The New York herald., 1850-03-11

and our readers may expect the Herald to overflow
with the details Of two weeks later intelligence
from the old world, tomorrow.
Assessments In New York-The Proposed
New Law.
We are glad TO perceive that the Legislature of
this State have taken in hand the subject Of
assessments, and have now under consideration
measure which, if passed, will remedy the
difficulties and inequalities of the present system,
and give satisfaction to every one, except few
milisn aires, who have heretofore escaped from
bearing their proporonate share of the public ex-
penses.
The most prominent features OF the proposed
new assessment law are, that hereafter, persons
iransactng their business in one place, and re-
siding IN another, shall, in addition to being as
sessed IN the place where they live, be asse ssed
all their business property in the place where
they carry on that business. This is a most ad
mlrable arrangement. 1t is very well known that
there are thousands of merchants doing business
this city, who escape taxation by residing in
Brooklyn, Wilismsburgh, and other of the
suburbs Of New York. The value of the pro-
perty which thus escapes taxation, amounts to an
immense sum IN the aggregate. In fact, the sum
thus saved makes it an object for the heads Of
New York; and If it was specially designed to IN
duce our merchants TO reside out OF the city, no
better method than the present defective assess
ment system, could be adopted. All such pro-
perty Is protected Just a. much as any other, aud
the owners ought, on every principle of justice
and equity, be Obliged to contribute their quota
of the expense OF tue government which gives
that protection.
4 IL IL, IL
system, Is that the assessors shall have the power
To call upon every person whom they have reason
TO belicve has personal estate liable to taxation,
and examine them under oath the subject;
particularly IN relation bonds, mortgages, stocks,
&c Heretofore it has been impossible to get at
the amount Of personal property possessed by In
Gividuas, and the consequence has been that nine-
tenths of il have escaped taxation entirely. A man
may own four OF five hundred thousand dollars
worth of personal estate, and may be assessed for
only FIVE or ten thousand; or perhaps the same
patty, owning single lot ofland, would be assessed
on that alone, while all his personal property would
escape Ii is within the bounds of probability to
say, that if the proposed assessment bill should
pass, some five or six hundred millions Of dollars
worth OF personal property, OF all kinds, IN the
possession Of banks corporations and individuals,
which has heretofore escaped taxation, will be
discovered and sade to contribute to the general
expenses. Il rs the want Of such system as the
one now under consideration, which has made the
taxes in New York so onerous and burdensome.
The owners of real estate have always been the
principal sufferers, because such property cannot
be concealed. person owning twenty Thousand
dollars worth ol real estate would be heavily taxed,
while the person owning personal properly to the
amount OF half million would not pay cent, be-
Cause Il was impossible TO discover 1t.
There are other good features connected with
the rewly proposed assessment law; but the refer
ence which we have made to 1t will satisfy our
readers ,hai II is dec4sd Improvement on the old
systerr and will convinSs them that II should pass
lnto law a. soon possible, and the sooner the
better. OF course, u wil not be satisfactory to
the rniIi lnsires Of Wall street, or Of uptown
30 those persons who count their personal property
by the hugdrtd thOusand-Lui II will be 30 to the
% lfortunatc real estate owRer, whom has fallen
the grncpa part of the buEthel Of assessments and
taxation iorgears past. The B,illionaires, accord
inrly. are exeftng themselves to the utmost to de-
feat - passage. and have employed agens to pro-
ocsd % Albany end lobby agains, T. Those agents
ere moss bus,ly engaged IN the,r work, and the
ofzan q. the miCnBiIes IN New 1ozk--the Journal
o. CaunFgc us backing and supporting them. ~ n
le.s some means aT, taken T. countetact those an
u, nose, th,. m, asuse, SO yslpabIy necessary, and
a. eouitablshle and jet IN IT, character. may be
defeated. II nay be acsun ed as a matter Of GER
finty. that an effort Of no cOmmon order VIII be
nude 10 defeat it, end oQr citizens should at once
sound the alarm. and call upon the Legislature to
la,suatonce Would Il rot be advisable, under
the circumstances, thcreioFe, TO c,di public meet
bg en- he subieci, oftax payeEs gen orally and pass
a seuss oi resolutions that would conium the
wlytuig members, and eInboldea she tm'd to
support and advocate ii Iii a measuJe In which
msn ~ all paities ore deeply interested, and i's
poss sc 10 demanded BY every coefl3'ration OF
prcritty 1nd justice. % - time teat the real
oflsic ct his cy should be- relieved OF fl,e exces.
iiye share Of taxetion which Il has bouge for 90
many ycats aud it is time, too. that merchants
whose property lies ia this city. bot who lave ia
other places. rs well as milhonaires, shOad be
compelled to contribute their share to the general
cxgrrse of supporting the law and tne govern psn,
winch protect them. Let the public. therefore,
woich th,s movement closely, and keep an eye on
tie LcrislaiDre.
Tnr Isrs1IorNcE PROM CAtF3ANA Oar cor.