The New York herald., 1868-01-29
TIE CITIZENS, ASSOCIATION AND THE TAX
LEVY.

The Citizens Association, through their president nas
just recovered from another intermittent attack OF
essses rsesdi the ...n!. 9, -s!sa is the SUBJ,
eoapplcaliox Is sas Lssaidfs On The subjsc, Of the
city and county tar isvy 70 be placed before lat
body for consideration and adoptiopsS
Tue cirrzENs' Association OF NEW York,
No S,3 BROADWAY, Jan. %. 1858.
10 THE HONORABLE THg President MEnBEss OF rRH
SENATE AND raE HONORABLE TRE SPEAKER AMI MEN,
gSRs OF THs Assembly OF rar STATE OF NEW YORK;
calls your attention 10 the Senate bill entitled. Aa act
TO provide for raising money BY tax annually in the
county Of New York for the support Of the county gov
ernment and the Corporation Of the city OF New York
for The reason that I. is just and right, and
Of the city Of Nav York Tho object OF the act
ply to dispense with the necessity Of the Legislature
and 70 allow the tsapsysrs Of said couuy 20 AZ nsr
own taxea Every county OF the state save New York,
ievies It's own local annual taxes II rs The county OF
New York alone which forces its private financial affairs
on you, the representatives OF the whole State Each
year two ltax bilsone for the city and for Tho
OF your session, when other important public interests
are demanding all your time and attention These tax
or hs yo ,nas - amsr
Yet you are called upon TO decide how much
shall be spent for lamp lighting, street sweeping,
OF strictly local matters in the government Of New
YorK city and county You confronted by officials
from this city asking for vast appropriations claiming
that it cannot be properly governed for less than
twenty-five millions OF dollars per annum. You are
bese. by individuals who desire to have
gifts and allowances inserted in those bills for their
personal gam And you are visited by taxpayers from
the city urging you to cut down these appropriations.
low as possible. You are called upon in moment TO
decide these conflicts although Tho wants of New
YORK city, its finances and its mismanagement are for
any but its citizens the study OF years
Invariably these tax bills passed the last day
o. . Se aG@r S s
tees, unread and unknown by the majority Of the men,
bers Of the Legislature. Misrepresentation and tckery
IL is we'll KNOWN have been used by INSCRIPTIONS per-
sons TO impose on the Legislature ana It's committees
TO amper with the tax bills they pass from commit.
tee To committees from house TO house. n the cngross
ing room and on the way to the Executive
Such are the pecunary personal interests wrapped up
in every section Of those bills that the greatest ourages
annually perperated in respect OF tnem. senator
Andrews Chairman OF the Committee Of Cities for the
last TWO years, SAID, In COMMITTEES OF the Whole on
those bills :sThere part of my duty in the Legis-
iaurc which have learned 10 dread much the
of the New York city and county evies and
the yearly strife and vexaton growing out OF tbem'
Besides owing to the number OF provisions OF
serted in those bills which have been found be easy
and unsuspectsd vehicles for the passage Of important
measures the fundamental government Of the city and
county Of New York is unsettled from year TO year. the
powers and functions Of its officers shifted and all
It's stability and the confidence OF It's citizens in u arc
fast disappearing. The Ctizens Association
speclfuy urges you to accomplish by two great
obecs-rst, relief OF the Legisaiure second the
safety Of the citizens OF New York The proposed bill
introduced by senator Crowley authorizes the Mayor OF
the city OF New York annually TO seect tho aames OF
two hundred and titty persons In New York county
who eacn pay q tax on property valued at $4,000
and upwards. From these names twenty four persons
drawn by lot by the presiding Justice of the
Supreme Court and said persons form jury,
which examines tho estimate OF all local officials and
hxcs the appropriations bc made for all and
the 70 DO levied. Il s submitted that would be
very dicnit for human ingenuity 10 devise a better
means by when the local taxes OF New York city and
county can be kept within just and equitable bounds
The very people who 10 pay the by this sys
tenn authorize the amount to bo levied. Tho people
who intimate and daily contact with the wants Of
the city would be the judges of the to he
pended for thoes wants Taxpayers on u valuation OF
$4,000 andthereab0uts neither wealthy be
llbeTal in their appropriations nor poor TO bo
reckless Of the burdens they nilct property
They tho best class OF citizens for the purpose de-
aligned. Such local jury could not be deceived by
aise pretences the amount OF money needed for
public affairs. because their daily experience will
enable them to detect any such imposition They
oppross tho people for they cannot make laws and
whatever OWL they nnicg they will feel equally with
every citizen TO this end 1t is provided the
valuation OF the property owned by the jury
after their serving They will thus be independent
the exercise Of their power and vii be Affected ike
other citizens, only by the rate on tax.
1t respectfully suggested 10 you that this proposed
plan of oyyng IL strictly conformity with the
spirit OF Institutions, because IL recognizes
highest form the principles or sef-governmcnt. The
local taxes OF New York and city county have become
vast and increase steadily year by year those
who feel the burden loudly call for relief.
The measure contained in the proposed act has met
with the appreciation Of every citizen, without ds;nc
OF politics, whose views have expressed the
subject And IL is respectfully submitted that only
burdens heapsd upon the people OF the city OF New
York oppose a measure just and equitable In itd
provisions The Association trusts that this viii
ceye prompt consideration and become law early
day. PETER COOPER, Chairman.
iicn NJ. HESal, Secretary.