The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-13
EQUALIzING ASSESSMENTS.
One or the state Board Contrasting Injustice
TO New York and Brooklyn.

ALBANY, Sept. 12.-The state Board Of
Equalization met to-day ut ~ o'clock. There
was n large attendance OF representatives from
various counties present. among them. from
New York. Tax Commissioner John Wheeler.
Jordan L. Mott and ]. Nelson Tappan. Cham
bcrlain; from Kings County. Albert G. Melon
aid. George G.. Brown. and Jnmcs Tierney.
committee OF the Board OF Supervisors. and
John Winslow. President OF the Brooklyn Board
OF Assessors. and Thomas Kinsclln.
State Assessor Briggs. who has made up
minority equalization table presented report
to the Board showing that the increase in the
assessed value Of roal cstntc in the city Of New
York from 1873 to 1877. after dcductnG the ms.
scssed vnluc from the three towns inWcstchestcr
County, was s35.270. 1888. Tho increase in tho
whole State from 1873 to 1877 was 1907 .9Sl ,3i6.
only s199. 229. G19 more than the increase in tho
city Of New York from 1860 10 1877 In the ns
srssrd value OF real estate and including tho
increase in KINGS County from 1860 10 1877. 1t
leaves the incronsr only s60j0l.911. lie snys
these facts show what counties paid the taxes
when the rate Of taxation was high for u i state
Of real estate in the city Of New York since 1874
ia t6i 1G2,320. or nbout 1880 per cent. of tho
increase of the whole Stntc. Add the Increase
from 1850 TO 1873 and tho total increase is
$500 922OSl. or more than ~ per cont OF tho
Increase Of the State from 1860 TO 1871.
Mr.. Briggs says: In view Of tho changed
condition OF affairs IN the city of New York IN
the last i've years. any equalization that 1t H.
possible to make under our present unequal
tax lnws will impose on the city IA greater por-
tion of tho State taxes than II Should Justly bear
and this statement + as true OF Kings County
As TO Kings County. Mr.. Briggs SAYS: In
| 1871. Erie County was eqlalized at sS2 I26.3lo,
| County Mt az s9s.99l. and Onrila County nt
ti5.s72GS5. making total 81 s20i ,25s i2s to II
% SSeU a%%Ss Of i AZ E a 49, viii KFS S SS%G
ton OF 500 Isl. but with an excess of valuation
over the above large. rich. and prosperous
equities win thr rs il9urshing cities and many
Mr.. Briggs concludes his report IA follows:
linus, confess rom the nycsiisauan' have made n,
ant personal property III i. state uce We met here or
dfhniion made ci the state iaxc. among The several
eYnnte. OF the state ! acknoN .dec ny own error "
l.far from lust e. New YORK and King. couniics 1,
adopted
Tho table he presented, to which he makes
reference makes an addition to ,hr ass So
mcnts for Now York County amounting tn
! 100000 600. but neither increases nor reduces
| those for Kings County.
| Mr. Briggs proposes to make the equallzed
valuation of real and personal property for
New York amount to 81 2Ol .002 0q3. Tho other
members oi the Board Of State Assessors pro-
thus make the pcrr@ningn 81 STATE tax pSid by
the city OF New YORK s4I;2l. which llNes i at q
| loss proportion " the whole State than In any
si7l9. with the exception " 1873 grossly un-
FAIR md loss than tint reno ried IN 1871.
Mr.. shaw appeared Ter nutchCss County, and
! insisted thn, the interior ~ the Stnte would moi
| submit to tho constant action IN favor Of the
city " New York and Kings County. II made
n lengthy argument to show that Duchess
! County. IA we'll rs all the other river counties
| should not De- expected ~ pay any share OF tho
| taxation Justly belonging 10 New York and
! Kings County % pay
Mcssrs. Truslow and kinsella Of Kings fol-
! lowed with arguments to prove that their
county WIS called upon 10 pay more than its
Just proportion.
Tax Commissioner Wheeler u this city ad.
| dressed the Board I'm behalf Of New York. con-
tending that this city has been paying for these
long years. State tnNes that richtfully should
hay" been paid 10y other counties.
Iirut-uov. DOr-hcimor also spoke in favor 81
! III" r"du fion of the assessment on New York.
state Assessor Fowler ms sted on the pnssngo
~ the majority report. contHLding that fh" tas
10 b" laid ON tho city under that report would bs
| lower than II had been at any time since 1870.
| Tho majority report WAS adopted Beach
| MacGan. S"hoonmaker Fowler. and Hadley
voting IN lis favor. and Dorsheimcr Olrott
seymour. and Briggs against H.
The total eqnalized Valu. u .N"w York i.
fixed in tho report adopted ~ III 2o2 9i2 $50
| and for Kings County. $500. PCS .5j5.