New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-14
PARK swINDLE FRUSTRATED.

BEOUKJYN TAXED 10 PAY FOR IMPROVEMENTS i4'
TIE TOWN or FL4rBUsH-MAYoR HUNIERS
OPINION.
John n Taylor who was until about
month ago Controller OF the Park Commission mas rem
dered bill against the city for services as Special Col
ector which Mayor Hunter objects TO paying Inc Io
lowing IS the bill:
City Boo IshR Tayo Special coefi9r On t 10,
Fiatbuh eatey SIDE Of Prospect PARK 70
s62jBS 9J
This Improvement was effected under special act by
the Park Commission, and slG,4sO Tho improve
ment lies principally in the town OF Flatbush. piece
park property taken In by it, and for this an
award of S4slO made but s76759 80 was assessed
back on the park and the award of S4slo being de-
Quoted the city is called to pay the bill rendered
Il is claimed however by the Park Commissioners that
they are empowered TO direct their Controller, John
Taylor, to collect the assessment at compensation OF
one per cent on all that shall be paid to him within
80 DAYS after the first publication of the notice specified,
after which ne shall DO entitled 20 compensation
FIVE per cent Mr. Taylor claims that he is now ent
tied to compensation Of five per cent the money to
be collected by him-about 5000 but in view OF the
fact that he has been annually paid salary Of 5000 by
the city for drawing up legislative acts, Is willing to take
about 5000 as his collection fees.
The bill for $6256s % having been objected to, was
withdrawn, and yesterday new bill for $4,000 was
presented 10 the Mayor. The difference in the two
charged ny Mr. Taylor as commission. The new bill has
yet been allowed Mayor Hunter objects TO the
payment of moneys charged under circumstances like
those which this claim had been based.
The delegation that waited the Mayor consisted OF
ar. sranahsn, the President g. Hanes, ]. n. Taylor,
and Frank QuevedO all of the Park Commission. They
had first waited on the Controller, who accepted the
offer 10 waive the right OF collection fees and signed the
warrants when the cation called on the Mayor,
that official SAID he would take day to consider before
signing He then sent for the Corporation
Counsel and the question whether not the City
OF Brooklyn could be compelled TO pay an assessment
road outside its limits After hearing his opinion,
which expressed doubts as 20 the validity Of the claim
upon the CITY, the Mayor refused the payment OF the
assessments until oil doubt Of the ety's liability was
TRIBUNE reporter called yesterday afternoon at the
ofice Qt the Park Commissioners and also on John
tSr more Than his determination to enforce his claim
and his conviction that he would ultimately OBTAIN Ills
money. Mr.. StranahaD could not be seen. - -
Mayor Hunter, in conversation with "a TRIBUNE re-
porter said that his principal objection 10 the Dill was
on the ground that the city had already paid too much
for needless alterations csssed improyenents-an
EVIL which had risen from special legislation at Albany
city pursuant act Of 1871, the puport Of which
according to its title to improve the city OF Brook
directly or in any %ag BfPS s bnt ea
which refused any OF the cost He thought the
city had paid already for the benefit OF those
taxes When the first claim was presented as
OF money was charged III 1t for election fees, no
he Mayor refused 10 nave 10 90 WIN On inc
ground that such commission ought not TO be allowed
but the bill has been presented second time, minus
the charge for collections, he thought It best TO
refer the matter 10 the Corporation Counsel I'm
order TO ascertain the law under which Mr. Taylor made
his claim. The Mayor being under the impression that
special clause of the did away with any special
collector while that impression remained he could not
approve OF Mr.. TaylOr's claim for commission As 10
the 6eepeRl ITSELF had the people been allowed to
vote the subject, no such expenditures OF money
would have been permitted but the Injurious system OF
special legislation had raised up all sorts OF commits
sions and created heavy ouays, without the people
having any direct voice in tue matter The system OF
nsinr n uandamus whenever any objection was made
the payment q a RIl lhea.:ed ~ commissioners
pursuant 70 Such special legislation, had enforced upon
the citizens OF Brooklyn taxation that had become
actually oppressive, and against which the tax payers
had remedy. The claim Of Nj. Taylor was one of
this kind and until could be proved legal he should
certainly reset IL.