bringing the total
taxable base to ST ,456,985. Sharpen
ing their quills, the commission
ers set rate of SIS cents per Sl00
valuation, including the IA cent
road tax, and it came out exactly
right, covering all the expenditures
for the year, $8,013.
The problem of the tax asses
sor today, of course. is infinitely
more complicated. The distance of
farm from the county seat and the
ages of the slaves and stock were
the determining factors 125 years
ago. Except for the Emancipation
Proclamation the same factors would
determine today but for the growth
of Washington and the rapid de-
velopment of the lower portion of
the county. Even these changes
can be provided against in the long
run by periodic reassessments. But
in between these fve-year revalua-
ton intervals, and especially when
one of the intervals is eliminated
altogether, as was that scheduled
for 1882, the widest discrepancies in
property values crop up.
The largest of these discrepancies
and the most important from the
Evening star., 1939-02-05

near E. His name does not appear
later.
This is a wonderful institution, no
doubt the most wonderful of its
kind in the world We who are
blessed with all our faculties can
have but little conception of the
difficulties under which both the
scholars and teachers are forced
to labor on account of the unfortu-
nate handicap of the students. No
doubt long years of experience mini
mized the difficulties to be encount-
cred, but yet it does seem, even with
skilled instructors, to be a position
requiring unusual fitness.
Reading in an old book, the writer
came across some references to the
compositions made by some of the
younger children at this institution
Washington Tale.
This is the story: "A little fellow
who lost his hearing from disease
remembers few words, SO when
Evening star., 1939-02-05

sections, where the homes are just
as costly, ranges from 5 to 10 cents a
square foot because when the 1927
assessment was made it was classed
as acreage or unimproved. In some
of the latter sections, it is not un-
common to find homes assessed at
from $4,000 to $4,000 on lots as
sessed at $500 or $500.
On Eastern avenue east of Georgia
avenue, where a large group of
apartments was recently completed,
the land is assessed at 81 cents
a square foot, although apartment
house property is assessed higher
than property occupied by one
family dwellings. BY contrast, the
vacant land across the street on
the District side, still classed as
acreage, is assessed at 20 cents a
square foot. This wide difference
between land on the Maryland and
District sides of the boundary line
does not hold for improvements.
improvements .in the District are
assessed at practically full value
and carry the District tax rate of
SITS per 500 valuation. On the
Maryland side, the improvements
are assessed at approximately 10 per
cent, but carry the suburban tax
rate of $235 per $l00 valuation.
The actual amount of taxes paid
on improvements does not differ
greatly between Maryland and the
District.
A reassessment would also reveal
some escaped property, which has
never been on the tax rolls, although
the amount would be large item
in the project. About 100000 has
been added during the past three
years, including one garage which
had escaped assessment for nearly
10 years. In the case of escaped
property, the county can recover
taxes the four years preceding.
With the reassessment practically
assured, barring last-minute
change on the part Of the county
delegation to the Legislature. Mont
Evening star., 1939-02-05

even ran a line of omnibuses twice
a day from Pennsylvania avenue
and Seventh street to the property.
1t was he who brought Edward NJ.
Gallaudet of Hartford, Conn, here.
and it was he who had the school
incorporated, the act for this pur-
pose being passed by Congress only
a few days before the close of the
session 1861 and being approved
by President Pierce, February l6,
1857.
Reference has been made to the
fact that Edward Miner Gallaudet
was the son of Thomas Hopkins
Gallaudet. But it seems that there
is a further tie-in between the
Gallaudets of this city. Peter w.
Gallaudet-said to have been the
father of the latter-Was employed
here in 1843 as a clerk in the Office
of the register of the Treasury.
His home was on the west side of
Twelfth street between E and F,
Evening star., 1939-02-05

time being unfavorable for securing
an appropriation from Congress
for buildings, and enlarged accomo-
dations being required by the in
stitution, Mr.. Kendall added to his
benefactions of the first year. These
having amounted to more than
$4,000 in value, he still did not hesi-
tate to incur an expense of $4,000
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-25
SEPTEMBER HISTORY

Among the anniversaries of Septem-
Der, several are of historic Importance,
and worth remembering. recently COM
piled list includes the following:
3rd, Treaty ending the Revolutionary
War signed, 1888
4th, Hudson River discovered, 1909.
9th, President Mckinley shot, 1901
7th, Boston settled, 1880.
9Th, St. Augustine settled, 1865.
18th, Battle of Lake Champlain,
1914.
18th, General Winfield Scott entered
Mexico City, 1847.
14th, "The Star Spangled Banner"
written by Francis Scott Key, 1914.
18th, United States Constitution
adopted, 1887.
21st, First daily newspaper in the
United States, the Pennsylvania Packet,
published in Philadelphia, 1884.
22nd, Nathan Hale, Revolutionary
patriot, executed as spy by the British,
1776.
oath, "Black Friday" in Wall Street.
1869.
26th, Balboa discovered the Pacific
Ocean, 1881.
9th, British under General Howe
captured Philadelphia, 1777.
To these must be added the most
sinister date of all, the beginning of the
present war on September 1, 1889.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-25
PEOPLE SWAYED BY EMOTIONS

Addressing a group of political work
ers few days ago, prominent speaker
said, ''The first lesson that we must take
to heart is that people are swayed by their
emotions not their intellects."
This statement is accepted as the
truth by astute politicians and by other in
dividuals who consciously set out to per-
suade the people of this country to follow
given course.
Upon analysis, the statement implies
that smart individuals, using their intel
lects, stir up popular emotions in order to
gain desired ends. 1t should be noted
that the people, who act according to
emotional stimuli, are but tools which are
handled by clever brains.
Let no one imagine, that people,
swayed by emotions, rule this country.
This is a mistake. The nation is ruled by
the clever few who have the sense to create
situations which result in emotional re-
actions. Back Of the popular emotion,
however expressed, is a master-mind that
takes advantage of the nature of human
beings to secure definite, special result.
Inc appear TO LHe 0mOClOIS, rdLHer
than to the intellect, is characteristic of
most political campaigns. This is true
whether the election embraces small
area or the entire United States. The re-
suit of the balloting, unfortunately, often
reflects the emotional state of the citizens
of the area rather than the intelligent
judgment of the voters. This is to be re-
GREETED, but the remedy is not to be found
in a denunciation of the tactics of smart
leaders.
In fact, the observation will continue
to be true until the individual voters be-
come thoroughly conscious of emotional
appeals ard intelligently guard against pre-
cipitous decisions along obviously inspired
lines. This presupposes, on the part of the
voter, an intelligence equal to that of the
mastermind behind the emotional strategy.
This may be too much to expect at the
present stage of civilization in this coun-
try, but, sooner or later, if democracy is to
survive and representative government
flourish, the millions of ballots in the
nation must be cast on the basis of rea-
soned judgment rather than as a result of
emotional flare-ups.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-25
PEOPLES FORUM
BY KENNETH FRIEDMAN

! so that the diseased area itself
the spine, would be properly
cared for, and the warm baths
with exercise in addition as a
supplementary treatment, l feel
sure that the treatment of this
dread condition could be com
pletely revolutionized in a de-
cade.
If men can be found with suf-
ficient vision, after checking into
our claims, to originate such an
institution, with proper financing
and the moral courage to carry
it on for ten years, l am quite
certain they would establish these
claims beyond any question of
doubt. This would force the
world and the medical profess
sion to recognize the value of
this type of treatment, and there
by save many unhappy souls
from lifetime of invalidiSm.
600
Here is the opportunity:
On March 81, 1886, there was
a very fine young man stricken
with infantile paralysis in Peip-
ing, China, and since that time
has practically lived in an iron
lung.
Miracles are performed close
to home, sometimes, without be-
ing recognized as such. Just
about the time this friend was
placed in an iron lung, there was
a party drilling for oil and gas,
in Alabama, less than two miles
from the Florida state line; when
down about five thousand feet,
instead of bringing up oil, there
came a "Hot Salt Mineral
Spring." which I might say is
the answer to the prayers of the
many friends of that mighty nice
young man, Frederick B. Snite,
Jr. s&s .
] have visited Sealy Springs,
Alabama, and might add that al
ready hundreds of my friends
have been there and received
the greatest assistance to health
from various disorders.
c. w. N.
Key West, Fla,
Sept. q, 1889.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-25
PRAISES EDITORIALS

Editor, The Citizen:
The daily editorials in The Key
West Citizen are almost uniform
ly of sucll sound good sense that
it is impossible for other than a
carping critic to take exception.
However, the editorial. "Tax
This Nuisance, does have the
germ of controversy in that it is
taken for granted that nothing
can be done to stop horn-blowing
and the comment is made "our
visitors will just have to put up
with this kind of unnecessary
racket.
/ cannot agree with this con-
clusion and have definite plan
of easy operation and at no cost
to the City of Key West that will
definitely stop the horn-blowing
nuisance. Also, I am seriously
of the opinion that when it is
stopped it would bring incalcul-
able benefit to the city, both fl
nancially and otherwise.
Your structures about the cats
and dogs are certainly to the
point; here again there is abso-
lutely no reason why, with a ssif-
ficient viii, this frightfuI nuts
ance could not be eliminated.A
GUY CARLETON
Key West, Fla.
Sept. ri, 1899.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-25
TODAY'S DAILY QUIZ
Can you answer seven of these
ten Test Question? Turn TO
Page A for Answers

/. In which ocean are the
Falkland Islands,
2. What is extradition?
3. Which letter of the English
alphabet is most used?
4. Who was appointed to the
newly created post of
Minister of Information in
Britain's special war cab
met?
S. Into what body of water
does the Gulf of Alden
empty?
6. What fraction of cent is
mill?
7. Are seals fish?
8. From what line is the ball
kicked off at the begin
ming of a football game?
9. Of what country is Kaunas
Kovno) the capital?
10. How is 1910 written in Ro-
man numerals?
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-25
MARATHON: Your letter sigr

MARATHON: Your letter sign
ed Merry Marathonian" receiv-
ed and the complimentary re-
marks about this column make
us dizzy. We are glad you en-
JOY The Key West Citizen more
than any of three daily papers
you read. In answer to your
question No. l: No, my arm is
not paralyzed-that have not
been writing lately; it's my brain.
Question No. 2: Am l a blonde
or brunette? When a little girl
/ had blonde hair, not golden
blonde, just blonde hair that
grew darker as l grew older. At
the age of eighteen, the rage for
(henna) red heads became the
vogue and l tried that until it
was considered no longer good
taste. l went natural again for
several years, then observing that
ladies who used various drug
store rinses had pretty and at
tractive hair so / started expert
mentS so numerous that-oh,
well, I'm lost in the profunditieS
of this analysis-lets call it pink
and let it go. / am glad you look
for this column the first thing
SO do l. Thank you for your let
ter, Merry Marathonian.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-25
NEW SIZES FOR CHILDREN

Here's some news for the boys and
girls of Key West who have had trouble
in buying garments to fit them.
After measuring 100000 young Am
orleans, the U. S. Bureau of Home Stand
ards has set up new standards for child
garments, based on height and hip measure
ments.
For boys between four and seventeen
there are thirteen regular sizes, thirteen
Sims and thirteen "chubbies." For girls
there are twelve of each group.
This will be helpful if the manufac-
turers adopt the regulations, which it is
believed they will do. Maybe, in few
years, boys and girls will be able to buy
clothes that fit-they won't have to wear
some of the outlandish rigs that we have
seen.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-25
THE KEY WEST CITIZEN

WILL always seek the truth and print it
without fear and without favor; never be
afraid to attack wrong or to applaud right;
always fight for progress; never be the or
gan OF the mouthpiece of any person, clique,
faction or class; Always do its utmost for the
public welfare; never tolerate corruption or
injustice; denounce vice and praise virtue.
commend good done by individual or organ
ization; tolerant of others rights, views and
opinions; print only news that will elevate
and not contaminate the reader; never COM
promise with principle.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-25

: In the opinion of some physicians
.@hemclytic streptococci" cause rheumatic
fever. and committed to this theory they
turned to that wonder chemical, sui
fanilamide, which attacks many microbes
called "cOcci" because of their spherical
shape, and this remedy has proven sue
cessful. So medicine is in fair way of
conquering an affliction that threatens the
lives of children and young adults every
year, land if it does not kill, cripples its
victims for the rest of their lives.