New-York tribune., 1873-04-15
LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS A SNARE.

alarm, In the ending April TO- there
we're 1870 fires, causing "A loss OF $6j3-25S.
LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS A SNARE.
MAYOR HAvEMEYER sUsTAINs CONTROLLER GREENS
VIEWS IN REGARD TO THE VACATION OF ASSESS
MENTs-THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN CONFIRM THE
NoMMAIoNs FOR EXCISE COMMISSIONERS.
At meeting of the Board of Aldermen
yesterday afternoon q resolution adopted allowing
room of the Sixth District Court to be used on Sunday
evenings by the Young Mems Father Mathew I. A. b.
Society resolution that the Board OF Street Openings
be authorized 20 action in relation to the widening
Of College-plaee referred 10 the Committee on
Streets resolution next adopted requesting the
Controller report TO the Board OF Aldermen detailed
statement Of all churches other prop
erty which have been vacated remited or cancelled by
aim since May l. 1872 1t further resolved that the
Controller be requested inform the Board whether
any rebate Of taxes real or personal estate
made by him during 1872 and 1S5 and to re-
pmt detailed statement 70 the Board The quarterly
report OF Controller Green received, and motion
adopted TO print 500 copies statement from the Con
oler in reference to the contracts registered in bis
Office during 1872 next submitted to the Board. The
payments during the year wero as follows:
First: On work payable in whole or in part from as
sesSnens the means being derived from issue OF as
eeSsInent bonds, 81 ,9i7,765 81.
Second: PAYABLE from taxation. s1,1ss732 80
Third; On work the means for which we're derived
city stocks bonds account Of permanent debt
g1i4,226 10.
The attention OF the Board was also cdlcu 70 tne
great number OF contracts for grading regulating, and
otherwlse improving streets for the payment OF which
I will be necessary 10 provide large amount Of money
oy the issue Of bonds in anticipation OF the collection OF
upon such work The amount OF bonds out
standing Dec 81 1872 represents the advance TO CON
and others, and may be olassed az follows:
Amount I'm advance to contractors and others work
IN progress and FOR which assessments are not yet
confirmed. S.2S7676 IS amount IN advance 10 con
work for which assessments have been con-
hrmed, &nC.4G 49,
The Controller, taking into consideration this large
debt incurred for the benea of property owners por
tion Of the amount being represented by assessment
bonds open for collections and in many eases greatly
overdue respectfully suggested that hereafter under
takngs be such necessary ;fOr property
respond promptly % the requirements FOR the CITY and
discharge these assessments, the taxpayers at large
vii be relieved from tho burden Of providing largo
amount annually for interest accruDg upon bonds fog
vacated assessments
The following message was referred the Committee
Law:
TIE HAYORs MESSAGE.
10 the Honorable he Common Council Of the Ctg Of
Reo York. deem t my duty call your attention 10
the ncOsed communication addressed TO by the Con-
troIer as il embodies views by that officer upon OF
6he OF the leaks Of city treasury. Ny expert
snee the matter Of assessments and recently the dis
osures fully warrant in saying that nOtwitGstand
ing tho check which the late governmental bandits have
received, there is still rich harvest Of frauds which in
tbe aggregate heavy load upon our already over
burdened tax-payers. The manner 10 which the Com
COuBc proper TO authorize local improvements
though sanctioned by precedens and free from all sus-
pciOn Of your part offers nevertheless as the
Controllers communication shows, an easy ana reauy eA
ASIDE the assessments. initiated and imposed
in the accustomed fashion Tue Controller IS undoubt-
edy right IN iuerrng that the laws which authorize as
sessments are loosely drawn ana thdt A6y Ontr 700
many facilities for Interested persons, through the
agency OF sharp lawyers, 10 relieve themselves from
just burdens and saddle them upon the
whether the evils from which the public thus suffer
attributable much 70 the axty Of the laws as to
nics details Of those charged with their administration
fear II is TOO late 70 initiate legislation for relief III the
direction pointed 6y Controller during the present
SESSION. 50 IL would be well honorable body
recourse evading assessments If
you 20 make II rule Of your honorable BODY not
90 authorize any locai improvements uhess malOny
of the owners Will nave TO pay the assessments therefor
and in aud number petition for the it is
paratYoly free from lcsislat on In this mitter Many Of
unon nroperty nave been imposed and lev
led against the earnest and vehement remonstrances
of the Owers and were ~ eases iDequiabe IN them
lives mn ~" ~ in roIng nom thor sboiloes the
burdens thus plaredupOn them. Tine manner IN which
davOritism offered special advantage as Illustrated by
recent publication and the diagram offers some justih
ta fnr the resort for legal relief from what frequent
ly amounted 20 a conhscauon OF property; careful
Stndy or the estimates aud assessments for me past Few
yeas will very clearly demonstrate that when te CITY
treasury vas TO De depleted our Guy rulers ana tlcr
friends did not divide ON party INES lt may De OVeeoh
the 1 recommend tlaG " L-aJOlYW uie
property owners tine line OF any proposed improve
IDents may syn such petition although mere nay
ls an imperative Leces1ty iOr lupIOEemthi nave
our citizens who own unimpTOged and improved cts
properly selfneres5 inert tat II ls o 10 be
trlsfed necessary thing 10 initiate an lmprgYe-
Inent wEich Will bcnefciay affect thcir property me
thug they VIII not do Is prcmmtnfey 70 peti,
tiOu the Common Council; IL Is Weli tAcy should
NOT Many OF the local IMPROVEMENTS
ere nsgae ed by real estate srecuatorf, who euy on
marZn IN the hOie OF giving n0nlcntaIy hcuuous
value which FOR the purposes 0f inc Guy Yhh
for habilatOu may not be- required Tor geheIsu"h''
AafDef such improvements aud tntlI consequent assess
yatts eubsautia holders Cf real WOuld set lhcr
5aecs In anv ovcnt the city in such would not
wifi
s,,orvepcnf when made BY ana with the consent 0i
,ngortfy Of the Own II, would cause the expenses, II
so taby sscl 20 rclaL IN All probability where 81
st.,sd iest, "a SCI iiOsed burden after more thuu
benefit % The owners or the property IN
, ocIIity Affected. Tho remedy have suggested, or
s,s az eauaii C1ec.sc ought 10 Jc 40 once provided
hv ,ou; ihus fraud upon tue Iuc Oi pn ee1ng Nlh
- nOuinly ~ tht expense Nl the par
- ei,r pr,pcriy j. bcuohied thereby while really
"a sheul - tcuIcd 20 thcin al INC expense OF hc cy
- !. oui0 b. prevented, aud hope .ne subject "Al
at lu<05 80 ee ~ tftentlo.. w. r. HAyEMhYER
Alde,1oSa Cooper subtoited report ffom the Law
Committee rccommendirg mat the oierA DC aulnoi'~op
,,ocae a lease Oh behalf Of the city for premises ~
" ,,,od nd twenty. .afIb-st, between Third and