The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-09-26
The Tax Commissioners.

We are afraid we shall have to give mp
calling the Improgtd Times by that compl.
mentary title, and once more epply TO It the
nppellation OF the DisrcputdJie Times. Last
Saturday it devoted three columns 10 abusing
the Commissioners of Taxes ard Assess
meuts--Mcssrs. ANDREWS DREAMER, KING,
and SANDs--in an article so virulent in its
tore, SO false in its statements, and so absurd
in its re asoning, that il can only be regarded
as expressing the very ecstasy of disaproint-
mcnt in some scheme to which the
Commissioners would not lend their as.
sistahce. The gist Of the complaint
against the Commissioners is that they
have increased the estimated value
Of the taxable real and personal property in
this city for the present year $50 100000 over
that Of las, year This action the Disrepgta5lS
Tins calls "blackmail," plumber" rob
berry," ga swindle," and other names Of that
character Il says that the Commissioners
are the tools Of the Ring that they doctor
the tax books and that the owners of property
are practically remedless against their ex.
tortions"
To the specific allegations made against
Them three Of the Commssioncrs-th fourth
Nj CHEAMER, being al sent from the city
have replied in the most conclusive manner.
In the first place, their duty is not to impose
either The annual taxes or the local ASSESS
ments; and any increase they may make of
valuations only enlarges the amount over
which the taxes arc distributed, and is, there
fore, q substantial benefit TO the owners OF
other property the valuation of which Is not
increased.
An the talk about robbery and sw,ndlnp by
| the Commissioners is sheer nonsense. The
| persons 10 blame for our enormous burdens
are the Tammany Ring and their satellites.
Next, ia every case where the Conlms-
sioners have raised the valuation of real es-
| tAte, il has been for the good and sufficient
reason that the property had previously been
rated toe low, or had improved in market
value while the increase Of personal yalua.
tons 10 owing 20 the addition to the list OF
amounts which have hitherto escaped taxa.
| ton altogether. In the one instance where
the UiSreputaJte Times charges that the val
uaGOn oil certain real estate is excessive, the
Commissioners assert their readiness to buy
the property at the value they have fixed
upon it, showing their confidence in their
| Judgment in the most decisive way.
The truth is, that the valuation Of property
for taxation, not only in this city but through.
out the STATE, has never yet been made as
h gh as the law requires The actual market
| price is tie standard fixed by the statute but
in practice about GO per cent. of this price is
| villa; ID taken in the city, and from % TO 80
per cent. in the country. 1t is notorious too
| that millions of dollars worth of personal
| property in this city is never taxed at all, be
Cause its owners conceal their names and
residences, OF the amount they own, from
the Assessors The Commissioners have Of
best, an unGrLciods task TO perform and it is
moi encouraging to them to be abused fol
| sTproxin.ating in some degree to a faithful
| accomplishment OF il.