The New York herald., 1875-12-11
MUNICIPAL ABUSES.


How THE CITY Is MADE TO PAY MORE THAN
ITS JUST SHARE OF THE STATE TAx-coM-
PARSONS IN GAs-LIoHT ON THE METHODS
OF THE DEPARTMENT or PUBLIC WORKS.
Tho Senate Committee of Investigation continued its
work yesterday at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
George H. Andrews, OF the Tax Commissioners
OF the city Of New York, the first witness called
and testified that the proportion or the state tax paid
by the city was over fifty per cent
Mr.. Davenport-Why is IL that the city pays such =
large portion Of the State tax?
witness-Because the State Board OF Equalization
has the power to exact it.
Mt Davenport-Is il an equitable proportions
Witness-No, sir
Mr. Davenport-what would be fair and equitable
portion for the city TO pay?
Wincss-The amount allotted for the year 1875 ex-i
cecds equitable proportion by 81 600 900; the
question Of personal property has this year entered
into the equalization; the amount of personal property
III the State assessed this year is over $2l7 600
Mr.. Davenport-How much Of that is collected9
witness-The deficiencies great; in 1874 II wasI
S37 600 900; in 1878 $44 600 o00 In 1872 IL was
s5l 0o0o 600; the rate OF taxation for 1874 so; E
has fuctuacd since 1870 from 25 to 2e1 the rule haS
been to real estate sixty per cent of the ap.
praised value the appraisemcnt Is made by deputes
under the direction Of the Board; the Board
always passes upon them; don't think III
would be wise TO have the collection oe
taxes given to the Financial Department;
was one Of the committee appointed by the Mayor
appear before the State Board OF Equalzation the
effect on the Board only moral; practical good
resulted $50 900 600 added TO the already
high assessment made upon the city by the State
Board; think the city should be represented in tho
Board; this could be done by providing that there
should be State assessor from each judicial district;
at present the dumb city has imposed upon it half
OF the State tax that virtually half of the Stats
the other half the laws OF the State relative
taxation are most oppressive think the tax shonld
be personal property alone corporations should be
taxed their gross receipts, that from those to
whom much is given much should be required whereas
it now happens that by strict construction Of the law
the wealthiest corporations eyade taxation and tho
lesser are subjected to IL; wealthy gentlemen
threaten 10 move away from the city unless their axes
are reduced worse than that, they do move away
W. A. W. Wilkinson was then examined In relation
to the quality OF gas supplied by the different city
panieE He Is Assistant Professor of Chemistry tho
College Of the City of New York he has been employed
in testing the gas made by the Mutual and Manhattan
companes that of the Manhattan averaged fifteen
candle power that Of the Mutual about twenty candle
powcr the difference arises from the mode of making
the gas; the Mutual works under patent process,
which involves the use Of naphha product OF petro
leum; the Manhattan uses coal only. The Mutual was
the least expensive process; the witness had no inter-
in these patents but employed from day to day
by the engineer OF the Mutual TO test the gas in order
their product from attaining too much poworI
as the gas then would smoke.
Henry McCabe Clerk OF the Sixth District Court was
recalled He was examined generally relative to the
management Of affairs in that court He admitted thar
one Bernard had sometimes acted as clerk in his aD
sence, but only occasionally
Joseph Burke next sworn. Burke Is an employs
of the Department of Public Works He worked as a.
laborer under foreman Corkery one of the Boule-
wards; Cookery drunk on the 4th OF October; ho
not present on the work the 5th, 9th 1th and
Sth OF October; OF his boarders called the roll for
him; witness knew OF his taking away oak logs and
sand, the property of tho city; he also him give
kcg OF powder to a contractor named Foley: Foley was
then at work digging cellar for himself
Abraham Bernard, the general factotum of the Sixth
District Court then took the stand He testified that
he clerk to Marshal Boylan; kept account, but
divided the receipts daily he sometimes acted as clerk
the absence OF the regular clerk McCabe. Nothing
new was elected from this witness beyond what
already testified to by others.
Matthew Brandon, an Inspector Of Public Works, was
examined in regard to the mode OF doing business IN
the department The object seemed TO be to prove by
his testimony that officers the works devoted por
tion of The time which belonged 10 the public to prl-
landed the shingling of house for the widow of
Sheriff Lynch, but had only devoted few hours alto
th~It DuxiUess. Did kuuw john Kelly auu
neither asked nor received favors from him.
Thomas Cummings witty and rather quaint son Of
the Emerald Isle corroborated Brandon's testimony,
and did not think the latter had in fact done justice to
himself The witness amused the committee by
various dscursOry romarks OF his things in
general and the way in which laborers generally
treated
Richard o'Bren testified .hat he had been general
foreman IN the employ of the Department OF Public
Works March 20 ast he had charge OF the East
ern Boulevard, running along avenue from Fifty
seventh to Eighty sixth street the number OF nndcr
foremen varied from eight to twelve the force OF la
borers from 900 to 400 foremen inspected twice
day. II he found any absent without leave their time
docked," and on being reported were liable tor
dismissal they not excused except for .sicncss
death of near relative or II subpnnaed to attend
court. Tho witness produced his time book showingi
the manner in which workmen's time was noted
The committee adjourned until to-day at hafpass
ten O'Clock.