The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-20
EQUALIZATION OF TAXATION.
TAX COMMISSIONERS GEORGE a. ANDREWS Be
FORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE

TAX COMMISSIONERS GEORGE n. ANDREWS Be
FORE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
In answer to request from the Finance Com
mittee OF the Board OF Aldermen, Tax Commits
sioner Andrews appeared before that body yes
terday afternoon ana made an elaborate and care
fully prepared explanation OF the excess OF State
taxation In the city OF new York, owing to
higher assessment valuation OF real estate
In this city over the valuation in other por-
lions Of the State. In opening, Mr.. An
drews expressed the opinion that though New
York might be suffering the opprobrium resulting
from corrupt and extravagant administration Of
her affairs, the State had right 70 repr0ach her
30 long as the extravagant expenditure ON the
State Capitol stood as an onset to that OF the new
Court House. In accounting for the smaller vau-
alton placed upon property In the country as COM
pared with the city he then proceeded to show how
the assessors were elected there. They depended
upon the popular favor Tor their election, and
1t was for their own interest as property
holders as well as for that OF their neigh
bors that tine valuation should DO kept
down to as low q rate as possible. As an
evidence OF this and as showing the result he sub
mitted table showing the valuation OF real
estate In the various counties OF the State In
1858 as compared with 1873 and In which thirty
one OF the counties showed o decrease OF
$4s, 623 lao In such valuation. The figures showing
how the various counties have reduced their tax
alton from time to time and how tine same were
ization, were also furnished. TeD or these
counties had thus reduced the valuation
added an increased reduction OF $4.e77, 052
Mr.. Andrews then referred to the reciprocal In
o. .e Of
the prosperity of the other, and then proceeded
ofN Maui XnrE ha Ia 40 q IN
be assessed for Its true value. and what Is that
value u
The custom has been to rx 1t at sixty per cent OF
the nominal value; that IL. such value as the
Ss and ssn msoa mn
as, paradoxlcal as 1t may seem, sale IS NOT
always the true criterion Of value. II may be sold
moro less than It Is worth. For special rea.
S ppopersy snsn It's Tssl Value as Sample
Its value is apt to De nlctuatine; il has it's sea.
sons, and what may bring $4,000 In February may
IS CITE Often '' sold FOR fictitious pTses in order
10 the advantage which results from
publication Of the IN the news
Tor the negotiation OF loan or with view Of CIV
ing an exaggerated valuation TO tho property IN
the nelRhb0rhOOd. These figures are seized upOu
by the State Board as evidence that the assessed
valuation, as made BY the Tax Commissioners is
city assessors to reduce it, as the State Board win
restore 1t again. 1t would be detrimental, more.
any General and material reduction in the vaina-
:ion as the effect would be TO create the impres.
sion that values were In reality declining here.
Other cities would cry ont that New York was In
her decadence, and It would require years for her
to recover rom the blow. The tables which nave
been prepared show that
THR COUNTRY ASSESSMENTS
are unduly low, and yet the state Board Of Equal.
people have manifested an entire capaoiity OF
taking care OF themselves. With them, in pro-
En- hrnu off nrnw nro