New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-09
Ths r.,.Co,nmis.Ieser ImbregIis.

xyru,nso, "a Commissioners OF Taxes End Assess
-n,,ts FOR the City and County Of NewYSrk. The in
z;vidrals TINS horored were George ii. Purser.
shr;stan II woodruff and Jonathan w. Allen. These
e,tlemen promptly visited i'e Mayors office and took
an oath to support tho "Constitution OF the State
of New.York" and two Messrs. PuIser and
woodruff subsequently called at the Office Of the Com
ynissioners and demanded from Messrs. Brown and
Williamson possession Of the office. This was re-
Sssed on the ground that the Controller by law, had
no power to appoint the officers in queeton Messrs.
pursor and Woodruff then retired. subsequently Mr..
Alien declared that he should recognize and act with
she new COMMISSIONER wherenpon Brown ana
Williamson promptly put all the tax-rols for the year
apaer lock and key, and called a meeting Of the old
Board when Allen abruptly left the Office. declaring
thst he wonld not act with them. No further action
wss nab tiu Sa iraay morning, when abou'S O'Clock
Xessrs Allen Purser and Woodruff went u the ONCE
md in whisper had some proceedings which were IL
andbie 70 Commissioner Williamson, who was present
In few minutes Mr.. Allen announced that she new
Board was organized by the election Of himself as rs
sent and PuIser Secretary. Allen thereupon de-
nanded that Williamson should hand ever the keys Oh
the ssf This was refused Nlliamson claiming to hold
.hozp by the direction Of majority Of the only 'aNtlh
sppointed Tax Commissioners, ard ty aevice n
IT. =
- give written notice 10 the deputies and clerks 10
ooeed with the work Of making the requisite eeiies
Of the tax rolls for delivery -he Supervisors inJuy
,pnrsef ard WoodrufF then left the 6uiNing. NJ ~
elock t1G'recule- hour .or business Mr. Brown made
his appearance when meeting Of Tie old boAId was
..afed -,resent williamson Brown ard Allen at when
notice was given that meeting would h held ai
.p'oloek on Monday 10 decide what action should oe
taken in reference correcting the sax rolls and max
ND the corrected copies required by law. Thus Che
matter stands at preseR Under the advice OF eounse
che majority Of The old Commissioners viii in
all probability keep tie books locked up
zntI Mr.. Allen consents n mest with item
a. they have no power to act without She presence 81
all the Commissioners. II Mr.. Allen persists IN Keep
ing away from their meetings and TuIser and Wood
ruff refuse 10 institute any legal proceedings 10 test their
olans 70 the Office we do not bow Tx business
sf the ofGco can 90 If these gentlemen have any
faith in the validity Of their appointments by Az BTen
nan they viii al once take the neceesary ssers 70 &c.
possession Of the Office through the Courts The cor
mencemen Of euch proceedings would speedily out tle
knot Wea are assured that no cautious opposition VIII
he irterpsed 70 create delay. Bn they Eut not bcpe
70 place the ola Commissioners in The position Of Est
tuting proceedings to obtain that which they already
have.
In order 20 give some little insight inc this difficulty
Hs origin and history must 60 back 70 s5s During
be Fall Of .lat year II openly charged that conf
bration had been entered into by Tie Democratic mem
bers Of the BOARD OF Supervisors and Peter p. Noorhs
by which Nessrs. yoorhs Allen and Tweed were 70
be appointed Tax Commissioners On condition thn'
voorhs voted TO give the Democrats the Inspectors
and Canyassers Of Election under the Law author
King the Board Of Supervisors to appoint these Off
GERS George II. Purser was stated 20 DO the author
sl.ss eelinf
~ this rumor at the time. and offered the use Of III
columns 10 Nj VoOrlis to set himself light before hi
party This charge VoOrhis denied, and his sub
seouent action and votes In the Board Of Supervisor
are well remembered. A part of this bargain was sal
% be the appointment Of nine Democratic Deputies an
sAree Republicans. belief in the truth OF this CON
bnatiOn induced the Legislature Of las, which WI
Republican. 20 pass the act authorizing the Controe
20 make the appointments for the next five years. in
stead Of allowing the Supervisors TO carry out thi
scheme. Mr. Alien understood TO be opposed T.
she passage Of the bill INT did not e any very active
part In the matter Ai. the passage Of tls law tie
Controller reapPoined Tie then and present incumbent
ss Tax Commissioners. For long time after the or
ganzston Of the Board in 1859 Mr. Allen refused 10
with the other two Commissioners appointed by Mr
Haws in consequence of their refusal 10 permit him K
have any voice in tie selection Of the subordinate
officers provided for After long strife the matter wat
adjusted by allowing Lis brother David W. Allen. 4
have one Of the principal cerksps As organized th'
Office was two-thirds Republican and one third Demo
cratic and with slight variation 1t has remained sc
politically down to the present time.
Knowing as the old Commissioners did-an opinion
IN which we are assured that Mr. Allen fully concuIred
and has repeatedly statedthot by the net of 1883
there appointing power provided at tie end Of
the FIVE Yeas 1t decided TO can the attention OF
the Legislature TO the omission, and possible have il
supplied by Legislature Many of our leading citizens
saIly in the session united in petition asking for
extension Of the term Of the Commissioners then IN
Office bin was drawn up which Lad the approval Of
these petitioners and the support Of Messrs Alien,
Williamson and Brown. But for the ingenious tactics
Of Mr. Purser assured that this bill would have
passed early in the session. 1t was however kept
back by influences that too often allowed TO thwar
legislation ill near the close Of the session when it
passed both Houses by decided vote notwithstanding
she attempt to kill il in the Senate by system Of oppo
etion that could only be trumped up by those engaged
init Gov. Seymour failed 10 approve the bll-tLus
leaving the law Of 1859 just it was The following is
che section oCbapter 3O Laws Of 1852 which gave the
Controller the power to appoint. II Will be noticed
shat the power Of the Controller SCENE 10 he carefully
confined to the term Of five years both as regards the
original appointments and in reference 70 filling va
eaneies:
dnnsfstHy upon the passage q this there .hss be
Commissioners. who shall form Board and beaeJ1seS
Commisscners Of Taxes snd Assessments ior o civ snd
Of five years and until others srpout4d 4, tbsiT j
Any vacancy In said Bossd Of Commissioners from dh ~
the balance Of the term fos which Goa Az, an
pointed" -