The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-08

sstcnt enforcement OF law keeps the taxpayer on
the alert to order his affairs that his Investments
shall be beyond the reach Of the law and its admnstra
TO rs
In several OF the counties which show increased
OF personal property in 1874 over 1873 h
will be found that the assessments for 1873 we're far less
than In 1853 and in some of them even the increase
in 1874 does not bring them up TO the standard OF 1888
The undersigned have been content to make their
statement before your Board in tho form Of facts
numbered by argument and upon this presentation Of
facts they rely your hands equitable APP
portiOnment for the CITY they represent They may be
pardOned for referring TO the incident that while pay
ing one half of the state tax the city of New York has
no direct representative In your Board This consdera
ton has doubtless influenced her Legislature in dele
eating the undersigned to appear before you. But al
of justice and equity will doubtless receive such
sderation at your hands as will do much to reconcile
her to the exclusion. Respectfully submitted,
WILSON 3; MTNT, e on e of Sew Of Yo 4Ro
NEW YORK, September, 1875
The State Assessors desire Messrs. Andrews, Hunt
and Sherman to SAY that the thirty eight per cent
alleged in their memorial as the rate at which the an
nexed westchester towns assessed, intended
TO apply to the assessment Of 1873 To this Mr.. An
drews replied that to admit that correction would
prove that the for 1874 valuation
OF about ninety per cent and tho representatives OF
the city willing for the State Board Of Equaliza-
ton to act upon that corrected statement
The reading OF this document listened to with
the closest attention and it seemed to produce pro-
found impression. Tho statement in Mr. Andrews
memorial which he regarded use his words,
pivotal, stoutly combatted by each ono of the
Commissioners in turn with not little show of
warmth 1.-The part of all three present this state
ment in Mr. Andrews words To enforce what
he considers the absurdy of the ratios adopted by the
State Assessors in their last report he says
THE PIVOTAL STATEMENT
Tho ratio OF 81 is adopted for Kingsbridge that OF
80 for Morrsania and that of 80 for West Farms the
ratios at which these towns, then forming part of West
chester county were assessed IN 1873 When annexed
IG- tl.a ruiGa
upon these from S957S to s23 o47 $40 by the
Tax commissioners Of the CITY,
Thon the same page of the report states that these
towns are now annexed to New York and assessed
IS per of their full value that is to say that
957s $50 is IS Is per of tho city, and that
$23 O47 $40 Is SO per cent the property when
annexed to the city, whereas the rule of proportion
makes the latter equal to $40 per cent. This is
one of the rare instances where mathematical demon
stration is possible,
UNEAsINEss ASSESSORS.
The assessors had listened to the reading Of the
rial without comment until this statement made,
and then Fowler interrupted the speaker and
declared that the assessors report contained nothing
that rightly interpreted, would justify the assertion
which he orr. Andrews) had just made. Tho
report did not state that tho three towns
of westchester which were subsequently added
to New York. assessed at thirty three per cent
in 1873 previous to annexation. Mr. Andrews replied
that the light of tho explanation the assessors
not clear of the impuation of adopting absurd
ratio.
A STATEMENT COMPTROLLER.
At the conclusion of Mr. Andrews address the
Comptroller called attention to fact which he said he
regarded great significance in connection with
under discussion and review and that that
the which levied throughout the of the State
in November not levied in the city of New York
until July August following. He thought that this
must not be lost sight of in attempting to equalize the
burden of taxation and do justice to New York.
L. W. Foster of Potsdam, presented the claims of
St. Lawrence county He called attention to the fact
that half of the lands in St. Lawrence county were
wild and owned by non-resdents The local
had included these lands in their and tho
consequence that fully 900 of land in the
county assessed at 100 per its value.
Rensselaer, county had representative present but he
declined an invitation address the Convention, and
said nothing pro