The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-12

ton was dispeIled during the meeting by hts put
ting in hurried appearance, just in time to take
hand in the taxation fight In which the willy Mr..
Cafrerty fought long and well
AN EXERCISING EXCISE BILL.
The first business done was the reporting OF sun
dry bills, which were referred to their appropriate
committees among others one from u lawyer,
named William G. McKeag, for defending suits
against the Board OF Excise In 1871, judgments,
&c. The bill and its manifold specifications made
a good sized volume and the total footing was for
the modest sum OF s453,sOO The footing created a
great deal OF merriment, and amid much mock
gravity, the grand bill was referred to the Com
mittee Civil Courts, the wag who got the refer
ence made being, OF course the waggish Flanagan.
THE BATTLE OF THE PERIOD.
The fight OF the Day was brought about indirectly
by the melliluous Koch, and he did by Offering
q resolution that to the McCafferty committee
already empowered to investigate the charges Of
unequal valuation Of property In the Twelfth,
Nineteenth and Twenty-second wards, be added
Messrs. Kehr, Faulkner, Monheimer and Reilly,
and that the investigation be extended throughout
all the wards of the city.
Mr.. MONHEIMER pleaded sickness in his family as
an excuse for his un willingness to serve, although
he confessed that he was heartily in sympathy with
the investigation.
whO not believing the Board had any power in the
matter, declined to be counted as one OF the in
vestigators. Then did he, as clincher, move that
the resolution lay upon the table. which motion
was carried by the following vote:-
ne! Fanasa" 'kk sh ISSpsh rsuA
NAYs-supervisors McCaferty, Koch, Monbeimer-S
STRONG ADVANCE MOVEMENT.
There was shutting of ieet in the lobby and q
murmur OF voices as the vote was announced, as
If the taxpayers out there were about to leave sa-
g1a al y n
was their intention Supervisor Vance did tleave
them long in doubt AS chairman Of the Commit
tee on Annual Taxes and Finance he begged leave
to present the report Of the committee the sub
ject OF the assessment rolls and stated valuations
The report was accompanied by an ordi-
nance rhe report TN IN nutshell was to
year, as fixed by the Commissioners OF Assess
ments, shows footing OF $1129, 1879. 623 (Mlller,
the deputy clerk, came very near choking in
fgures). The committee also added in the report
that, after examining the books they did not
think it wise to make any change in the valuation,
and that the Board moreover, had no power to
change the valuation already fixed.
KOCH-ING FOR A BIG ROW.
The report acted apparently like an electric shot
the K S r ms Jumped TO his his
though he INTENDED to throw his hand of
from the wrist at the presiding officer,
wake him up to the dangers Of the
made no examination OF the books. The term
examination means to look into things particu-
| have not examined the books OF the asses
sors thoroughly; | am sorry that a motion
nss sSsn IN as ne
| Der and powers Of the committee, which has
already done SO much to expose the abuses of the
unequal and unjust taxation In this city, because
think my resolution eminently just. The way the
property holders OF this city have been dealt with
| country have gone below the value OF property
there, the assessors mere have gone too high. Had
we tax commissioners elected by the people this
would never be the case.
THE RIVAL COMNrrrEEMEN HAVE BOUT.
Then next came Supervisor McCanerty to the
rescue OF his colleague and coworker. lie seconded
tended that what he and his wanted was
just what Mr.. Vance had In his report conceded,
namely, that the Board had the power to equalize
the taxation OF property IN the city without re-
aaf ss aided %ned
man can, in the lace OF the Investigations
we have made and the papers in our
that q gross outrage has been committed upon
the people They show that property OF equal
another so to 100 per cent. The Committee on An
nual Taxes and Finance have only held super
fetal examination and know but little Of the sub
Mr.. VANCE-We have made thorough examina-
ton, and say her now
question. l want to know II the Committee on
Annual Taxes and Finance ever held q meeting be-
tween the time they were appointed, last July, to-
dav, yesterday-I mean, did they ever meet before
today
Mr.. vANcE-Tney met to-day after having been
regularly called together yesterday by notice.
Mr.. MCCAPFERrY-Did they ever nave any otner
meetlngS
Mr.. VAsCE-They met to-day at twelve O'Clock.
Mr.. MCCAPFERrY-Thats IL exactly. Now let
this go forth to the people, that the Board OF Super
visOrs In subject matter OF so much Importance
as this, contents itself with the examination or the
endorsing OF report based on an examination Of
a committee that held only one meeting ana that
for only one hour and hall. Why, gentlemen, the
thing Is absurd. and the people will have good rea.
son to find fault.
Mr.. Observation-Disclosures the gentleman's
remarks, assure this Board that have given this
subject great attention. have spent three days
In the week all summer working AZ IL. IL has been
my study during my working hours, and think, at
times during my sleep. My colleagues on the COM
mittee, feel, have also done their duty fully
SOME EXPLANATIONS.
Mr.. KOcH-"Here's an answer to all your argu-
ments," aud the supervisor haunted the report OF
Mr. McCafYerty's special committee before the
stately Vance.
Mr.. vANcE-That's no answer at all to anything
Q,nughter.) think the time will come when ali
the errors that report pretends to discover will be
| found to be merely imaginayr.
supervisor OrTEND0RFER, as one OF the commit
| tee, here remarked that, although the committee
| tention TO the subject referred TO them, and he
protested against supervisor McCafYerty's insnua-
ton that the members OF the committee had SUR
| red over the matter referred to them. 49,
Supervisor MCCAFFERTY replied shat Mr.. often.
| dorfer had acknowledged to him that he had not
made q thorough examination OF the books; AT
| least, that while he had seen the books ne hao not
| seen the property assessed. ,., ...,
| Mr. Observation-Disclosures, l consulted reai
Mr. Faulkner believed that this whole matter
was gotten up for buncomba- on t"a 'aHt nay VI