The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-15

But there is another and fatal objection 10 this law
II casts local burthen on the county OF New York
for the support OF judiciary system common 70 the
whole State and ought not to be separately taxed in
addition.
on either of the points above referred to, feel
constrained to say that consider il my duty to re-
fuse payment under both the resolutions OF the Board
of Supervisors, until the questions are settled ~
court of competent jurisdiction.
II has been suggested that the business OF the city
has greatly increased and that the additional charge
necessary 10 bring up this business may properly be
assessed on the city. This consideration ought not
TO influence the action of an executive officer.
But. conceding the increase of business, we
ought not to lose sight of the fact, that comparing
1885, the year before the constitution adopted,
with 1858, we find that the force Of the Superior
Court has been increased from three to six, and the
total amount Of the salaries of the judges OF this
court, which in ls45 was $500, is now $4,000.
In addition to this city judge bias been authorised
to be elected by chap. 205 of the laws of 1850 with
salary Of $500, payable from the city treasury
COMMON SCHOOLS AND TAXATION.
The direct tax for common schools on the property
Of the city for the year 1853 as shown by the ap-
portionment Of the State Superintendent OF Com
mon Schools and the requisiton made on the Super
vsor of the county by the city Board OF Education,
is seven hundred and ninetyfour thousand seven
hundred and six dollars.
From 1928 to 1929 inclusive the sum apportioned
from the school fund of the State to the city
of New York in each year. was $40 1913 requiring the
same sum to be raised by tax. In 1880 and 1881
there was added to this tax neeigheth OF one per
cent which produced about SIS 900 in addition for
each year. From 1882 to 1910, there was collected
by tax three-eghteths of one per cent, In addition
to the ordinary school money, producing from
seventy to seventythree thousand dollars annually,
reaching 900 in ls4l, and falling to $4,000 in
1912 and lS4S. In l845 an assessment was made OF
onetwentieth of one per cent producing STA 3d.
In the mean time, and commencing with lS41, the
distribution of school money by the State was in
creased by the addition of the United States deposit
fund to about s35 900, requiring an equivalent sum
to be levied the city and making the total tax for
schools 1924 900. In lS44 an act was passed (chap
320), which provided for purchasing sites and build
ings and furnishing schoolhouses, and for raising
the necessary means BY taxation for accomplishing
these objects. The AID section Of this act provides
"All children between the ages of four and sixteen
residing in the city and county, shall be entitled to
attend any OF the common schools therein; and the
parents, guardians or other persons having the Gus
tody Of such children, shall not be liable to
any tax assessment or imposition" other than the
general tax; and the Board of Education, created by
said act authorised to present to the Board OF
Supervisors estimate OF thesum necessary to carry
out the provisions Of this act, and the Supervisors
and the Common Council by the 18th section, were
required to provide the necessary means.
Under this act, the total assessments in 1915 were
100000 and nearly the same in 1916 and ls47. In
is4s taxation for schools reached $34O000 in ls49
1876 SOS; and in 1850 1874 442. In 1851, the tax
was raised to $4l6,5l9. The act to levy $500 900
by tax on the whole State was passed in 1851, and
the tax on this city since has been and will be as
foows:-
1852 For State treasury. ............. $1S6 SCI
For city schools. ............... 467,b73
1858 For State treasury .............. s225, 670
For city schools 5Sso56
great wrong has been done to the city of New
York by what is called the free school system for the
State. Previous to the adoption of this unjust and
oppressive system, as already shown, this city had
special school system involving heavy taxation and
securing tn every child in the citv that could be in
duced to attend school, tuition books, schoolhouses,
full and all necessary school accommodations, free
from any charge whatever. Our schools are still sus-
tanned under our special laws, At an annual expense
then to include this city in any general system Of
assessment for the support Of the free schools in the
State But what is still more unjust is the fact that,
in assessing 100000 on the whole State for free
schools and in making an apportionment OF it to
the several districts and counties, the law is 50 con-
stucted to levy this city, by tax, 1926 $40 80
And to apportion toi out Of the 100000 9569s 81
Difference. .sl2s, 97l IS
The letter Of the Superintendent Of Common
Schools, appended to this report, and marked No.
H. illustrates the gross injustice which is done by
the law to this city, by its rule of assessing and ap
portioning But this Is not the whole Of the wrong.
The fact that, under special law, all our schools
are made free at the expense Of the taxpayers,
shows that we ought to be entirely exempt from the
action of the State law and yet We subjected to
the process Of collecting at an expense Of 900,
and Of sending the money to Albany, and of getting
comply with the emotions Of the law. To illustrate
the unfairness Of the pretended apporicnment* pro-
vided for in the law, have taken the population,
the amount paid to the treasury on account Of the
school moneys by six Of the largest counties having
aggregate population about equal to that of the
city and county of New York. The result is as
follows:-