The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-27
TAxpIrEns, coMpLlINrs.


Mayor Wickham transmitted to The Al
dermen yesterday letter from Mr. Richard
L,thors. complaining Of wrongs done to the tax
PAYERS by the neglect Of the bureau VI Afsc-s-
mems 20 notify them OF unpaid assessments on
their property MIR. Lathefs saws that IN ISL he
found ON his tax bill notice " an assessment
Of sGi for opening Sivty-third street. ~" had
not d notice of the assessment. although II
had been confirmed for thiee years. II utid tho
sum, and then had the property searched for un-
paiu ttkcs ana assessments. lhe oll'iai ~earcn
showed that there were on his DrouertN tire"
unnaid assessments. aud that one ui them was
fof4o Tor the opening Of Sixty third street. Al
though he had paid one assessment for opening
that street, hc paid the SIIi WIN thtee years
Interest, aud the amount % the other two as.tss
mcuts. Tho total Of the tire" assessments " $
about S2tOl. In February. lS,2. he died lt tho
Bureau OF Assessments aud pad an assessment
for the broadway widening. At his request the
clerk examined the books ana reported that the
only unpaid assessment AGAINST his property was
for improvements on Riverside Park Mr.. Latin
ers paid II aud went away, satisfied that he owed
the city nothing.
his annual tax iii. To his surprise hc found on
" notice 81 an uupaid assessment confined
In June, 1872. for laying out a public place be-
tween tue boulevard aud Ninth avenue. lie
demonstrated with tue Comptroller against the
injustice Of being charged II Der cent. "a year for
q default that he mad tined 80 hard to avoid.
The tOmutrullrr replied that the law gave nam
no power Oi relief ana that assessments must
be paid reg rdlCsS OF any irreguldrity or neglect
OF duty on the part OF the officers uf the bureau.
Me. Lthers paid the ass, s.inent and the penalty.
ana again concentrated himself that the city
was nlt his creditor.
In september, $50, MFR. Lathers received hi'
tax hiil for tnst wear. Enclosed IN IL was bull
OF arrears Tor t2Nij.D,, with - yer cent interest
from June. ISL. against the same property winch
he had taken Hucn great ptCcautiUn to protect
against the penalties. Ca lur.hcr inquiry. uc
found that his property mad been advertised Tor
sale bv the cat, for TIA. non-payinent Of an as
scssmeut Of which he had had no notice. Mr.
I1tuer- thinks " siguiHc mt that the assessment
Of S2ojjH!. confirmed IA June. ISL Was not re-
ported Dy the uiici Ms who -cdicaed his prOuer-
~ IN August Of tue 7dine year, hnd 10y those vino
searched u eighteen months dftefward.
Mr.. Latlicr- SAYS ihdt ia many instances Trop-
erty has been sold fnr Xcs, the owner being
ignorant OF everything cOnneci ed win the a.
scs-tucnt, and often OF the sale of the property.
Citizens nave. he adds. continued to y v tn all
nual taxes to tue CiN for years after the proper
erty had been cunhscatcd and sold Tor taxes.
lie adyis that tne officials administering the
public revenue should use less red tape. and cx-
erci.e more care III notifying TO taxpayers tue
fact that they are in Arrears Tor assessments ON
their properly, bv having the sum due the city
indOrsed On the annual tax bills. " la that
way ne says, "prOperty owners might be as
sured at least once year against the official
NEGLECT now 50 common
he communication was referred by tue city
Fathers to their Law Committee.