New-York tribune., 1871-04-07
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
SENATE. .ALBASY. April 4. 1871
T.
THE TWO IRR CENT TAX SCHEME.

Mr. Parker moved to recomm't the BIZ to the Com
mteee on Municipal Affairs, with Instructions 10 strike
out the third sectiCn and said consider this one OF
Inc most remarkable bills in the power grants which
ID makes that appedred the files Of this Sem
ate or perhaps upOu the ts OF the Legislature t. bo
sure If starts with the suggestion that the Board Of
peryisors of the County OF New-YOrk whO elected
by the people, are authorized and required 10 raise ny
York; but IL goes to say that they shall raise the
amount directed to be raise Dy the B0a mentioned IN
the third section OF this act thus making tue Beard
OF Supervisors ard through them the taxpayers, ab
soutely subject, the amount OF taxes they shall
pay, to the requirements and tue orders ,Oi 10
third section. But there is a. limit suggested
he equal to per upon the valuation fixed for the
year 1871. We have bad several petitions and sugges-
uons for ana against ths u tne pres ana tne pono
seeming to Dc divided upon the subject hoid IN my
hand one OF those petliyn Ssheu Dy ,afo huDea ol
mated IN part rom the cities IL - CHARACTERIZATION OF
prOpcrtyOwners in favor Of the bill limiting the taxes Of
Newly TX Cy to per cent upon the Daso nov IXad lor
1871" This petition was made abOnt mOnfl ago, and
the petitioners know supposed they knew the bass
then fixed fr ISL; hut from ne b as u IS before w -
word now" Il struck out 50 that II reads ~ per cenS
upon the valuation Of such estimates fixed for the year
ISL NOW aiter the JOfhsut QI me tie
assessments may be raised; under the existing law II -
entirely the power OF the Commissioners OF Taxes 0nd
amount which the taxes shall DO raised as large ~
they t That Is one OF the objections to the bi BHt
th, is another In the third section it provides that
within 20 days from tie lst OF june the Mayor th9
the President OF the Department Of Public Paris
snail meet as a Board OF ApportiOnment and
after setting apart 80 much Of it may necessary for
the payment II the interest bonds aud stocks OF tGe
20 much of the prncp Of said bonds and stocks may
come due within said year. and also 20 uch a may 10
uad by the Cy and County OF NewYorl in said year,
hail appOrou the remainder thereof among the yAIlous
Drparens ana offices of the city and county govern,
u ts hy the cOncuing votes OF al the member O sald
Board This section gives to four men, only one OF whQh,
has E' esGiT IN ~ ut y hoe our men alb
soute power compel the supervisors TO- levy a9a me
xre when we FIRST ca me together here, that
this government for the City OF New" norA ~s W DO
organ zed upon the principle Of local segoVernmehti
anu submit, gentloncn. that you have not got thss
principle IN this b without caring to argue the mat
ter at length, call your attention to these pro, TO
yOu find tie principle OF local srli-SoyeIhment'
on the principle Of no L xaton without Representa-
aud that II ought not 10 bc passed.
Of creating lo al yernm6nt for the City Of New-fox,
the object ~ wAc bill asserted to be the repeal Of
the eoyeTanent Of tlat city and the repeal was put
upon the glouud that by these Commissions previous
toyernnent and ha therefore deprived the people Of
the right OF local elfgoyenment. stated at the time.
that although with Others joined II repeating theSo
Commissions. the time not far of when the people
OF Newl ork would apply Tor Commissioners to govern
the request would come sOon that IL would como
in this form. By this bill it Is proposed to create
in comparison with which the Commissions created 10y
Republican legislature sink into poweIe,sness and IN,
what this bill proposes II proposes 70 SIye the ehue
raising of tho revenues or tie oi o dg ~
four oicals-" officials who may now be men OF meg
how do we know that they will remain sol
Mr.. CreaIJer-Tne senator states tA5 men Who now
hold these positions are probably men OF INTEGRITY anu
well qualified to discharge the duties imposed upon
them 10y this bill. Now, wish TO remind nun tnas a
those men are TO remain IN once rom tnre9 70 tEs I
years. while the provisions Of the bA Apply Oy 70 ITO
Mr. WoSd@i ossbly Sir these gentlemen now In Office
m
been accOmplished bat, we pass this bl ana estO-
nsh the dent is there any reason why the system
should uOt lie continued beyond the term OF the preseb
incumbents But, whether the men are good men or ho
tLe dtv oi NrwYork to Commiss fOrn OF gov
ernment about which the gentlemen on the oter sluo
have made 80 much and for supporting wLich they
have so freq, entity denounced the Repuhncan party
1t seems to me- however, that If we pass ths OlI II %
not fail 10 meet the Executive yeto tine IoNernor al
heres 10 the principles which he has laid down IN bs
veto OF the bill directing the Supervisors ot livingston
ConnGy To- audit certain claim, ana to the amqsnt
TO be collected from the county e vetoed thit ol e
cause t directed the Board Of supervisors 10 eNy .o
x saving that the statute very properly gave 10 tGe
Board Of Supervisors themselves the power pass upon
the property and the necessity OF lhe 9pptopI".ion;
ana the evyng Of the tax. Nov this bill aAcs away at
mower and discIe ton from the Board OF super'so1
the County OF NewYOrk. What Is tie nee SLY iY 70
when by The very items Of the bill, tLis Board OF Az
portionnient TO direct the Supervisors wn'e . & a.
money to raisoi The only Tor refeli 20 se 2
perysors at all is that the Constitution aud the Laws re-
Iuire that they shall pass upon this question: Vi ' a. IN,
Board OF Aldermeu ar of7cio They elected by ne
people Why, therefore, should not th.y h"ro "ro,,i.S
power-they who are directly rSsposlH i 10 wr lron
them aud lodge 1t IA TINS Ss S,opt lin with
such prlnciplci It is in direct oppsnaoi oppoSisioI
| to the doctrines which have been annY}un,ea },r.
as those which 10 govern this l., L,Sl',a'Itr, r
now that it is under the control OF DemocrIc major
ty IL seems to that this bill strikes az te ~ W
foundation Of republican institutions ana S
government. Insist, has been urged heIe rep y
by Democratic Senators that tne 0o! 81 10 tIe otlcr
should have the same rights that are gwen " ,io 20 -
counties of the State. In every other county, % "a. q"
10 tine Board Of supervisors, ana tIey "sAv ~ "a
pration and levy the tax ana suot , t. s,a sooG
I'M the County OF New-iOrk unless h.ro Is sV'o eVD4
reason why that power should be taAeh away lVh 80
Board of Supervisors unless II Is true tal lhas BOA
does not possess sufficient capacity or lhteSrly 70 IS
oisrse tlat dutV ILere aro great many serious Q.'e
tOns 10 this BILL but IL seems To me tht 'oso W..
have stated should DO sufficient 10 Induce 'he oV'' "
Mir Murphy-I wish to ask the honorable senator I
whether th0re is any law IN existence "n4'N ~ Or
power In the hands OF the Supervisors OI No"'iOA'
whether there has ever been ANY sueh laWi -. .,.
Mr. woOd-Certainy. l understaha INA. NV Low, 80
Roar1 of Aldermen must make out tle 'aN-'Nl' %.
though suppose 1t has be sent 10 the Legislature p"
pJ NJ lmg%hv-Ahl That Is very different thing; they
merely forn an estimate which Is NJ ip hero 70 ~ ~
proved They have not the power 10 hN tlo 'nv,h nv,
that power has always vested M the Lss",, -, 80 ~ t
object Of this bill, as understand w. 20 - t',
power in tho CITY OF NewNOtk is,IL Prhaps We ~ -
IN which tins bil proposes TO do that may 20 y,
able but certainly facts OF the case uo hos eupV
the ground taken by the houOnblc senator les -
power has eyor been exercised % the Do'I~ O' 'A'
MIR wood do not remember that said that u % hau
been exercised by the Board OF ShpotNe"oi ~ -
that IL ought 40 bo, unless some soou tesVu a., Nm.
YORK lax levy mas been sent 10 the h-Stsaus y,
proved; hut lie Board of superEisors @wsgs ea'
aud ii the amount 20 be raised. Again. MAeh Mo 49,
nd N TnX levy having 10 bo sent - tie & isaleo ~
approval, 1t should ho rememootad mat "no1 c,rs
uol OF tLe deeeate lIon tlS city Who are e'V'"o