Evening Star Newspaper, November 13, 1926, Page 3

ICAL MEASIRE | STUDEDATHEARING Head Tax Opposed, Higher Auto Levy and Annual Real Estate Payment Advocated. Strong opposition to a head tax Washington was registered, the imperative need for more help for the assessor's office, desirability of yeform in the office of Recorder of Deeds where the registration is 15 months in arrears, censure of the necessity for each real estate pur- haser having to pay tribute to a title guarantee company and heavier o llcense fees were advocated at hearing vesterday before the subcommittee of the House committee investigating the nal Government. sor Richards was admonished atrman Gibson and Represent- fouston that he should ask for help he needs and that the will stand back of him to the District assessor's office liere the most efficient in the country. Both Mr. Gibson and Mr. Houston let 1t be known that they are serious- i considering the possibility of a per apita tax so as to bring all residents here into paying their share toward <upport of the Government. _Assessor Richards opposed this tax, saVing that P people are paying taxes in one another. ! Asks Copy of Report. cubcommittea requested Her- Rrown, chief of the Bureau cv, to supply them with i a report he has prepared at & request of Chairman Madden of \e House appropriations committee 4 Chatrman Zihlman of the House vistrict committee upon the work of \s offices of recorder of deeds and ccorder of wills. This survey was de to facllitate the carrying out of new law, which abolishes the fee vetem in these offices and makes £o to the Budget Bureau with mates for support of their activi- s and to Congress with a Justifica- on of the appropriaions sought, the gences of the Govern- ood that the Bu- n xubcommittee was told that one rea «m the real estate purchasers have o go to the title guarantee com- panies s because this office is 15 tnonths behindhand in recording | jeeds and it takes an expert to trace down ol the records. M. Towers, the tax collector, ad- ted a single payment of taxes \ually instead of semi-annual in- lment payments. He explained that this would save his office much ork in the. preparation of bills, and 1hat consequently the cost would be He got little encouragement from heommittee. Would Raise Auto Fee. Afr. Towers also urged that & prop- erty tax on automobiles should paid at the same time that licenses are purchased. Both Mr. Gibson and Mr. Houston, the only two members of the subcommittee of seven Who “re in Washington, concurred in this {iiggestion and expressed their con- Cictlon that the registration fee mild be yncreased. Mr. Houston ar- ed for increasing the registration and abollshing the ~automobile perty tax, in an effort to simplify The tax collection system. Delinquent taxes on June 30 amounted to $6,300,000 in outstanding’ s against a half dozen of the \argest public utllity companies ob’ arating here, Auditor Donovan to Tha subcommittee in response to in- quiries. Most of this amount is cur. rent taxes t re straggling in and what might v be called back taxes “tal something like $1,300,000. Most ¢ this 1= claims against public serv . ‘corporations, the legality of which auectioned and suits pending in ted that his office col- last year, ywer sta 000 {n penaltle: ¥ pifol ction :‘v! directors il be held on Tue at_the hot, Nor Corp for the s Decem- & vear 1 ESTA on show at Cl REPAIRING will ko anywhe e. TRNI AND _UPHOI terin e TiRE y By ore. Za Tox T00-K Star SER d ¥ G ¢ domestic Jling and leather zoods. dog 1t tade of leather We can re- KING. J by i other than m: RASER CARDNER. 1508 Columbia | HEMODEL! Give Us Your Next Order - pinting—and bo assured of quality The National Capital Press| — SR DIEATOIN 3 PRINTING IN A HURRY BYRON S. ADAMS wie but not high priced. N T1th Street ROCFING—by Koons i ¥, [OAD OF FUR - | | | isaw traveler! Now | us repair the roof ! 119 3rd St. SW. I N KCONS & APPLES 01 the Cider arrel, siiig baskets | GLASS INCLOSURE OF YOUR PORCH | D3 A ROOM { I Adams 5041 : 188 DON'T TRUST YOUR | RCOF! PLAY SAFE Call on us to tell Sou fts} nditio IRONCL PROPOSALS. [ Prisoner,” Hiding in Headquarters, Throwg Detectives Into Furore The Detective Bureau down at the District Building was thrown into a furore last night when Detective Richard Mansfleld started on a search which required the assistance of all the best brains at headquarters. The hunt was conducted in the office of the bureau—in fact, directly behind the counter. When The Star reporter entered the room he was told to stand back. A cordon of “the best” held back the curious crowd in the doorways. Detective Mansfleld was on all fours, rubbing his hand over each square inch of floor be- neath the counter, while the others were casting their trained eyes over the rest of the office floor. Captain of Detectives Walter Emerson, coming out of his office at the end of the hall, sal “Boys, it must be found The captain, usually joll serious when the time demands. His row.was creased and his expression so that in his opinion the District is about as well off as any othbr city. Denies Owing Tax. Five officials of the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Co. appeared at .he hearing to refute a charge that ‘hat company owes the District ap- proximately $250,000 in taxes. The very positive statement that this com- pany does not owe the District cne cent, but that of all the public service corporations doing business here, they ire the best and promptest taxpay- ors, was placed on the record. District Auditor Donovan empha- sized that the Chesapeake and Po- tomac Telephone Co. is the only public utility paying the so-called structure- in-space tax, which the other utllities are contesting and which constitutes a very large part of the big back- taxes charge. The telephone c pany, the committee was told, pi its taxes as charged promptly each vear and accompanies the remittance with a written protest against this structure-in-space levy, so that if the courts decide it is unfairly charged the company can get its refund. The hearings are to be continued Monday morning at 10 o'clock in the caucus room of the House Office Building. District Auditor Daniel J. Donovan and Traffic Director M. O. Eldridge have been called as wit- nesses Washington has been making a biennial assessment of real estate for ax purposes at a much cheaper cost an any other city in the country, 'nd under the annual assessment or- iered by the recent act of Congress 22 Held men instead of the § field men Jow employed would be necessary in order to give the same average imount of work as is done by the assessors in other cities. This was emphasized by Chairman Gibson. Mr. Gibson directed Willlam P. Richards, the District assessor, who was the first witness at this after- noon’s hearing, to make recommenda- tions to the subcommittee for all the help he needs to perform efficlently the duties of his office, with the as- surance that the subcommittee will stand back of him. This was con- firmed by Representative Houston, who stated that the subcommittee wants to draft the law which will make the assessment and tax system here the most efficient in the country. Wants Price Told. Assecsor Richards urged approval by Congress of the provision which was stricken out of the law pa: in the last session providing for an- nual assessments, which would re- quire dealers to file in confidence with the assessor a statement of the true consideration in each fer of real SALESMEN WANTED An enormous increase in business has made it necessary that we add two experienced office furniture salesmen to our organization. This is®an excellent oppor- tunity for high-class salesmen to whom we offer a very attrac- tive salary and commission proposition. L Phone FRANKLIN 5660 for interview. The W. D. CAMPBELL COMPANY 924 15th Street NW. (West slde McPherson Square) Building 17th and I Sts. Nearly 90% Rented Several Choice Spaces Left hington. D. C i here unti 12 m., | i then ovened fof ul 11 am en opened for ¢ Front rooms $50 each— spaces 24x32 feet each, $100 and $125. All out side rooms. One suite 60 feet front. One ground floor shop 1234x45, (same space in cellar, included) rear entrance, $200 Moore & Hill, Inc. hardened with determination as he assisted his men in the hunt. A flashlight was called for and Detective Mansfield took it and, play- ing its silvery rays over the floor, sud- denly reached under the counter and straightened up, his face wreathed in smiles. He was holding something in his hand. “I have it,” he said quite calmly, and laid a little white piece of some- thing on the counter. Every one crowded forward to look No one was quite sure what it was. Mansfleld picked up the hard little object, fondling it lovelingly. “This little fellow has been locked up for six years. He just now escaped while I was talking to a friend. I put him in en I lost my others six years ago,” he said. And those who were close enough recognized the little white thing as a front tooth which fitted perfectly into a vacant space in the row exhibited in Ma: fleld’s smiling mout! estate. This would be a most impor- tant help to his office in making just assessments, he said. Mr. Gibson had a list covering 16 of the largest citles in the country, which showed that the five fleld men from the assessor’s office in Washing- ton each handled 85,000 assessment There is a total of 185,000 parcels of real estate, of which 110,000 are bufld- ings and 75,000 parcels of land. This tabulation showed that in New York each of the field men handles 9,100 parcels, and in Boston each of the fleld men handles 2,100. Mr. Gibson emphasized that ‘“not a city in the country having annual assessments gets along with any- where near as little help as the City of Washington.” The nearest ap- proach is in Rochester, where there are 100,000 parcels of real estate and a man handles 25,000, whereas here in Washington each man handles 85,000, he said. Would Need 22 Assessors. The average work for a fleld as- sessor throughout the country fis 8,400 parcels and to come up to this average Washington would require 22 fleld asseswors, it was explained. Mr. Richards said that while addl- tional fleld men would be & consid- erable help he belleves that Washing- ton should continue to have unified su- pervision carried on by two or three men so as to have better equalization of assessments here than is possible elsewhere where there are sectional assessments. Mr. Houston questioned him re- 2arding the method of selection of ‘hese assessors and was told that they were appointed by the District Commissioners. He asked Mr. Rich- ards whether he thought better men could be secured through election by the people and Mr. Richards an- swered that he belleved that unques- tionably men better fitted for the work are secured under the appoin- tive system. 7 "BOOKS BOUGHT #Bring Them In” or Phone Fr. 6494 Big Book Shop, 933 G St. NW. Established Le Marquis Apartments ' 2308 Ashmead Place N.W. | Overlooking Rock Creek Park and The Million Dollar Bridge. 3 rooms and bath to 8 rooms and 3 baths. From $55 to $225 per - 1 Attractive suites ranging from I 'g month. 24-Hour Elevator and Switchboard Service Building Entirely Redecorated and Under New Management APARTMENTS FOR COLORED In the Newest and Most Up-to-Date Buildings in Washington Only a few left in each building GET YOURS NOW 2nd AND W STS. N.W. 3 Rooms and Bath $50 2922 SHERMAN AVE. N.W. 3 Rooms and Bath $50 to $55 1030 EUCLID ST. N.W. 3 and 4 Rooms and Bath Rent, $47.60 to $57.50 Janitor Service in All Buildings References Required I Apartments Open Until 10 P.M. For further information see fanitor or J. DALLAS GRADY 904 14th St. N.W. Main 6181 | DESIRES RESIDENTS AS COMMISSIONERS, Columbia Heights Real Es-| tate Owners’ Association Favors No Change in Law. Opposition to the proposed change in the laws which will permit the ap- | pointment of non-residents as Com- missioners of the District of Colum- | bia was expressed in a resolution adopted last night by the Columbia Heights' Real Estate Owners’ Asso- clation in its meeting in the upper | ballroom of the Arcadia Building. i The associatlon re-elected Willlam ' F. Dismer as president. Other officers elected were: J. H. Sturgeon, first vice president; Arthur J. Bibb, second vice president; J. Clinton Hiatt re-¢ elected as secretary and E. C. Totten re-elected treasurer. Members of the executive commit- tee were elected as follows: John Laskey, Charles T. Clayton, John Mulford, Michael J. Keane, John ) Boteler, John H. Holmead, E. C. Tot- ten, Arthur Bibb, J. H. Sturgeon, C. Clinton Hiatt and Willlam ¥. Dismer. 117 New Members. A resolution also adopted indorses the organized citizens' membership campalgn, as sponsored by the Fed- eration of Citizens' Associations. | The following 117 new members were elected: Mary H. Talbott, Ger- trude B. Thomas, Mrs. L. V. Sparks, John G. Klein, Jennie L. Slye, John B. Davis, Eleanor C. Prichard. Morris Bennett, Ora Saunders, Mrs. Grace V. Long, Robert M. Estes, Clayton A. Ammann, Theresa Thompson, Herbert L. Davis, Rev. J. W. Duffey, R. G. G. Ir . De Lerdermier, Mrs. Ida L. Philpitt, M A. Donaldson, F. Willlam Loetsch, George Daw, A. H. Cramer, Mary Craighead, Henry F. Farmer, J. Ed- Desirable Abartments No. 1439 T St. N.W. 4 Rooms and Bath Rent Only $52.50 Per Month Randall H. Hagner & Co. —Incorporated— 1321 CONNECTICUT AVE. PHONE MAIN 9700 An Opportunity To Buy a Gruver-Built Home With All Modern Imprevements € large rooms, bath, cellar, attic, screened porches, awnin, 150-foot lot, with garage 20-foot paved alley Very Desirable Neighborhood Waest of 14th Street 1415 Shepherd St. N.W. Reasonable Terms See Any Broker Or Phene Ceol. 8392 Open for inspection 21,000 Just Off Conn. Ave. at Bridge Rare value in handsome residence, comprising drawing room, dining salon, kitchen, two large porches, four bedcham- bers, two baths, maid's room and lavatory, built- in garage and all modern refinements. 2314 Ashmead Well financed for con- venient purch, First trust of $12,500 at 6% for five years. Terms reason- ably arranged! OPEN SUNDAY 11 AM. to 6 P.M. Exclusive Agents 925 15th St.—Main 9770 gar Hiatt, George W. Jacobs, Willlam A. Miller, Michael O'Hanlon, Mrs. A. Cropper, Mrs. Abraham Brown. Elmer D. Bailey, Charles O. Ste- vens, James G. Savage, Mrs. Nellle Burch, Charles R. Klose, W. E. Dal- ton, Richard S. Shreve, M Wetzel, G. D. Ellsworth, H. W. G. Crawford, Prof. W. G. Oates, F. P. Guthrie, Marie R. Brewster, . Noel, Willlam H. Webb, S. A. Wood, Bessle A. O'Meara, Mrs. Ella G. Stokes, Dr. Walter W. Price, Ralph Young, T. J. Donohoe, C. R. Cranmer, Mrs. 8. C. E. Capers, George K. Holmes, Miss F. B. Wontersley, Mrs. . D. Lelmbach, Mrs. Frances Bar- tholow, Mrs. B. Stearman, Miss B. Stearman, Miss E. Lambert, Charles E. Kern, William F. Harrison, Mar- garet E. Short, James George, Etta Wilson Davis. President Dismer Presides. Joseph N. Chiswell, Daisy B. Kelly, Emma J. Roche, Mrs. Emma S. Hart Mrs. Maude W. Dwyer, Lillian C Bibb, Edith E. Fordham, E. Chapman, W. Ott, John Crilly, J. P. Kinney, C. | J. Bogan, E. Joseph Weber, C. H Potter, Morris Luchs, Mrs. E. Green, G. J. Fink, E. T. Morgan, C. W. Sum- mers, Charles R. Lewls, Mrs. Colin H. _ Livingstone, Coulliette, Rev. P. C. Gav Cannon, 'W. L. Redro WANTED REAL ESTATE Must Be Experienced An unusually good opportu- nity for a man capable of handling large deals. SEE MR. LEWIS W. H. WEST CO0. - 916 15th St. M. 9900 today at the few av new corner, eight-story, fireproof building. 1616 16th JUST ABOVE SCOTT CIRCLE One room and bath to five rooms and two baths—S$45 to $135 a month. DAVIDSON & DAVIDSON 1013 Fifteenth St. Rental 1926 Sheetz, G. M. Anderson, D. J. Wey-, man, Miss Elizabeth A. Hayden, Mary | A. Nee, E, L. Chaney, T. F. Ball, E. 7. Ryon, H. Munroe, F. J. Blair, Rob- ert J. Boyd, Mrs Grace L Harding. Mrs Rosalind M. Bain, C. M. Schultz H. F. Dismer, Clarence Parsley, J. Roy Pipes, T. W. Schaeffer, the firm of Donnelly & Plant, A. W. Eliason, W. Alice Geddes and Mrs. A. E. Cropper- Mr. Dismer presided. * Schubert Worked Fast. The 600 songs of Schubert were written—sometimes 10 in a day—in the 14 years between the time he was 17 and his tragic death at 31. 16th & Columbia Road Several very attractive apartments ranging in size from two rooms, reception hall, kitchen, bath and bal- cony, to five rooms, kitchen, repection hall and bath. Service unexcelled and prices reasonable. ARGONNE 16th & Columbia Road ; 4l T e e e e TP ailable suites in the STREET 0il heating, elec- tric refrigeration, other comforts Agents 8 e 16th ST. Hemlock All-Night Parking Need Not Bother You—Run Your Car Into a Warm Electric Lighted Garage—Walk Up Stairs Into Your Kitchen “Garage in Your Cellar” $500 CASH BALANCE LIKE RENT Hemlock St. at Alaska Ave. N.W. Drive Out 16th St. past Walter Reed Hospital to pen Every Day and Evening HEIGHTS St. NW. STEIN CLYDESDALE 2801 Adams Mill Road (Just North of 18th and Columbia Road) Three Rooms and Bath $56.71 Monthly A small cash payment is your only other outlay toward ownership of one of the few remaining 100% Co-op. apartment homes overlooking beautiful Rock Creek Park. A modern building in an unrivaled location " J. FRED CHASE Exclusive Representative Wardman 100% Co-operative Apartments Office: 1413 H St. N.W. Residence Phone: Columbia 7866 Phone: Main 3830 A NEW 8.story modern apartment many features, including special kitchen cabinets, built-in bathroom equipment and mirror doors. building _with We offer immediate possession in the following apartments: 1 Room, Reception Hall, Bath. 2 Rooms, Kitchenette, Reception Hall and Bath. 2 Rooms, Dining Alcove, Kitchenette and Bath. 3 Rooms, Reception Hall, Kitchenette and Bath. 5 Rooms, Reception Hall an d 2 Baths, ATTRACTIVE LOBBY 24-hour Elevator and Switchboard Service Building Overlooks City Ovpen and Lighted Until 9 P.M. PHILLIPS TERRACE APARTMENT 1601 Argonne Place Just North of 16th and Col. Road Overlooking Harvard St. Entrance to Heautiful Rock Creek Park A Wonderful Location for the Particular Class We have left a few of the three and four room apartments with porches, having southern exposure. Also a few ome-room, dining alcove, kitchen, tile bath with built-in tub and Murphy bed, to 5-room, reception hall, etc. 24-Hour Elevator and Telephone Service RESIDENT MANAGER William S. Phillips & Co., Inc. 1432 K St. N.W. M. 4600 From the “Million- Dollar Bridge” RAREL\' is the opportunity given to acquire a a luxurious modern residence in this ultra select location. And this particular home is strikingly exceptional in many important respects in its magnificent site directly at the North end of the Connecticut Avenue Bridge: in its handsome design and wonderful construction its palatial drawing room, dining salon, five spacious bedehia bers and three tiled baths and itr its attractive English basement. These featurcs and the admit tedly moderate price commend this residence to vour immediate consideration 2519 Connecticut Avenue Inspection by appointment W H WEST COMPANY FOUNDED 1891 916 Fifteenth Street—Main 9900 Give Your Children a Chance * + = * = # % Make them a home in a community where the best educational and recreational facilities in Washington com- bine to make theirs -4 Successful Future DURTEITH 1702 37th Street N.W. The Sample House Is Always Open for Ingnection To Reach—Drive out Mass. Ave. to Q Street and over Q Street Bridge to 28th St., turn north one block to R St. and con- tinue west on R St. to our Sample House, or take the Burleith Bus. Wembers of the Operntive Builders' Aeen af the D. €