The New York herald., 1879-09-20

the Office of the Secretary OF State to-day Present
Secretary of State Beach. Comptroller Ocott Treas
urer Mackin and State Assessors Sterling g. Hadiey
James A. Briggs and John s. Fowler. The list of
counties was called, with view to giving parties an
opportunity present such objections they had to
make against the tables affecting their respective
counties. represen tative from Chenango county
desired larger deduction made for his county than
had been accorded, on the ground of shrnkage i'll
the value Of farms.
DUCHESS COUNTY.
Mr.. C. Swan, of Poughkeepsie, addressed the
Board. urging reduction of the equalized valuation
for Duchess county He claimed that it was largely
excessive, the whole county could be bought for
its assessed valuation There were forty-four
ties which excelled Duchess in average production.
yet are assessed less in proportion. According to
the tables there but four counties in the State
wealther than Duchess; but this unjust
classification. The gentleman presented voluminous
fac Is and figures tending to substantiate his
ton. He concluded with the request that while it
would still be excessive, q reduction should
be made to $35.OoO.0OO. The tables show
an addition to the assessed valuation in
Duchess county of $4.O69.G44. while the total
equalized value OF real and personal estate is
$40, ,252. .854 Mr.. Swan suggested that it would be
an immense benefit in making comparisons If the
full value and percentages could be furnished for
each county.
KINGS COUNTY.
President Truslow, Of the Kings County Board Of
Assessors, made an extended argument against the
increase Of assessed valuation proposed in the
tabes-nearly $l2 900 OO0-making the total equazed
valuation S256.61s3s9. He contended that it
unjust, and that the amount could much more
justly be placed upon New York. Mr.. Truslow in
quired which of the tables presented to be
al and HOY far he NJ the ROor
extended in adding to or reducing valuations.
POWERS THE BOARD.
Assessor Briggs in reply, read opinion Of the
Attorney General or the question. in which the
latter says substan tally in answer to the
communication Of the 10th inst. enclosing three
proposed tables Of equalization and inquiring
whether, under the statutes of this State creating
the Board OF Equalization and defining its powers,
the Board has authority to equalize the
of personal property by adding to or deducting
from the assessments returned. as in the case of
Real that upon careful examination OF the statute
he is clearly Of the opinion that the Board has no
such authority. The only power conferred
upon the Board was the authority to in
crease or diminish the aggregate valuation
of real estate in any county by adding deductng
such sum in their opinion may be just aud
necessary to produce just relation between all the
valuations of real estate in the State This power
limited by the letter OF the statute to adj
ment of valuations of real estate. He is of the
opinion therefore, that Table No. l. which adds the
assessors valuation Of personal property to the
| equalization OF real estate, ~ the only method
authorized by the fix the equalization for
| the apportionment of the State tax. and that the
principle applied in the two other tables has no
| warrant in law.
Mr.. John Wheeler. President OF the New York Tax
Department. and Mr.. o. b. Potter. appeared i'll be-
| half of the interests of the city of New York.
President Wheeler addressed the Board at much
| length. He complained OF the State Board ncreas-
ing the assessed valuation in that city $14s 1886 636
over and above what the local value it at
and said they taxed it eighty per of It's valua-
ton. He said the citizens Of that city think they
enough: This year they paid over fifty per
| year they will pay over forty-six per cent. He
spoke OF the heavy burden borne by the taxpayers
that city, and said that though they were willing to
bear their just share of taxation they
the injustice which il was proposed to inhict upon
them. He also paid high compliment to the
economy Of the present management of the city s
MIR. o. B. Potter said he was large real estate
owner in New York. and also farmer in Westches
| county. He found it hard to get money enough to
pay with. He thought the depression OF prop
! erty in New York is four times greater than in
| adjoining counties. He would be glad to sell his
| property ut the assessed valuation.
Comptroller Ocott said the State debt this year is
about $500 900. and tax of about three mills would
pay it. He thought sl property should be assessed
at Its full value.
/
find what the real value.
The Comptroller said the true way for the people
lures, as the whole State tax this year viii be
but s7.600.0O0 of which New York city will pay
about $S.0ooooo. leaving the balance Of the State
to pay only $4,000.000 for the support OF the
State. New York city will not only pay her pro-
portion Of the school tax, but 100000 toward
the school tax of the remainder of the State. He
again asked those present to to the cutting down
of local expenses. and said that since lsG5 the per-
had increased 81, ,2l5 100000.
OTHER COUNTIES
representative from Niagara county claimed that
the reduction proposed by the tables OF nearly
So 600 900 was not enough. the total equalized
valuation was excessive as compared with some of
The Com mittee of Assessors of Rensselaer, county
urged the of the increased valuation Of
sl4 900 laid upon that county. making the total
OF $41,9l3.1S7.
A representative from Washington county thought
the increase of half million added to that county
was unjust and should be thrown of.
COMPTROLLER oLcorrs STATEMENT.
Comptroller olcott said that IL the gentlemen.
when they returned to their several localities, made
rs strong arguments to the local authorities for q
reduction of expenses they made before the Board
for reduction OF valuations there would be no cry
tax and the reduction made in it year
amount to be raised would be but 81, GOO, 900
for all purposes. This the lowest point it
would reach in years, IL at all. OF this aggregate
S3 for school purposes leaving 81 600
~ the amount necessary for the expenses of the
government. New York city furnished 81 100000 Of
the school moneys aud gets back 100000, thus
paying sl.0o0.00o in support of other schools
throughout the State
The Comptroller also recapitulated the taxes
raised in various other counties to show that the
iault OF burdensome taxes not account of
State expenditures, but attributable to exces-
sve expenditures for local purposes.
Messrs. Fowler and Briggs made extended remarks.
showing that In order TO obtain perfect sys-
of equazcd valuations and prevent injustice the
present laws controlling the action and work of the
assessors should DO amended.
The following resolution. offered by Comptroller
Olcott, was lost:-
Resolved That the report made by the
be amended TO leave tho amount to Kings county tho
that fixed by the local assossors aud that the
OF xl $50 in the 20 bo added to
Kings county be distributed pro rata the other
counties of the State
STATE ASSESSORS REPORTS ADOPTED.
Mr.. Hadley en- moved the adoption of the report
as submitted by the state Assessors. and it
ricd. Yeas--Messrs. Mackin, Fowler, Hasey and
Briggs. 4. Nays-Messrs. Beach and Olcott. 2.
The following the additions and deductions