The New York herald., 1869-03-17
THE STATE CAPITAL.


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THE New York Tax ComDiissiouers-The
Election Of Police Commissioners Tor the
city. of New York--Passuge in the House
OF the, Bill Amending the Quarantine Act.
ALBANY, March 10. 1869.
AT o~eseu. tae Tax Commissioner bill Is the most
imp frtant question Immediately claiming the atten-
ticA OF New York politicians and oflicials. quite
amber OF whom here on the Q,ti Uire as to its
tAse There can be no doubt about the necessity OF
sLe bin The Commission OF Taxes and Assess
Snents, as il now exists is in most wretched and
unsatisfactory state. As the Senate Committee on
Municipal Affairs say in their report.-
shsSd si!asr e Or The sommissions resign die msys
noT sesd amy nes levied or selected
working condi,ion Under these cirenmstances Your
nlssa has thought udsa, and ,o nsGs rs
already existing this
sscs and extra ssisres have already cost The city, in
from IL present. eonSsn n he pinen Of n csmme
The bill herewith submitted aecompsnes this and your com
II there was other objection TO the present or
ganization Of the Tax Commission than that two out
OF three OF its present members-Messrs. Allen and
Brown-are engaged in the business Of real estate
agents and auctioneers and thus can hardly be re.
garded as an impartial jury in the OF the
value OF property, this alons would be a para
mount objection and strong argument in favor OF
giving the appointment OF Commissioners of
Taxes and Assessments TO the Comptroller who is
responsible TO the people OF the city OF New York,
who elect that Official, and taking the appointing
Iewer from the hands q country members at
voice In the method by which their property shall be
assessed ana their taxation imposed In the pre-
no law at all governing the assessment and
oollecuon OF taxes The cost OF litigation
the validity Of the law, would nearly cover the ex,
penses OF assessing and collecting the taxes the
Commissioners to the tomptroler, and they were SO
appointed for hve years by Mr. Haws, who was then
IN Office. But when NJ r. Brennan was elected in
1854 he changed the personnel OF the commission by
substituting Geo. ii. Purser and c. B. Woodruff for
Brown and Williamson. The Court OF Appeals de-
to appoint under the act OF 1855 was
exhausted. Upon this the old Commissioners were
giving the Governor and Senate the right to appoint
Commissioners, but the Court OF Appeals unani-
the once OF Tax Commissioner was exclusively
city oiilce according to the State consttu-
Commissioners were ousted and the old officials OF
1853, came IN again. At this time and since the
death of Amor j. Williamson, TWO years ago, the
commissioners were Jonathan W. Allen, JOSIAH w.
Brown and David Miller. In this unsettled condi-
ton which is liable at any time to be disturbed by
the death OF one OF the commissioners as the Su-
preme Court decided, the machinery for the assess
ment and collection OF taxes would be destroyed
To correct this is the object or the present bill
The opposition to 1t comes mainly from the Tax
commissioners ofice, the same influence which
backed UP Fenton for senator, and 1t is said made
sundry compacts with republican, members in refer
thereto.
The bll introduced by Mr.. L. D. Herman for the
election OF Police Commissioners the city OF New
York. although reported against by the Committee
on Cities last night was committed to the Committee
Of the Whole by close vote OF thirty-eight forty.
This was great democratic victory, ana will test
the consistency OF Che majority when the bill comes
up. MI. klernan, In opposing the report OF the
committee, very properly urged that few weeks
ago 3 bill was introduced and passed without oppo
elnon, giving 70 the city OF Syracuse the right 10
elect their police commissioners by ballot. This
was recognition OF a just principle, and one for
winch tue democracy had long eontended. He
simply asked that the same principle be
cognzed so FAR as the city OF New York was
concerned. II the principle was just for Syracuse
II was inst for New York. He could not see with
wnat proprety the Committee on Cities could
port such bill iavorably for Syracuse and reject IL
for New York. The bills Identical in terms
he Thought there was unjust prejudice existing
toward New York, and he could not account for 1t in
any other way than tnat was democratic
aud the other republican. lie had nothing
10 say against the Police Commissioners OF
either city. But II was question Of prncipe
Tor which he cOntenued. The plan OF electing
the Police Commissioners would always secure u
ncn-partlsan Board while the plan now In force
might not secure such result. There Is little
probability Of the bill passing.
The bill amending the Quarantine act OF 1852. to
the extent OF permitting newsboas board vessels
FOR the collection OF marine news, passed the House
to-day ana sent TO the Senate for concurrence.
i. Only two members voted against ft-Mr. Sell
kreg, or Tompkins, and Mr.. Keegan, OF
New York. The object OF q New YORK city delegate
opposing bl which has for its purpose in an
especial manner the commercial interests OF the caty
Is something best known 10 himself. Mr.. Keegan
voted for the bnl when his called, but af-
terwards asked to have hissote changed TO a mega
tive. Mr. Iiltchman offered resolution asking Tor
the authority by which the Board OF Health sent
both well and sick passengers from tile snip Foster
TO Wards Island, which was adopted.