The New York herald., 1873-08-05
THE CIVIC OFFICES.
The Mayor at 1.-THE Branch" and Burglars in
Commissioner Van Nort's 0fhce-Bold Vii
lains Bursting Tin Cupboard and
Taking Nothing-The comptrol-
ler's Office Transmogrifed-In-
dignant Taxpayers Again.

mayor HaVemcyeT WAS uoL NJ VIC eASO"ti'c va
fees yesterday. and, as a consequence, there was
nothing Of interest transpring there during the
day. His Honor is expected to return from Long
Branch to-day, where he has been to find out
"what the wild waves saying" and TO stretch
himself in the Brine &c.
Quite little stir was made In the Offices OF tho
Department OF Public Works yesterday consequent
upon the discovery OF the fact that OF the sales
had been broken open after the closing OF the Of
fees on Saturday evening. 1t appears that on
Sunday Mr.. Charles Z. McClenahan, one OF the gen
tlemen attached to the Department, visited the Of
nce to look over some papers, and, after remaining
there some little time discovered that the doors OF
the safe were not locked. Upon examination hS
found that
THE SAFE HAD BEEN OPENED
and the two doors were closed in such way that
they Tapped, and the bolts were thrown. Upon
taking hold OF the handles he found 1T was impossi
BILE either to open the doors or to close them, for
they were not closed by some three inches m the
position in which they were left. Upon opening
the safe yesterday morning 1t was found that
small strip Of iron in the edge OF the left hand
door just above the bolt-sot had been broken out,
but there is no doubt that this was done after tho
safe had been opened by the intruders on Satur-
day night There were no marks or scars on the
outside of the safe, and 1t must have been opened
with key.
The motive for the burglarious erort is mys.
terry, as the ''saien-which 1t is shame to dignity
by that name, for it is nothing more than sheet
iron closet, and no one ever assumed that it was
either burglar or dreproof-contained nothing but
duplicate and triplicate vouchers from the Bureau
Of Sewers. No one could have served any purposes
whatever by stealing the whole OF them beyond
realizing five or SIX cents per pound for the paper
The original all preserved in the Comptroller's
offlce, and copies entered in two distinct sets
of books in this department, so that IL would be
impossible to destroy the record contained in
them without destroying also these books and the
originals But the funny thing about 1t Is that
NOT A PAPER
had been disturbed so far as can be ascertained.
Many of the upper papers in the pigeon holes were
dusty on top, and there was no sign of finger
marks even in the dust.
The only theory shat seems to hold water was
one suggested by clerk yesterday to Mr. Barker
1t will be remembered that some ago the HERALD
published an erpOS6 of certain Overtures made to
the keeper of the City Hall to permit some lawyers
to make extracts from the books in the office Of
the Collector OF Assessments. The work was to be
done at night by colluslon with the keeper, and
the cOnsplrators expected, upon the copies or
records obtained, to bring actions against
the city behalf Of the persons assessed to vacate
their assessments. This Is q pOOd-paying business
when It can be done but access to the books was
needed in this case, so as to monopolize the whole
ofthe whole noble army OF tax payers Tor twenty
five per cent OF the amount recovered. Keeper
Sutton was offered five per cent on the whole
amount, which would have been somewhere
between $3,0Oo,oO and s5,OOO,0 0Oo but he is
TOO NICE A NAN
to do "schO (he said he was 'tOO Old to begin 1t
nOw''l, and went and tCld the Mayor all about it..
Well, at the time that offer was made to 'Charlie'
the Collector OF Assessments occupied the rooms
now occupied by that portion of Commissioner Van
Nort's offces, in which this "busted" in closet is
situated and it is thought Just possible that some
get at the records, and was ignorant Of the fact
the office OF the Collector had been removed. Quite
possible but 1t was failure If that was the idea.
QUITE TRANSPORTATION
is now being effected in the ComptrOller's office.
to divide the bureau and Ofices OF the different
clerks are being removed, and in their stead Will
desks and various portions of the once. The
rooms now occupied by the City chamberlain will
also be occupied ey 1e Of Finance
The Assistant Aldermen did not get a quorum
together yesterday. An adjournment until Monday
THE ASSESSMENT INVESTIGATION
was continued yesterday under the auspices OF the
Supervisors special committee IN the chamber OF
the Board of Aldermen; present, Supervisors
Koch, McCatierty and Cooper. The scope Of in
teenth and rwenty-secOnd wards.
Mr.. Jacob Mack, OF 26l West Thirty-fOurth street,
complained that house owned by him. 3S9 West
Fortv-fOurth street, was assessed this year at
$4,000 whereas last year it was valued at $4,000.
John d. Taylor, living at 800 Third avenue,
between First and Second avenues, on which he
had just built two houses. valuation had been
made OF $1,000 on each house, and he believed
that an assessment should have been made
cant lots, as the buildings were not In process OF
construction when the valuations were made.
Mr.. j. ii. Camp sent q letter to the committee in
VIII -ch he states that house owned by him on
125th street, which rents for $780, had been valued
at $4,000. he also owned lot on 126th street. be-
tween Third and Fourth avenues that brings in q
rental OF $500. 1t was assessed at s1,7cO.
Herman Zelge, living at and owning the house
at $4,000 A house at No. 3Os in the same street,
although much larger and more valuable, was
assessed at only $4,000.
Mr.. George Lauer, OF No. .346 West Forty-hrst
street, owns four houses IN that street, between
Eighth and Ninth avenues. Two OF his houses were
valued this year at 200 each ana two at $1,000,
an increase over last year OF So 700 in the net vain
alton. He brought evidence to show that the two
houses valued at $1,000 were worth more than the
Mr.. Ludwig Lauer, living in Morrisana. owns
houses Nos. 343 and 345 West Forty fourth street.
The valuation on these houses has increased from
$4,000 in 1867 to $4,000 on each house. Last year
he appeared before the assessors and made COM
plant against the assessment They said that the
valuation was not excessive, and added 81, 900 to
the valuation on account OF his complaint.
Mrs. Margaret Watcher complained that the
house corner OF FOrty-eighth street and Eleventh
avenue was excessively taxed. The railroad
which runs through Eleventh avenue, and the
presence OF factOrles f0undrles, &c around, rem
der tne mouse almost unlnnaDitapie. Inc assess.
ment is $4,000, being an increase OF $4,000 on that
of last year.
william Dobbins stated that the assessment on
two lots In 134th street has been increased from
$500 to 1920 each this year. The lots would sell
for more last year. He was in addition assessed
$3l8 for iagging the sidewalks.
David Christie complained that a tenement
house owned by him. at NO. 430 West Forty-eighth
street. is assessed at $4,000 which is more than t
would sell for. Other houses in the neighborhood,
much better than his are assessed less
A number Of additional complaints similar to
those given were entered, and at three O'Clock the
committee adjourned till to-day.