The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-07
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
The Tax Lists for 1S6S-The Committees fer
1S6S-SOmething Wrong.

The Tax Lists for 1S6S-The Committees fer
1S6S-Something Wrong.
For the third time the Board Of Supervisors COM
vened in their new chamber yester lay in accordance
with the law which requires them to receive frorI
the Tax Commissioners on the first Monday Of July.
in each year, the list Of real ana personal property
In the county liable to taxation. Promptly at noon
the chamber was thrown open, but nothing
strange presented itself to the VISITORS eye
unless he happened to be one who had
never seen the chamber before There were
the regular oilers and stokers Of the co 1ty
machine and the engineers each in his place tn ra
was the same highly finished furniture, tb re .e,a
the same handsome spittOons one at each d,sA; tha
inspiring bust Of the late Supervisor Purdy, th
same crowd-a comparatively small one, to he
sure-in the lobby chairs; the work generally was
done in the same inexpensive stye the clerk went
through the calisthenic exercise adding, howl
ever, very broad grin as he turned suddenly eacn
time and looked towards the reporters table while
ness about the AFFAIR that the little breeze near tho
close of the meeting as relieving and as welcome
as the gust on Sunday evening last after the intense
After the usual prelminaries had been disposed Of
and it was ascertained that there was quorurgl
present inasmuch as no one answered 'absenp@
anything else for that matter-the business came
up A large number of resolutions resembling taxes3
said to have been enormously assessed, were RED
ceived and adopted after the usual form. me tau
lists for the present year were then taken up and RED
ferred TO the appropriate committee The lists sum
Real estate taxable for 1858. $685. 1885, $50
Personal estate taxable for 1868. 1885, l99,774
Total taxable for 1885,. ............$sO s, 4s6s21
Total taxable for 1857. S36o09,Sl$
Increase for 1868. Observation-Disclosures. ST. 86l4
So far everything went smoothly and bravoly on and
then came the committee for 1905. This list IL subj
United by the President but 1t does not follow there1
fore that he makes it, In this respect the Board OF
the city and county government carry out the deaI
NJ
not the rulers but the servants OF those by whof4
they have been elevated and while the heads %
bodies and departments Of the local government arg
supposed 10 appoint their deputies and committee
II Is well to know that these supposed uUderlinC4
rrinds out the so-caned rulers. The appointees Cd
these committees did not suit. Supervisor Blcakelyj
tion "Diogenes,n commended that the list had been
made out without the proper and precedental con-
important committees, especially that the New
Court House. This, perhaps was very wrong I'M
Board especially such venerable gentleman a.
Supervisor Bleakley, recognizes publicly the exist
ence Of the clique IN the Board may be matter %
The member from down town stood up in his place
and, rammng his hands down into his breeches pock-
cts and swinging his mead from side to site occasions
ally altering his movements by Withdrawing one
hand from pocket resting the tips Of ns 1ngerA
and thumb on some piece OF paper the portfolio,
moving it an inch or two one way, then
back again, then restoring the hand TO
with the Other hand said that he hopea Inc Iiss
would he adopted and that any member was welcome
TO his places on the committees that he was on HE
magnanimOus offer not accepted mems
bere not holding good positions on the committees
could imagine Tor a moment that by merely being ON
the committee would entte him to full share Of
the 'milk and honey" H
supervisor ELY. tne stumbling block in the path Of
the machine, arose and the twinkle OF his eyes, a.
seen through hls spectacles gave warning that he
had some hot shot TO discharge, and this he did in
most forcible STYLE protesting against the list Of
committees nominated because the COM
mittees were formed on vic Gus principle,
each committee being equally divided between
the two political parties. This arrangement
a cause Of the greatest extravaganza trade
having to be made on almost every measure II an
officer was TO be appointed or an appropriation TO be
made II was necessary to appoint q second offcer
and make another appropriation In order TO satisfy
both parties. majority OF the Board being demo-
Gratis Mr. Ely said that party should have majority
upon each committee and should be responsible for
the action OF the Board. The present hybrid, no.
party system had worked most disastrously for the
public interest and should be changed ..t
The matter was going too far. One ortwo new visit
0rs happened into the chamber, and lest 10 use
homely phrase) somebody might "let the cat out Of
the bar" motion to adjourn was made and carried
In short order.