The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-08
Pierce christening q coup Ia Cromwell and
Napoleon Bonaparte! What narrow escape
we have had! Don't tell this to the marines

Pierce threatening q coup O IA Cr0mWeL su0
Napoleon Bonaparte! What o narrow escape
we have had Don't tell this to the marines
The Way IN WHICH TAXES ON PERSONAL.
ESTATE ARE CoLLEcrED-OvER ONE HUNDRED
AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS LOST TO THE
CRY IN ONE YEAR The Mayor, in his last
annual message calls particular attention to
the defective system of tax collection, and to
.ne fact that under the mode now pursued over
six hundred thousand dollars have been lost to
the city during the past ten years. From q
detailed statement OF unpaid personal taxes
from 1874 to 1854, which was made out in &C.
oordance with resolution adopted last year
by the Board of Supervisors, it appears that .
large number of Incorporated companies, and
the owners Of great amount OF personal pro-
perty, have managed, through the neglect OF
the Receiver of Taxes aud his subordinates, to
escape taxation for several years. The &C
counts for the year 1854 show balance un-
paid in the First ward of $50 ,607; in the Third
ward Of Sl3,641 SO; in the Fifteenth ward OF
$10,799; in the Eighteenth ward of $18,39l,
and in the Twenty-frst ward Of $l6,4lO. We
would advise some of the residents on the Fifth
avenue to get copy of this statement for their
own particular OBLIGATION, as we see the names
of a considerable number on this black list.
Among those who have neglected to pay their
taxes there is quite large force Of lawyers,
and of these not few who hold q high posi-
ton at the New York bar.
Connected with the office of Tax Receiver
is the Office OF Arrears of Taxes" which is
entirely unknown to the law, and which was
created by the constable appointed by the Re-
ceiver. All the arrears on personal tax are
collected by this officer, who has in many in
stances charged Eve, ten and even twelve per
cent upon the suns collected. To such an
extent has this system been carried, that it
has during some years amounted annually
to ten thousand dollars. But this is not
ell, for there is, it appears, no means
Of sscertaining correctly, from the manner
in which the accounts are kept, what has and
what has not been collected. The law in re-
gard to this subject is SO very clear and def
mite that it can be understood by all, and it
invests the Receiver with the most absolute
power for its enforcement. After the 10Th day
Of January in each year, he is authorized to
issue his warrant to a constable, who can dis
train and sell the "goods and chattels" Of the
delnquents, including even those which may
be found in his possession. In the event Of the
failure Of the officer to find any property be-
longing to them, they can be fined and pun
ished by imprisonment, And yet, although all
the powers of the law have been given to the
Receiver. we find that through the improper
and careless performance Of his duties, over
one-ffteenth Of the whole amount of personal
property in New York has escaped taxation
In the year 1854 the loss to the city through
this dereliction Of duty exceeded one hundred
and sixty five thousand dollars, and as this de-
fciency in the tax levy must be made up, it has
to be paid by the honest taxpaying portion Of
the community.
The only remedy for this is to hold the Re
ceiver to strict accountability for every dol
lar that is thus lost to the city. This is mat
ter which calls for the immediate action Of our
State Legislature, and we trust that body will
not adjourn before making law that can be
applied with the same force to the Receiver ss
o the payers Of taxes.