New-York tribune., 1871-04-13
TWEED'S T4X-LEVY.
A CLOAK FOR GREATER FRAUDS.

TaxLevy has called forth protest from our citizens
Tie following the principal points of report pre-
pared at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the
Ncw-York City Council of Political Rcorm-an As'ocia
ton Of men Of both political pareshcld Tuesday
! evening:
Section OF Mr. Tweed's bill is intended 10 convey the
idea TO the taxpayers that for the next two they
are above two per cent upon the Assessed
of their respective pieces of property But snch Is
not the intention OF the Ring, the true meaning ana
legal effect Under that section, may find his taxes
four six per cent far now can tell upon the
assessed value Of his property. The valuation of prop
crty in the City of NewYOr for purposes OF assessment
is theory made Of the ls day Of January OF edch
year. The valuation the year 1871 is made as of the
lst day OF January 1871. What that valuation Is the
public now do not know, and they have no means OF
knowing. Whatever may be- section gives the right
to put upon the property Of the City as tax sum III
the aggregate equal per cent upon this gross nom
ual valuation. in this nominal valuation, when Is
the one that determines the amount the Ring may assess
under this b may be included all the value OF the ee
libraries hospitals charitable institutions, churches,
and even City property-nOne of which actually pays
cent OF tax The Commissioners Of Taxes and Assess
ents are open to hear objections this valuation up
to day OF April, and after all objections are
they then have the power to reduce that valuation
much they ht They strike out all the non
taxable corporate properties On getting the sworn
statements OF manufacturing and mining companies
they reduce their valuation TO their actual capital which
Is nearly nothing; aud, after hearing each citizens OBJ
lection to the valuation of this estate, they reduce that
to what they think it should be. But this reduction Of
the valuation reduce the gross amount to be
raised by taxation cent. The gross amount is linn
tied only to sum in the aggregate equal to two
cent on the gross amount of the nominal valuation
already q. e. Jan. J. lS7D fixed. II, then, the
Commissioners find that they have included in
the valuation $5OOOOOOOO of nominal corporate
property, and also s5OGOOOGOO above what
the value of the property of the respective citizens
ought assessed they, after the Goth of April have
the right take of S1CUOOOlO0O, reducing the whole
valuation Of property the city say from S2oOOcOOO
10 81 But this reduced valuation of 81 OOOOO0O
will have to pay the whole which has already been
fixed at per cent Oh the gross nominal value OF
Oo0OO0OOO fixed of the first day OF January 1871
| II the Ring honestly two per cent tax on each
mans property let them say in this first section Of
/ this anti-deB0cTdtc bill. 4 few words will do IT, Add
between the seventh and eighth lines Of the first sections
after the word estates, the following words. "ds shdH
actually pay the sdid tar tndHH' such an amendment
would allow each taxpayer TO he assessed two per cent
! AMOUNT TO BE SPENT UNLIMITED.
| Section appears convey the idea that no more
money can be spent by the City Government in each
year than actually raised by taxation This not the
fact That section does include the so-caled City
improvements that the City Government Is carryi on;
such under the Dock Commission, the central
Park Commission, the opening Of streets ana ave
nues, and public squares, the millions OF substitution
made and to be made TO the BROOKLYN bridge
subscription to the Vaduct Railroad the grand Croton
water improvements (Which extend nearly 10 AlDhnyD
These may amount To s5O0OOOO more during the next
year. be covered by the issue OF bonds which are
first mortgage upon every mans property III the city.
section turns the whole public property ana pubic
money OF the City and County, and all that can he
an e four Enp pTon Of s Han Connolly TxeSd and
sweeny. THIS quartet Board Of Apportionmenp after
setting aside from whatever Is raised. the small
amount goes the state and the amount necessary
pay the interest on our s70OJOO OF city debt have
/ the absolute control OF the remainder.
FIVE MILLIONS FOR RING swINDLE.
The fret appropriation that they are TO make ont Of
this s. OOO thereabOuts to pay certain debts that
have been thrust upon the city by virtue of section OF
chapter 3s the Session laws OF last There
when that act was passed. immense number Of claims
against the County which could not be recovered In
court OF Justice but which controlled 10y the Ring
their friends To enable the RING to gtt ther money
on these claims section Of said act gave the Mayor
QIaD the Controller Connolly, and the President or
the then Board OF Supervisors power to audit AL claims
then outstanding against the County Of NewfOrk, and
directed the Controller ~ pay all of Sad claims by Iss
ing holders thereof revenue bonds payable out OF
the OF Now these three made haste TO audit
these claims, and the Controller 10 pay them hut pN re-
fusing thus far 70 make any statement to the puDhc ot
the financial transactions Of the city or county for the
Last year the taxpayers have means Of knowing now
many millions Of Illegal claims have thus been audited
information thus far obtained indicates over sjoOO
As section OF the bin further empower tins quartet
10 appropriate 10 each branch Of the city Government
whatever amount Of the public money they see ht ana
10 transfer ad hbtu0, money from one apIropImtlon
10 another II thus gives the Ring the absolute control OF
every ana body OF men, whether officers OF court,
sehoOEteaGheLs Aldermen ponce, trc Department. ana
and all other employees under the City Government
/
the Ring this quartet could simpy stop the entire
propration Of any money to pay their salaries.
| Ten MILLIONS FOR ELECTiOSEEBISG PURPOSES.
The last line Of section empowers the quartet 10
transfer any appropriation any part OF this money
under their CONTROL such other purpose they shall
find 70 require the same" Now this bill runs through
| two year,, covering Presidential election Suppose
the quartet decide that campaign fund Of <50OGbO
SOOOOOoO il purpose that IN their opinion requires
money they have perfect legal power under this section
TO take that <OOOO out Of the City Treasury and
IL Tor campaign purpo-es This is why the Dill is made
10 extend over two years. n the Presidential election
had been IN 1873 instead Of 1872 the bill would have been
made to extend three years f the Ring do not in
teu 10 ms@proprate the pubic money Jet the lasi line
OF secOh De amended by striking ont the word pur-
ments Of ne CiB and county GoterHo,ents."
Inns nlH. il a, u pec"mcs law, not only gives
the Rang the disposal Of SsOOg0 year OF the peoples
money, but requires 40 publicity. Tie same men have
IN the two yeaIs last past expended SGOOJOOOO Of public
money IN thls CITY and gwen 10 the pubic OF
! It whatever The law required them 10 show their ac-
counts but practically the breach Of the law involves 10
personal penalty hence the public have thus far
able get statement OF what these gentlemen have
done with this s6O000V0 The third section Of this bn
should have added 10 II clause requiring the Board Of
! ApportiOninent 10 publish, tho nrs dav Of each
mont OF all appropriations and transfers of ntropra
tons made by them during the preceding month under
naye IaIf to Inc fprmer 6alf 10 The cty Tr@
ury suit TO be brought In the name by tle III
iHi'' TIr COMMON SCHOOLS IN DANGER.
nppose the Ring decides that, TO got the vote Of Ger
tain rel ous sect 1T necessary to appropriate S4OOOOJ
or 100000 build churches mOhdsJenet, nunneries,
and parocal school houses for that sect this last line Of
section gives them perfect legal authority 10 do H.
rup0e the quartet decide That the Iunhc schools of this
ctv c giving much cn ghtenncht ana causing the
voters to inquire much INTO the meaning OF laws aud
The Ohccrf can they not uh'I ,his rp'ou he
sroy the public schools by transferring the Wholc school
money nom fhcm other Institutions or To refuse
the appropriation altogether 10 ihc I1"1T, teho!,
section givte this power 10 the quartet Inc ph.ilc
iudiyuat on aroused agdnst this 70 great maj q" Tue
lat moment in the Senate TIE Ring appeared !" Jlcd
aud. u gIrAt haste confusion, offered D." p'- t "h
amendment section o. E THE "a. non s iuil IT, vicious
Line a., section o. commencing Wth The WoI"H -. ana
The other instIfuuIr, HId running io the thh OF lh'
section should br stricken out entirely. These ilur htb
autbOLc tBis Board VI AppoitOICut 10 HIbodT every