New-York tribune., 1873-07-24
UNEQUAL TAXAl.lON

II THE UPPER WARDS HEAVILY .BURDHl, III
The SUPERVISORS COMMITTEE TO MET T0-DA.
FOR AN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES or THE EYI~
Di-NcE TO RE ADDUCED-TABLEs SHOWING THE
| TAXATION BY WARDS FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS
Great interest is manifested by the tax
payers OF the Twelfth Nineteenth, and Twenty-second
Wards in the result OF the investigation Of the Special
Committee OF the Board of Supervisors which will meet
to-day make examination Of the tax books, and re
port thereon the Board Of Supervisors is claimed
by the properyowners Of the uptown words that an
unfair equalization Of the values OF property has bee1
made that while the property in tho upper wards
Of the city has increased in value for many years. and
numerous buildings been erected during the
past years. that the number has not IN
creased in previous years, and that tho
assessed valuation is altogether ont OF proper
tion. 1t is urged that every new building erected In
the lower wards OF greater value than many in the
upper sections Of tho city because they used for
banking and insurance purposes, or sometimes costly
warehouses and mammoth stores, and that with this
actual increase the assessed valuation has been reduced
When tho present committee was appointed TO inyest
gate the matter there doubts raised In regard TO
the powers Of tao Board Of Supervisors in the premises
but the question Of jurisdiction finally set at rest
by the provisions of section of the Revised Statutes,
which in treating Of the functions Of the Board Of
Supervisors, says:
The Board Of Supervisors OF each county in this state
their annual meeting shall examine the assessment
rolls OF the several towns In their county for the pur
pose of ascertanng whether the valuations IN one town
ward OF the county bear just relation To the yaua
tons I'm all the towns or wards OF the county, ana they
may increase or diminish the aggregate variations OF
real estates I'm town or ward by adding or deduct
ing such upon the hundred as may IN their opinion
be necessary to produce just relation between AL The
valuations OF real estate in the county but they shall
instance reduce tine aggregate valuations OF all the
towns wards below the aggregate valuation thereof
made by the assessors
Accordingly tho committee was appointed, and will
begin the examination to-day and continue it until the
matter IS decided Alderman McCaGerty who Ia large
property owner and real estate agent has given the
subject much thought. and has prepared for the con
sderaton Of tho taxpayers statement containing the
relative award values Of property throughout the city,
and the nordlnate share of taxation which the upper
wards are called upon TO bear lie states that ia order
to reduce the uniform TO p per cent certain
sections Of the cy-uotaby the Nineteenth Ward-are
taxed fully per cent and lie adds that the property is
greatly oyerestlmated The award valuation in that
Ward placed at s1Oa9,3O5 or nearly S000OoO more
than last year, while IS buildings less have
been erected than during the previous year, when
the OF award valuation over the year before
was only $l3 100000 The upper wards have had ag
gregate Increased valuation Of over s0OO00O while the
lower wards have been assessed less amount by So
100000 than last year. He says that property used for
business purposes in the lower part Of tho city IS steadily
approaching in value and that in the upper portion the
ratio OF increase has been ess that there has been COM
paratye duncss in real estate and who he does not
desire to make upon any particular locality, he
thinks the system Of evyng assessments Is altogether
at fauIt He thinks this arises from the fact that the
Commissioners Of Taxes, with one or two exceptions
are persons unacquanted with the values OF real
tate. and thai they should be appointed or elected
without regard at all to politics, aud solely
with reference to their knowledge OF the
value of property in all parts Of the city To tins end,
information should be sought by them from the Depart
ment of Buildings, whose records show how many new
edaces have erected and how much additional value
they have given property and that the Commissioners
Taxes and Assessments should base their estimate OF
values upon statements. He has obtained the rec
ord OF the assessed valuation OF property in the five
lower wards OF the city in which the finest structures
are being erected and the value Of which, he believes
has increased greatly during the past ten yearsogcther
with the assessed valuation Of property in the Twelfth
Nineteenth, and Twenty-nrst Wards.