Evening star., 1941-03-18
D. {. Might Receive
"a Million From j. ).
Under Dirksen Plan
Federal Land Valued at
ee5 Millions, 3l.e Pct. of
Two-BiIIion Appraisal

lwo-bIIlIon Appraisal
The Dirksen formula for setting
the Federal share in annual District
expenses might net the District a
national payment of approximately
Sl4000000 on the basis of estimated
expenses for 1912.
This compares with the present
lump-sum payment of S6,000,0 900 and
the estimated 100000 should the
Overton-H Hunter formula be ap-
proved
The Dirksen plan was introduced
In bill form yesterday by Repre-
sentative Dirksen of Illinois, rank
ing Republican member of the Dis
trlct Committee. 1t would set up q
three-man board of Federal apprais-
ers, appointed by the Secretary of
the Treasury. to appraise all Fed
orally owned land and Improvements
here, exclusive of streets and alleys.
The board would report on or be-
fore January l of each year to pro-
vide Congress with a base to de-
termine the Federal share in lieu
of the real estate taxes which would
be realized from such land and i'm
provements If said land and i'm
provements were not exempt from
taxation because of Federal owner
ship"
Difference in Plans.
Mr.. Dirksen's plan differs from
the Overton-Hunter plan in that it
contemplates relative land values
instead of acreage, he told reporters
yesterday. 1t was pointed out, how
ever, that the Overton plan would
fix the Federal payment by law,
while the Dirksen plan calls only
for base report on which Con-
gress could act.
Figures in the Office of the District
assessor place the value of Federal
land and Improvements here as of
last July at S668 8071 ,457 against
total District appraisal of S2091,-
534,784, or 3l9 per cent. The per-
centage applied to the 1912 budget
estimates to be paid out of the gen.
eral Observation-Disclosures to
something over $14.000,000. On the
basis of acreage, with certain de-
ductions made for parks and other
lands, the Federal Governments
share in this fund is about 81 per
cent or roughly s9,0O0,0 900 under the
Overton plan.
If the SITS real estate tax is ap-
piled to the Federal holdings as
sessments. the District would realize
$l1 ,691 ,257, it was stated
Assessments on Government hold
ings are made by Board of Assist
ant Assessors, including L. S. John
son, L. S. Gaines. H. D. Scantlin
and B. F. Adams They are ap-
pointed by the Commissioners and
though subject administratively to
Assessor E. A. Dent, their assess
ments as a board are not Their
assessments of Government property
are closely tied in with their ap-
praisals of private property. which
are between 80 and 100 per cent in
the District.
Close Attention to Assessments.
Assessments of the District assessor
are. according to Mr.. Dirksen's bill,
10 be given close attention and the
three-man board, in presenting any
deviation from the local assessor,
must jutify them.
District appraisals of Federal prop
erty have been worked out over a
period of many years experience in
the case of the older buildings and
land, and the newer instances on
the basis of known cost to the
Federal Government.
In introducing his bill. Mr.. Dirksen
gave no estimate of what the District
might get under his formula, but
thought it would be greater than the
present $4,000. 900 lump payment.
While the added revenue from a
s14,000000 payment or even an
S11 100000 contribution would be
welcome to District officials who are
wondering in many instances how
District services will be able to stand
the influx of national defense
workers without added funds from
some place, some quarters were
frankly skeptical of the equity of the
DlrkSen plan to the Federal Govern
ment. They felt the Overton plan
the fairer solution to all concerned,
Commerce Building Cited.
Citing for example the new De-
partment of Commerce Building,
which cost the Government S17,OOO.-
600 or Sl8,000,000, it was contended
that the structure was worth that
figure only to the Government and
could never be sold for that price.
1t was also contended that the actual
site of the building with its i'm
proyementS before the Government
took over was worth nowhere near
that amount and that no private
concern would have constructed
anything of that value there
THE land withdrawn from Dis
trict taxation by Federal acouisi-
ton in that case may only have
been worth 100000 or $4,000 ,OO0,"
II was said.
The Senate District Committees
report on the Overton bill places the
net land area of the United States
here used for national purposes at
1922 acres. The net land area of
the District it lists at 1928 acres.
How Ratio Would Be Figured.
The ratio of the Federal payment
would, therefore, be determined by
dividing the net Dlt1ted States land
1892 acres) by the net land area
of the District (39 ,273' acres) which
results in percentage of 21.19
percent. The ,19, being less than
one-half of l per cent is, by the
terms of the bill disregarded, re-
sulting in a percentage ratio of 81
per cent.
There has been an interminable
controversy throughout the years
from 1879 to the present in respect
to both the amount and method