New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-13
TAXPAYERS BURD EMS.
INEQUALITIES OF THE PREsr. INT SYSTEM OF
TAXATION

INEQUALITIES OF THE PRESr mt SYSTEM OF
TAXATION,
eEssloN OF THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WAYS
AND MEANs-A LETrr a IRON DAVID A. WILLS
ADDRESS BY COM IISsloNER ANDREWS ON THE
PALACES OF ".nk PRESENT MODE CT ASSESS
MENT.
The Com, Aittee on Ways and Means OF the
Assembly act yesterday fer the purpose OF nearing "
gnment for and against to present system OF
OF i,se CommHtee there were present AssempVnon
<s.,cne,er. Prince Alvsrd Weed, Lincoln. Blumentha
and Spencer. Tax Commissioner Andrews reao 'ne ''
having letter from David A. Wells:
NORWICH. Conn.,. Nov H. 1874
me Ho.. GEORGE Il. ANDREWS o,.o,,,s,sncss
Nv nFAR SIR: regret much that crcumst"nC,.fs
Which control WIZ prevent my %ess2g T5rS
the ss Doth nopes and expected. doubt how,
svr- itI had been able meet them whether ccuiu
have impartel any They surely cannot need
fuTsher evidence to satisfy that the New-lork @saeH
cannot he enforced, and that the further &C
,empt 20 maintsn II is detrimental Taes moreov .e
that terpts as this Que does, TO lying and PERJURY Is
OF tne most elective Of all agencies Tor ooTrnPitg
be dcrei My is, first abandon at once and for
pCP0sT .aa to Everything The
idea involves an mposslbity, even Though the mnls
tier of G' sn wsyn sne
starts with acknowledgement that lts execution
must Of necessity be unjust system, Such being
the what is the alternative MY al. an
siion Comparatively few things; tangible
The paxee thus assessed eQuae duse themselves
ms they Vi by an inevitable law aud win uneftlhg
would puch ike to have endea to satisfy the Com
mittee on this point OF diffusion. II is the last thing
the Subject OF taxaton and it is Of the first import
aud lies the foundation OF all correct legislation
department. hope in the course OF the present
Winter TO publish tho information which las como 10
relative to this special poiDt. - .
proposed, i, OF course, IA
substantially the one recommended 10 the Legsla,
lure in ls7I-2 But US meet the full
approval OF such practical men as yourself and Mr..
Briggs the Assessor, would suggest 10 the Com
mttee the adoption OF the system proposed by either
Mr.. Briggs or yourself. the system which has been
found 10 WORK with so little friction ana so prGGus s
tail pages l25l27 Of first report OF 1871 or some
system which is modification and yet founded
something aud drift any longer; and am satisfied
Gated very brief experience will sooa teach now l-
provements Can be made and imperfectons remedied.
Will repeat what have often said before, In my
reports that the Inauguration OF simple system OF tax
executed will do more to promote The prosperity OF the
State than anything that mas happened since 'ne COLI
wish you would convey the Committee my regrets
that am able comply with their Invitation and
them face face, and you think proper you are
MT liberty to read TO them tns letter am yours WIN
great regards, DAVID a. "ELLs
Mr. Andrews said that there were some points OF in
Ierest which he had not specifically referred to IN his
address Oct. c. Among other things he said:
The cost to the City of NewYor OF the present mode
OF assessing personal property furnished strong argu
pnent for q change OF sy stem Assessors are required
by "ascertan" the assessable personal property
within their jurisdiction. This Is OF course impossible,
very fact Of Its imposSiOty is the reason why
in the State nave declined to assess any
personal property They argue with force that they
cannot know with certainty as TO personal property ana
that they have right 10 assess without certain
knowledge The truth Is that personal property Is esti
mated ascertained. The Commissioners OF Taxes
their best discretion and Judgment They reason
from the nature OF "a mans business, the style and
dimensions OF his place OF business and the location aud
character of his residence Us TO the probable sun OF his
personal property, and assess him accordingly. He is
served win u notice 10 that effect which the does
require. II he responds Gnd by his oath reduces the
the entire ssesmcnt very well. But
II he not respond, why then it is assumed that the
assessment and it passes into the Rectiveis
hooks. The practical result OF this process that in
various there remained OF unpaid personal taxes
The following amounts:
1866 s5I7 1913 1885,. $3.50 s5 lS71sl O44 S43
1s66..... 529l6l s69..... 6399i4 lS72... l4S7 706
1s61.... 57l .O23 lS7U..... 9U2,37G lS7S. 1Oy963+
The entire uncOectcd personal taxes from 1852
10 1873 Is $QG0174 A. aud upon this the
the STATE The following gives the de-
aallsa Of H.. .ich ~ snca