The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-03
TIE MUNICIPAL OFFICES
The Mayor or to Long Brsnch-Ths New County
Bonds-An the Officials Wrong-Is There
Anybody Empowered to Issue County
Bonds THE Assessment Inquiry.

Bonds THE Assessment Inquiry
A regular midsummer day was yesterday In the
various municipal Offices most OF the officials hav-
ing little to do. dong 1t quickly and leaving for
home early. Mayor Havemeyer got the idea that
a sea breeze would be beneficial to the executive
mind and physique, and went down to Long
Branch by the afternoon boat. He WITH uos goeWH
until Tuesday morning. Comptroller Green, 1t is
understood. was out OF town yesterday, and Will
be absent until Monday al noon.
In the HERALD of yesterday a statement Of Com
missioner Van Mort was published to the effect that
he did not believe the recent authorization by the
Board OF Estimate and Apportionment of the issue
of assessment fund stock county bonds was legal
His reasons therefor were also set forth.
The Mayor upon learning OF the question being
raised the validity of the action in which he
as member of the Board OF Estimate and Appor-
ti0nment, had taken part was
SOMEWHAT EMBARRASSED,
he had not fully examined the law on the point
He at once however, sent for Deputy Comptroller
Storrs and held consultation with him upon the
subject. Mr.. Storrs expressed the belief that tho
question was not based upon tenable objections.
The charter transfers TO and vests In the new
Board OF Estimate and Apportionment all the
powers exercised by the old Board Of Apportion-
ment, and authorizes the issuing by them by vote
of at least three OF the MEMBERS 'of any stocks
bonds" &c. At the close Of the interview the
Mayor and Mr. Storrs both expressed the opinion
that the issue OF the bonds Is legal.
Several lawyers, however, who are considered
to be well up in the Interpretation of the sometimes
intentional conundrums which the Legislature
propounds annually and has the impudence or
ignorance to call claw, state that no matter what
the charter states or provides for In relation to
county affairs,
SUCH PROVISION rs ILLEGAL,
inasmuch 1t is necessary that the subject matter
OF all bills must be stated in their titles. The legal
title OF the new charter is "An Act to Reorganize
the Local Government OF the City of New YORK."
The of these bonds is a county, and not city
matter, and is, therefore, outside OF the scope
Tor the benefit OF those who desire to worry them.
selves about the question, the following extracts
from section III OF the charter which creates and
pended. 1t Is good light Sunday reading. In
addition to the provisional estimate OF the
amounts required to pay the expenses OF the city
and county OF New York, in each department and
branch thereof, Tor the then next ensuing financial
year." which the Board Is required to make up be-
tween the lst OF August and the LIST OF November
OF each year, the section goes on TO provide that-
80, go In addition to the estimate herein pro.
Iegirs BY Ds tue aaye vote 81 n three q, me IN,
anal Be Rssa 5 s s
that the IT, Of stocks or bends Of said
period necessary in ehectIng said change. The
the vote three auhorze the issue
y hs or To Of bs an" %pSn cOmpanc
with the provisions Of law authorizing them 80
the
curing an audit and OF claims by said Board
s "a e..
but all the & Ss Pp9svsa. BY any such
hereby and vested in the Board hereby created
SETTLE THE MATTER
for ''oounty' action by board created for "cttf'
government would be inconsistent" Others who
sioner Van Mort Is wrong IN his claim that himself
and the President OF the Department OF Parks are
| entitled to seats with the Mayor Comptroller and
| Presidents Of the Board of Aldermen and Depart
ment OF Taxes and Assessments, as in county
board of appOrtionment under the old law, for the
provision above following the astcrsks repeats ''s
provisions OF law creattn0'' any other board OF ap
| portiOnment And thus they claim there is no
| power authorized legally to issue county bonds
| THE ASSESSMENT INVESTIGATION
pervisors, and the Twelfth ward books we're
| closed. Tomorrow. the Twenty-second ward
DR.. WhitalI Complained that his house, COT Lex
ington avenue, is assessed at 10000, while much
better house adjoining Is valued at only 81, 00o
He complained OF this inequality and asked for q
reduction.
E. r. Theall stated that three unfinished houses
| avenues, are assessed at $11,0O0 He considers
| they should be assessed only as lots when the
houses are not completed ana bring nun IN nothing.
Mr. Farley objected to an Increase from So, 500
| to $4,000 assessment on mis- house, 472 Fourth
I avenue.
George W. Lee has house in Ninety-seveuth
| street. between Eleventh and Twelfth avenues,
which has this year been raised from $4,000 to
| $1,000, against which he protests.
Samuel kirkpatrick stated that he has three small
| houses on one full lot rs by 100 feet, ON the
corner of SiXtieth street and Third avenue. The
assessment on this property is $1S,O00 which
Supervisor Koch, OF the committee, declared was
| outrageous.
MI William Monck, of 242 West Fifty-sixth street,
! protested against the yearly increase of the as
! sessment on sixteen lots leased by him, situated
| on West Fiity-ninth street. between Eleventh and
| Twelfth avenues. BY agreement he is bound to
| pay all taxes, assessments &C., on the lots In
1870 he was assessed 81, $40; 1871, $4,000; in
1872, $4,000; in 1873 S25,5OO. He claims that the
valuation Is excessive.
MIR. James Neal of 1880 Third avenue, owns
four lots in the immediate neighborhood of 1l1th
street and Third avenue, which were assessed last
year at $l3, 600 and this year at $4,000