New-York tribune., 1873-06-14
THE COST OF A RING.
WHAT BROOKLYN PAYS IN TAXES.
ESTIMATES OF THE DEPARTMENTS 100000 LARGED


as they read the totas Tho Board OF Education asks
for million dollars, against t5S7,i27 received and e1'
pended last year The Police Commissioners estimate
the cost OF their department at $4,000 the Fire Com
missioners at s3l2sOO the Park Commissioners at
s2Sl7s5 The County expenses are fixed at
81 O29OOO; and the City expenses will be
about Sf,OO0OOO The State Tax on the
city will be st another 100000 and citizens have no
hope II these estimates remain unaltered Of escaping
with taxation and expenses OF less than 100000 an
increase OF over 10000 that or last year Tbs
rate OF taxation last year 81 Sc on tOO There
probability this year it win reach w. creatngs
mortgage on real estate which VIII render IL nearly
valueless 70 It's nominal owners. The Health Depart
ment not yetprepared its estimate Tor suomS'ion
to the Board Of Estimates but hope is felt that
will prove an exception 70 the general rule whch seems
to prevail.
A TRIBUHE reporter talked yesterday with several
heavy property owners of Brooklyn in regard TO local
taxation and found them greatly excited on the suoect
and determined 20 make effort to put an end 70
the present system Of Wholesale h!eyery One gentle
man remarked he in the increased mpositions
the present year evidence OF the consciousness on
the part the members OF the Ring that their power
was departing from them. They act. he said. like
party OF mamuders who have captured city which
they only expect hold for few days; they are pick
ing everything they lay their hands on 70 carry
of in their ght IL is true, he added, that the state
ments have 10 pass the Board OF Estimate, and alter
ward the Boards Of Aldermen and Supervisors In joint
session; but from the controlling influences IN these
bodies little relief Is expected from them.
public meeting taxpayers f. talked OF, for the
purpose protesting the approval Of the est
mates they been prepared, and 10 devise
generally for the reduction Of taxation but those who
have been the most active in reform movements, and
who understand the situation OF affdrs in Brooklyn
best think that nothing be done for the permanent
relief OF that city uutl the members Of the Ring are
moved from power; so long as they handle the money
and it they please they Will take care that
there shall be enough Of IL 10 use In Albany for the fur
therance OF their purposes and the pepuauon OF their
power. Every plan for economical government has
been made abOrtive by the Vaccinations OF the Ring in
Albany In constructing the Charter it was de-
termDed reduce the number OF city officials and TO
give to those who served sufficient compensation 10
secure lcapable men. They wanted the best men and
thought they ought be well paid but by the time the
Charter had been passed the number OF officials was IN
creased while the higher rate OF compensation was re-
tanned thus adding needessly not less than s2OOOoOe
the city expenses As example, the Roard Of Asses
sors named This is increased, and the members are
TO get each per year. for services which could be
rendered By two capable The members OF the
Board seldom in their Office more than an hour or
each day and the Secretary finds leisure to be absent
az the Legislature months each year. Their
making assessments ia arbitrary, and gives evidence
of either Ignorance carelesnes one large owner Ot
real estate told the reporter that houses IN different
parts Of the city, which yield him the same income and
will sell Tor the same uIcEou pSi tSnt ia
value on the books though their actual yaue
could readily ascerained by person Of ordinary in
| teligence.
Some hopes expressed OF the speedy downfall OF
the Ring based upon the evident dsOrganiZation OF the
| Board Of Bridge Directors. This gentleman
said the only point which all the members Of the
Ring are concentrated and II they cane agree there
hopes OF general quarrel and that the honest
taxpayers OF Brooklyn may have opportunity Of
striking successful blow for their rights. The fact
that Judge McCue had expressed his dapproya OF the
Bridge bill, which drawn by himself, supported by
Controller Schroeder, and worked through the Lesla
ture by Senator Henry c. Murphy, spoken Of
hopeful evidence that the breach between the Ring
officials widening The people OF Brooklyn feel the
weight OF the burdens under which they struggling.
and IL gentlemen with whom the reporter conyersed
are faithful eIponens Of the popular sentiment, are
only waiting for q faithful opportunity 70 hurl their
oppressors from power.
The Charter asked by the Committee Of Fifty pro-
vded for the reduction OF salaries and the abolition OF
the Commissioners who have by their projects OF street
openings park improvements and bouleyards, during
the past few years. increased the rate Of taxation to such
a degree that It was determined that unless the new
Charter should remedy the evils all the interests OF
Brooklyn would suffer property be lowered in valuation.
and all Industrial pursuits suner accorungy Inc eI-
Tects OF the provisions of the Charter which have
increased instead Of diminished the expenditures arc
effort will made to reduce the amount asked for in tho
annual budget one reason for the high rate OF taxation
Is said to be the fact that the expenditures
large scale While Brooklyn is metropolitan in size
and aspirations, it Is in measure rural IN wealth
He mas built parks and bOueyards, bridges and sewers
cut down and filled lots, on scale equal 10 heN-1Orh
and Paris without the wealth OF either to supper the
outlay Her gross indebtedness is at present seventeen
per cent OF her gross valuation while IN Nev-York,
with all the Ring rObbing, IL "A less than nine per
cent While the valuation tins city s less in pro-
portion TO its real value than that OF Brooklyn The
latter five miles more OF paved streets than
NewYork and the streets which are paved ana opened
but built up Will supply an additional population
OF halt million Inhabitants.
With 100000 cubic yards year Of surpus earth OBJ
tained from cellars, ashes, ana slreesMeepngs, which
in years will NIL every low lot IN the city without
cost the Common Council are ordering lots TO be cut
down and hiled az run0ns cost TO owners aud great
loss 70 city. They do this under cover Of declaring
them just as If the covering up or coneeahng
TO furnish fat" contracts 10 favorlte contractors
In all the machinery Of government she IS increasing
the motive power and running up her expenses so that
her taxes will in any event be about per cent for
this year, and probably for years. Corrupt pol
tcaus and special legislation have been the OF all
this The proposed Charter continues all these pre-
iects In their oppressyeness upon the people, and
thereby increases the rate taxation The politicians
charters instead or enforcing the laws as they
exist While the politicians have run away with the spo
1t urged that rural city, unsupported Oy trade and
commerce and foreign wea1,lca for long time MAIN
tein it growth and asrendencv with faxes az per cent
II is be expected that rapid growth VIII occur when
quick transit shall have become fact, ana the county
towns have become part OF the city There are only
81 square miles In the whole county London has 10
square miles Deduct tho public grounds, and allow
every tenth house. and when all the rest
built up entire the county VIII eoHtAn ony ABOUT
100000 people With quick transit and iow prices Tor
lots that from 10000 20 10000 additional people
may be annually kept IN BIo3kyn, VINO now so 70 Sew
perpetuated by the Charter with its large salaries,
will defeat that end by increasing the price OF property,
making rents too expensive for the middng classes
In view OF these facts II Is urged tnat the new Charter
is defective ard encroaches upon the rights VI tho
citizens.
HOW BROOKLYN BUILDS A SEWER.
. ..up,,p Ry WHICH The POCKETS OF TAx-PAYERg