The New York herald., 1873-08-06
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.


The Mayor Still At Long Branch-The
City Laborers After Their Money-A De-
partmental FalsehoOd Somewhere -
Where Is Its-Thc Assessment Inquiry.
Mayor aavemeyer did not return from Long
Branch yesterday, as it was expected he would do,
and Mr.. Vance, President OF the Board of Alder
men, assumed the executive chair as Mayor pro
tenn. There was nothing OF particular interest
transprlng in the Mayoral department yesterday,
outside OF the routine business OF the Office.
1t is understood that the Mayor will not
return from the Branch before Thursday morning.
THE COMPTROLLER's OFFICE
and the Department OF Pubic Works were yester-
day visited by large delegation OF the "big pipe
men' now employed under the control Of the De-
partment OF Public Works, and who came to in
qure why the pay due them Tor their labor in the
early part Of last month is not forthcoming They
first called at the Comptroer's Office and learned
that Comptroller Green is out OF the city, he being
at present on visit In Massachusetts,. They were
informed, however, that the reason why they
had not been paid was that the pay rolls
and acquisitions from the Department OF Pubic
works had not been prepared in the latter Depart
ment and forwarded to the Financial Department
in time. They bore date of July 49, but for some
reason unknown did not reach the Finance Depart
ment until the Oath, which was the day after the
meeting of the Board Of Apportionment AS a con-
sequence no appropriation OF issue OF bonds had
been authorized at that meeting
THE woRKMEN
then proceeded to Commissioner Van Nort's office,
and the Commissioner received the delegation
promptly. He explained to them after hearing
their complaint that the pay rolls OF
the force had been prepared and forwarded
to the Finance Department on the 18th OF
July, Notwithstanding the information received by
the committee that the pay roll had not been re-
delay was caused solely by the failure OF the
Comptroller. to request the Board OF Apportion-
ment to convene for the purpose OF authorizing an
issue OF the stock, as authorized and directed by
law for the carrying out OF this work-a duty
clearly belonging to the Comptroller and matter
over which he personally HAD no control.
The delegation stated that it was the belief OF all
the laborcrs and employees that the Comptroller s
under the conduct OF the Commissioner OF Public
works, and it was their intention to go in body to
the Finance Department and demand their pay
Commissioner Van Mort expressed the hope that
the committee would return TO the work and urge
the men there employed TO wait for day or two,
as ne understood that the Comptroller was absent
from the city; and he hoped, upon Mr.. Green's
them without any further veXatious delay. p'' ''
The men, after thanking Commissioner Van Mort
for his kindness to them, returned TO their work.
Such delays as these to wOrkingmen, who are In
urgent need of every penny they can earn as soon
az 1t is earned, are extremely irksome; in fact,
from technicality or red tapism. Surely, great
metropolis can afford to pay laborlng men, even II
there are other bills to be laid over IL takes the
sweat out OF the men to earn their money, and it
takes the life blood out OF them not to receive it
when 1t Is due with remOrseless landlords and
grOcers OF their heels Tor the arrearages OF the
past month.
THE ASSESSMENT INQUIRY
was continued yesterday before the select commit,
tee OF Supervisors, Messrs. Koch McCanerty and
Cooper fhe complaints were made BY property
owners in the Twelfth, Nineteenth and twenty
md m q
unequal valuations as their causes.
NJ Levi, living at BlOwardsville, Rockand county,
houses owned by him at 463 and 465 West Forty
ninth street. They were assessed at $4,000 each,
which he claims Is an excessive sum. The house
454 West Fiftieth street, also owned by him, mas
been assessed at $4,000, which he claims to be
$4,000 in excess OF just valuation.
A lady appeared before. the committee and CON-
planned that piece OF property owned by her IN
the Twenty second ward had been most unjustly
assessed. She thought she would be compelled to
pay $4,000, the full valuation. On being told,
however, that she would have to pay taxes on that
Mr. she E % sm w9 Of Mes
street, owner Of several houses in that street. near
Ninth avenue, came to protest against the assess
houses would bring anout twenty-five thousand
dollars each, and that he had been assessed
$4,000 on each house. one OF the committee said
that the valuation was too heavy.
William Hallihan, or 349 West Fifty third street,
owns lot in FiftysecOnd street, on which are built
three houses His assessment is $4,000; He as
serts that tins Is greatly In excess OF OF the valua
non OF other property IN IN, the nelghborhood He
Eighth and Ninth avenues, the valuation OF which
has increased $10,5O0 since last year.
Mr.. Neidig, OF 1872 East 10th street, owns three
houses In tnat street that have been valued at
$1,000 each. The streetis in very bad condition.
The sewer greatly needs repairing the stencil
from it being unbearable. He has begun o suit
against the city for damages. The building 257
Canal street, built on leased ground and used for q
furniture store by him, has been valued at S45
In his opinion, any amount over twentysX
Thousand dollars would be an excessive valuation
Mrs. Mary Schneider owns the houses 315 and 3l7
West Forty-hrst street, which she asserts are
valued too high.
Albert NJ. Clark, OF North Moore street, said that
he owned lots on West Fiity-sixth street, all of
which were unimprOved. The taxes upon them
had steadily increased. The investigation Will
be continued this morning in the chamber Of
the Board Of Aldermen.