The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-09-17

RNING, SEPTEMBER II
Great Increase or city Taxes-Breach OF
Faith by the New Party-the journal OF
Commerce Witness against them-Grow-
Ing Excitement among the People against
Public 1reaehery.
From the Journal Of Commercel
INCREASE or TAxEs.-Under this head, an article
copied into Saturdays Journal Of Commerce, from
the Anne rican Republican, explains the increase of
taxes by figures.
We have before us copy Of the resolutions OF
the Board OF Supervisors, passed the Nth OF Sep
tember 1913, directing the OF 81 SO5 l36 80 TO
be LEVIED and TO. the accuracy OF this statement,
we refer 10 the record Of the Board OF Supervisors
now IN The possession OF the clerk OF that body.
The first reason given for the increase OF this
yea 10, that the former Common Council increased
the Watch force and pay.
We would respectfully enquire il the present
Common Council have decreased this item. If
they have not, then here lies The secret.
The second reason is, that the former Common
Council increased the lamps.
The same remark, applicable to the first, will APP
ply TO this.
The third is, tho increase for school purposes !;
and on this head We inclined to the opinion that
the Common Council have control until the constl-
tutionallty Of the school law has been determined.
The Common Council can do some things as weA
as Others"
The state tax is complained of, and very Justly !;
but why complain? The Legislature should have
been applied TO tor correction OF the mode OF as
sessment; and II the same energy had been exerted
in procuring the passage OF law TO that effect
exerted by corporation officers for the passage
OF the eonfscation act, the matter would have been
settled long ago.
The Ward assessors have been requested by cor
poration officers, this year, TO increase the vaua-
ton of real estate in the city, which increases the
amount Of the State tax. Why this folly
Tax payers are not blind not TO see the film.
sness Of This project. The footing OF their tax bills
tells the story 10 them.
II is complained that the Common Council have
no power over certain expendllures-an II Is true
and their policy is Indicated by not remedying the
evils which they can remedy.
The public printing was complained OF last year,
and the Common Council were asked TO do the
work by contract. The same course was pursued
this year, and the result has been that the present
Common Council, in this, have followed In the
footsteps OF their predecessors.
The question ID not, where can property be found
on which to impose big tax, but how can the big
tax be made smaller! We answer, IN the words Of
Gov. Morton, of Massachusetts, ''Rubstitute re-
tyeaChment for TAXATION"
number OF watchmen, and the pay OF those retainsd
should have reduced the expense OF lamps contracted
lo public printing the lowest bidder and to all
DINER items Of city expendur pursued the course
retrenchment policy. This would have brought the
lower rate without resorng 70 the ridiculous
raising the valuation Of real estate Tor III TRUTH
ad fact the value Of real estate actually and essen
TALLY decreased by this very tax, and the very measures
There is ias in the tax SYSTEM and in the mode of
making up the accounts This we have always conoe-
died. and surprised that the present Common Coun
Gil have not avoided the rock which their predeces
made shipwreck.
We appeal 10 the able and worthy counsel Of the cor
poration and ask that public officer
to anime the tax lawst0 compare the annual tax BILL
passed prior is4 with that enacted then and since that
period by the state Legislature.
Thetax imposed IL strictly county and State tax
and in no respect cOrporStion tax. Formerly the
raod m mi nv "
law has been changed and The power gvsnto the board
The learned counsel will also perceive that the law de-
nes the property to be assessed and also that which is
be exempt fixes the time when the assessors are TO
commence their and also fixes day when
powe /, likewise fixes day which the
Board Of Assessors she meet do certain specified
other specified things, aud then the Supervisors
10 meet AID they authorized 10 do certan spec
ned things Now Theses urs all PLAIN matters ana the
duties OF the Assessors plain they independent
officers amenabe to nobody but TO the laws Of the state
Ihe Supervisors are also al independent body and their
duties pointed out by statute The duty OF the City
Comptroller all be found in chapter ais Of laws Of
l642.
The Common Council have NO control over the Board
of superv and the latter named Board wholly in
dependent Of the FIRST named body.
Il is the business OF the Bard Of Supervisors when
they meet to INK the rate per cent Of the tax lit not
tax for the present Julian year. s4 but tax Tor the po
lcal year. commencing with the fret moment Of tae se
oonS 81 e onasy Of the
Board Of Supervisors have nothing TO do with the
expenditures OF the Common Council incurred prior to
their comlRg into office.
The Corporation of the city and the Super
visors Of the county are distinct organizations and
suit has to he commenced to recover the amount e tax
the Supervisors Of the county are the the plaintiffs and
not the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonaty.
II may be asked, what is to be done with the indebted.
ness Of the last Common Council7 We answer pursu
the course the ensuing month OF January a. was
pursued by the Common Council in 1910, viz ask the e
gsature Tor authority to fund the floating debtthis was
done when Mr. varian was Mayor at the time the tax
act contempt to be altered from city to county
The journal OF the Senate Of ls4 will show this aera
on, and refer TO the printed copy now IN the County
Clerks office for the official facts
The legislature 10 convene on the first Monday Of
January and the taxes not pay able until the 10th day
Of February and there it, therefore, abundant time for
action In this
The should be funded pay able in instruments
may be urged that large watch is required for the
the depredations in street patching extoons we should
at admit the fact II Is the assessment depredators
and the street patching exoroners that the citizens com
plain or These are the principal offenders, and against
these the whole city have be watch night and day
We are not disposed to find fault with the present city
otherwise and free to speak OF the
great reform which have been accomplished by His Hon.
the Mayor His praise in this is in the mouth Of every
body.
make the charges distinct and If not well founded they
be reuted by reference to the bills paid out Of the
The excuse that the expenses complained Of have been
incurred BY previous Common Council is very old, and
thread bare, Tor IL Decn IN use Dy every pre-
vious Common Council that succeeded Of different
shade Of political profession.
The footing ofthe bills Of monthly payments are the
test Show the prices paid and the people will discrm
nate.
The present Common Council were elected to reduce
the taxes and public expectation that they would do this
work, s very high-the higher II has been raised
the greater the distance II will have to fall unless they
accomplish tho labor they were expressly employed e
leak in the City Treasury by thrusting veto into
which the Common Council had made in the public
chest In the famous Ninth Avenue proceeding. That is
the way to reduce the tax. ADVERTISEMENT.
The REV. G. r. ToRRRY. -ATTEMPT TO BREAK
PRIsoN.-An attempt was made on Friday last by
Rev G. Trorrey to escape from the Baltimore jail The
says =" On examining the window one OF the large up.