The New York herald., 1879-01-03
UNEQUAL TAXATION.
HOW NEW YORK CITY is MULcTED WITHOUT
PROPER Observation-Disclosures STA

HOW NEW YORK CITY is MULCTED WITHOUT
PROPER Observation-Disclosures STA
TIsTICs.
Mr. James A. Briggs, State Assessor, in his last
port addressed to the State Board Equalization,
stated that 'there had been just and equal
distribution made of the State taxes among the sew
cral counties of the State. and further expressed
the idea that the time had arrived at last to move
in the right direction" Following sIr. Briggs sug-
gestion Tax Commissioners Wheeler and Hayward
have during the past quarter done all they could to
show the injustice under which New York labors in
being compelled to pay about one-haf of the entire
taxes collected in the State On the of the
scmbling OF tho Legislature this discussion has again
been revived among politicians and property owners,
the more while they claim that proper represen-
tation withheld from the city, and yet all the
dens continue to be placed on her shoulders.
'The city Of New York. said Mr. Coleman.
official city appraiser in the Tax Office yesterday paid
tux in 1878 assessed valuation of 1201 09 93
of real estate. end the entire State was paid on
So 73a 3js ESQ, this being the amount assessed for
tho whole State Of New York. wc pay. therefore,
nearly one-haof the taxes and owing to the absence
Of proper superintendent, havo no adequate repre-
sentztion. They take our money. but will not per-
nit us TO have say in regard TO its disposition
Taxation without representation has thus far been
submitted to by the city, but that we
coming to quietcc times the people are
more apt to study these questions. and when
they once thoroughly understand how unequally
these taxes laid. proper remedy will no doubt be
applied" While in the tax Office Mr. Coleman gave
the writer the various amounts which taxes are
paid by owners of large buildings. and by comparing
these figures with the amounts representing real
estate in the interior of the State it appears that Mr.
Stewards building alone produces tax equal in
amount TO that paid by an entire county. Several
other buildings are assessed at amount eQual to
that paid by entire distrcts and unmproved lots in
single uptown ward are regarded os equally valuable
rs entire counties containing hourishing towns.
INSTRUCTIVE COMPARISONS
The following figures will show this moro
clearly Tho assessed valuation Of A. L. Stew
or of's ua%aon county ""1s s While sam n.
arts uptown building pays $1,1JO.OUp
ing. si.5So.oOo. a total OF s27ooooo; while. com.
pared 20 this. Warren countys assessed value is Just
s2.3G)9Gi The assessed value Of tho Grand Central
sl,2oo.ooo; II. b. ClGan's building. s5Oo,ooo; Coal
and Iron Exchange. si5o.ooo: New York Life
s5.25oooo; while oga county p,ys on s4os2,sse. The
unmprovcd property OF tho Nineteenth ward foots
up sa..ooo.dvo, chcmuog county paying ON
S2i ,s65944. Tho unimprovod property of the
Twelfth ward is s35.ooOOOo. and of Dutchcss county
s3i i.s75.sso. The Twcnty.sccond wards unimproved
property is valued at Sls,3Oo0oo. and Madison
county at sls.3ieO00.
Mr. wHEELER's PROTEST
Mr.. John Wheeler. President of the Tax Commits
eioners, when he looked at the figures yesterday,
that he had protested at the last meeting o the
State Board of Assessors against the adoption OF any
table of valuation which tho face showed injustice
60 the city lie then insisted that 5000 900 should
be deducted from the assessed valuation as returned
for 1877 and said that had been paying for years
state taxes that rghtfuy should have been paid by
other counties.
Mr. Hayward, of the commissioners. called at.
tcntion to the fact that New York city not even
represented on the State Board of Assessors. Tho
metropolis paying nearly onc-hat Of the state tax
should, at least, have ono member of the State
Board. Another official brought forth one of
tho records of the old Board OF Supervisors.
showing that in 1873 Supervisor Robert McCaiicrty
had special committee appointed 10 Investigate this
matter of unqualified taxation, but without max
ing any impression on the Legislature. Only tho
supervisors special committee succeeded nj that time
in having placed file In the city archives the fact
that taxation in the city Of New York is q mudilc
and suggesting the enactment of q Law which
should dc'ine not only tho duties of assessors. but
should place true basis the equalization of city
and county taxes.