New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-12
COMMENTS ON THE REPORT.

STATEMENTS OF THE INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE
SEVERAL CLAIMS OF THE COMMISSIONERS DE
MED.
A TRIBUNE reporter called on Supervisors
McCaorty aud KOCH of the Committee OF Investigation
into the alleged assessment inequalities, TO ascertain
their concerning the defense OF the commissioners
Of Taxes and Assessments.
Concerning the Commissioners argument that the In
crease in the value Of buildings for three years was
about S96l73 in OF the increase in assessments
the corresponding years. they stated that IN numer-
Gus cases. propertyowners assessed for buildings
that had been erected and in some cases had not
even been begun at the time of the assessment; and
that to Offset the charges made in tins respect
at present time by the small assessment OF previous
years was do injustice because property is contin-
ually changing hands, and the person who owns the
property at the present time may not have owned 1t
last year. and may next year. and II injustice
j. done him at the present time II cannot be recthed
next year-sueh of proceeding as the Commits
soners propose thus virtually making one man bear
anothers burdens.
With regard to the assertion that the Twelfth Nine
teenth and Wards include 50 per cent Of
the ctys area and that many millions have been spent
on improvements within their limits at the expense OF
the taxpayers Of the entire city, the Supervisors said
that these statements entirely erroneous OF the
area composing the three upper wards onehaf is de-
voted to the Central Park Riverside Park, Mornlugsde
Park and Mount Morrissquare while in the Nineteenth
Ward not dollar has been spent for improvements,
the expense Of which has been borne by the taxpayers
at large.
Concerning the Tax Commissioners Rule Of Three, by
which they argue that the whole increase in assessments
should the increase in assessments in the Twelfth
Nineteenth and Twenty second Wards, the whole
number of new buildings the city il the number in
the same wards the Supervisors stated that the plan
was most absurd. While the new buildings in these
wards are largely dwellings. and erected at compare
lively low ure those in the heart Of the city are many
of them worth from $4,000 to half or thFeequarters
Of a million. Indeed, they asserted that new down
town buildings were frequently worth ten times the
average value of new buildings in those wards They
denied the assertion that the value Of property has
during the past three years IN the Nineteenth
Ward but stated that been very little activity
In reaestae and that whole Of houses have re-
NAMED unoccupied uptown, while property downtown
can always be rented at high figures
The Supervisors also took the ground that the sinking
of the Fourthave tracks more OF an advantage to
downtown property owners than TO those up town,
rather than less concerning the portion Oh te Gol
mssioners report which relates 10 the erratc mgra-
tons OF the different trades and the high figures OF up
town auction sales which said TO call tho attention
downtown taxpayers TO the fact that their prope ry
a. assessed for 10 per than they can
sell h they admttedtbat some OF the facts were as
stated bat that the differences were illogical ana untrue
While the dry goods trade has left Pearl and Piness
ard UP town. finer and coster buildings used as
hankng, Insurance, and brokers' Offices have taken
their places They claim that, matter how change
able ina, be the purposes for which the down town
may be used the property bordering upon them
has steadily increased In value TO the present tme and
they hold that the Facts which have been presented pc
fore Committee, published In yesterdays TRIB-
UEE not, and cannot be denied Or explained away
by the Commissioners They state also that the people
hardly expect the latter to convict themselves or
and lack Of ability by pleading guilty 10 the
charges made by the Taxpayers