New-York daily tribune., 1859-01-04


This amount includes not only the arearages with
the eek Of Arrears but the oner assessment in the
hands of the several collectors Of assessments.
II IT, however the sppaTen! amount, as i IS subject
to considerable deduction by reason oi non payment
into the City Treasury 10y former Collectors OF Asses
uepts OF moneys collected by them, and by the fact
that certain assessments are invalid on account Of
Iauos irregularities. sO that the city cannot recover
from the owners Of property the amounts pad to con
tractors for the improvements, anithat overpayments
have also been made to Contractor
large il also due for Interest on the valid
liens interest being collected az the rate OF twelve per
cent per anruu, from the conhfnatlon OF assessment
on all items not paid before their reuro 70 the Finance
Departm.n, a. arrears the city receives an excess
OF interest that paid by II, which will to some
extent compeI safe i for the loss on invalid assess
nents.
Dorirg the pact year the Collector Of Arrears has
received and paid INTO tie Treasury arrearage.. IN
Guiding interest, 10 the amount Of about 81 10000.
large amount If arresIages remain, however, IN
collected, additional returns of arrears are contnu-
ally made by III. Collectors II Assess nents
Parties have, IN numerous Instances, produced the
receipts Of Collectors although the hen upJn the prop
erty has not been discharged Investigation Of the
accounts cf the Collectors OF Assessments has been
made by the Street Department aud reports thereon
lsve b. n made If the DEFICIENCIES discovered. fa
and detailed report of the accounts o. th- Burean,
from tie ear 1872 70 the preseLt Il lie VII b. submit.
ted 20 you ~ early day, BY the Street Commissioned
The JOINT Committee Of Accounts have slsO made s
partial examination Of these sCcounts. deem il ms
duiy 10 cell your G,,eL ton 10 tie great Importance Of
dret ting the Corporation Coan .e 10 take immediate
steps fer the recovery of the Illegally retained
az Of such other suns as have been Illegally Ob.a led
II I,m the City Treasury.
In this connection would cal your attention 20 the
propristy Of applying Tor some legislation by which
the city may be enabled TO colecf the fair value OF
proyenents which should be paid for Assessment IN
csses IL wkica by reason Of sone irregaar. m he
ordnsuce contract the assessment has been msy
BE- set aide.
IL some cases these irregularities have been the
sn OF fraud il others Of neglect . comply strictly
with the statute. and Others contracts uich
made in good faith aud supposed 20 De wand will &C.
cord,c 10 recent decisions of the Courts bs held 70 be
invalid For instance, It hes been he'd that con-
tract given to the party who Gppe aret to be the lowest
bidder upon the estims.ed Quantities q work 70 be
dore, but xho upon the development, il the perform
be not tte lowest bidder, upon applying the terms Of
bis bii Ia the latter quantity WAS void
In macy cases lar. - psyneuts have been advanced
ou ccptTac,s which are irregular; bCt in M ilig-
meri there IS 10 why the ewners of properly
stouli b released from paying the FAR value Il tie
imprOys snsuts. would recoulIeni that an spplca-
ticu be made 70 the Legislature for Co.nmissou 70
b. sppoIi ted by the Mayor sni Controller 20 deter
mue TIE fair amount that should be paid b. the
owners Of property H. where assessneLts have
be, et ASIDE for rregu sriiis and 10 detrmice the
completed for which ASSESSMENTS have not ye. been
msce, and regard to which s.lia. irTes ulsTt,es
exisi.
Bv the estimates of the Departments the tax levy
of 1859 w amouIt 70 over s. 600 O00 f5r al purposes
connected With tne City GoyeTsdent. IL this sum is
Included $50 5S - for srrearaSes for s5- art II s
This item, sinoush less than that provided .of lie tax