The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-07-31


pa'ion turn upstte Fourth Of July AID its re-
minlsceuces receive joyous recognition.
THE MUNICIPAL PANIC VENICE PRESERVED
A panic has prevailed in the Park for some
weeks in regard to he tax levy. All the job
bers aud contractors, the Office holders and other
dependents On the ten millions taxation for the
support Of our political pauperF, have had
new and uraccustomed fright, by reason Of the
prospect which the legal explosion Of the Tax
Office presented, owing to the singular Albany
job which was achieved last winter for the benefit
of the hold-0ver incumbents of that concern.
A tremendous pressure has been brought to bear
upon the Supervisors to cOerce them into action
in this connection contrary to their convictions,
and their independent course, nevertheless has
alarmed the whole legion Of public pensioners,
with the prospect Of ne. shinplaster epoch in
our ever varying municipal affairs, 1t would
appear that the recent delnitive conclusions pro.
cured by the Supervisors, in formal opinion of
counsel, have all been well known and accepted
by the parties in the Tax Office and Finance De-
partment, aud that every step and procedure
was counted upon in view of a possible failure
In the legality Of the assessment rolls.
Immed ately before the act was signed by the
Governor, the Chairman of the Tax Board, Alien,
went up the river, aud 10 consultation with the
Governor and a well known lawyer of the repub.
lican ranks, it was concluded that the act should
not be risked unless the Comptroller should agree
if not to reapp0int the old incumbents then at
least, to suspend any action under the Law until
the tax books were prepared by the Assessors
which. by the statute, must be done between the
LIST of May and the 1st OF July. The proviso
that the act should take effect Immediately, it
was concluded, meant reasonable time, aud its
legal inception would not be presumed before
the Comptroller should take action upon it.
With euch an understanding the Governor signeJ
the act, and the operation of its wholesale abo
fishing and repeating provisions it was thought
was sufficiently guarded against 80 as not to
cut off the old Assessors from the legal COM
pletion of their work on this years tax books
make his appointments, be was made aware, il is
said, OF the further difficulty, that uoder the con
stitution his power to act was probably void.
and if the incumbent Commissioners should
vacate their Offices there would be no power
to fill them, unless it existed in the Super
visors The danger of overturning the basis of
the tax levy, and conviction of the force of the
point raised, compelled the Comptroller to re-
appoint all Of the old Commission.
The conclusion to reappoint the old Board was
not arrived at, however, without an understand
ing that Williamson and Brown should depoSe
their associate Allen from his place as Chairman
exclude him from any share in the councils Of the
Board, aud divide his proportion of the patronage
A quarrel arose, and the spring by which the
Comptrollers action had been Influenced was
disclosed to the Supervisors. secret session
was held; the legality OF the appointments under
the new law was warmly discussed, and candi.
dates to be appointed by the Supervisors were
nominated. But this course of action was aban.
doned; it was found that the powers of the Su-
4ervisors were too emphatically repealed and the
more important matter OF the legalization of the
assessment rolls was taken in hand. The alarm
caused the Tax Office people to suspend their re-
mOval Of the old Assessors, until the Supervisors
bad consented to receive the Assessment rolls,
which they refused to do unless sworn to By
these old incnmbsnts. Commissioner Allen takes
ground on this with the Supervisors, refuses to
meet with the other two members to legaIiza re-
movaIs, regards the power Of the Comptroller as
void, and the law Of 1857 as expressly repealed
With the same operation of the law which takes
away the power Of the Supervisors that of the
Tax commissioners to appoint ASSESSORS OF de-
pu'ies is held to be cancelled. By this the de
Firable result wou'd be gained of bringing 90
the operation Of the law of 1850, when the Com.
missioners were first instituted, and the Asses
sors elected jn the wards uLder the general laws
of>the State, but that these offices also are
abolished in the two succeeding enactments.
The practical result 50 far may reassure the
alarmed pensioners on the tax levy. The assess
ment rolls for this year can probably be assumed
to have been made out before the new law took eff
'ect At the worst, even if they should be carried
upon ceorari by the taxpay ers as provided in the
law, before the Judiciary, aud quashed, the power
OF the Comptroller to issue revenue bonds would
DOT be affected. Very little Inconvenience would
be felt, as the Legislature will meet and act be-
fore the bulk of the outstanding revenue bond4
will probably come il, or need to be provided for,
az they can lie over or be renewed. Whatever
may be done for this year. the Board of Ssper.
visors should stand their ground against these
hold over Commissioners, and maintain dead
halt for 1860, until further orders on the subiec,
of taxation from Albany. The refusal to pro
vide books, or recognise or warrant in any way
the reckless faction who control the Tax Office
argues proper apprehension thus far. It should
De understood that their policy will be to stave
off oil action, and being now actually quartereo
in irresponsible perpetuity upon the county