The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-08-13

HE FRAUDS on THE CTTY IREASURY-WHAT
Is TO BE DONE As the Investigations of the
joint Committee of Accounts into the assess
ments and arrearages progress they are met
with increasing distractions. 1t is almost i'm
possible to find out the owners of property
which has been assessed, many Of whom, in all
probability, have never heard that any claims
exist against their estates, though eight mil
lions of assessments remain unpaid. The COM
mittee have sent thousands of circulars to par
ties against whom amounts are charged for
assessments for the last three or four years,
informing them of the fact and requesting
them to produce their receipts if they have paid
the collectors; but in many cases the owners or
their heirs are not to be found The best way
for the committee to get at the information
they require would be to advertise the names
of all those persons against whom claims are
outstanding in the HERALD; and we presume
they will be driven To adopt that expedient be-
fore long.
While we are on this subject, we would say
to the taxpayers that they ought to be active in
pushing on their organization for the fall cleo
ton. They have had bitter esson of the re-
suits of former elections of city officials. The
primary elections, of all parties alike-demo-
Gratis, republicans and Americans-are con-
trolled by a set of rowdies and DULLES in the
different wards. If q respectable person at
tempts to show himself there, and offers any
opposition to the infamous proceedings for
which primary elections are proverbial, he
is knocked down by these ward ruff
fans Thee pugilistic politicians IL is
who always make the nominations, just as
suits themselves, and then cell their ll-potent
influence TO the highest bidder. There is no ex-
aggeratioa in this statement it is literally true
and true Of all parties, without distinction AZ
long as the property owners are satisfied with
this state of things they deserve but little SYM
patty while the remedy il 80 easy. A well
organized party Of voters whose Interests are
70 largely involved in the government of the
city, can uproot this whole system of rowdy no
limitations, rasoslity and plumber. A suggestion
Is made. in a communication which we publish
elsewhere, which, though il may seem an extreme
measure, would undoubtedly produce the desired
result of stimulating the owners of houses to
make some effort to reduce the taxes. Our cor
respondent calculates that thirty per cent of the
rent annually paid by tenants In this city goes
to make up the taxes paid by the landlords,
and he suggests that the tenants should accord
ingly dcduct thirty per cent of the quarters
rent next November, and compel the property
owners either to pay the taxes out Of the re-
duced rent or allow their property TO go to the
hammer. This new anti rent movement would
be desperate measure; yet we must come TO
something like IT in the end, il the taxes con-
tinue to increase, for the tenant class cannot
afford to pay the enormous rents which the land
lords are obliged to demand In order TO pay
their taxes. The prompt action of an indepen-
dent taxpayers party would be an easier and
safer remedy than this dernier resort, and we
hope the taxpayers are wise enough to per-
ceive it.