New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-15
REVISION OF ASSESSMENTS.
WHAT THE NEW COMMISSION HAS DONE.
A PRELIMINARY REPORT PREPARED BY THE SEC
Neutrality-suspicious. ALREADY RENDERED.

A PRELIMINARY REPORT PREPARED BY THE SEC"
Neutrality-suspicious. ALREADY RENDERED.
The secretary of the Assessment Commission,
James ]. Martin. yesterday finished the preparation
of preliminary report OF the WORK OF that ooaS
because of the improbability of obtaining quorum
for the transaction of business before that Tune.
Edward Cooper one of the Commissioners, is In
Enrope. while George II. Andrews, another men,
her has gene to st. John, New-Brunswick, on ac-
count of his health. Commissioner Allan Campbell
is not well. and will probably go away soon Tor
vacation The other members of the Commission
are John Kelly who generally spends the summer
in Saratoga, and Daniel Lord, jr. John ;. Law
renee, who was made member in the act creating
the COMMISSION, died before the Commission Or
gapized, and the vacancy has never been hlied.
There has been some complaint because the com
mission has not made more progress In lis work.
The forthcoming report will show in detail what
has been accomplished. The commission takes tes-
and decides ali questions in q judicial way, and
there is no appeal from its decision the cases that
come before it. A good deal of time IS occupied In
the printing of testimony aud In similar ways =,
Prior to 1880 the city was prevented from COZ
Iectipg good part of the assessments levied 1or
street improvements by the action OF tne courts ~
comnara,iyely short time previous TO May L, looo.
the courts vacated assessments TO the amount OF
$2.647.O37. That largo sum had 70 Dc sdae aa
then Controller made strong EFFORT 10 pu.
atop to the further vacation of assessments
nv the courts, He succeeded in getting bill
passed by the Legislature in 1880. creating an As
sysssment Commission composed of three repre-
sentatives of the city government ana tae same srt
number representing the owner5 or property Inc
commission organized on July 81 1850, by elcct-
ing Edward Cooper chairman, James y. martin
secretary and Edward B. Dickinson stenogrspher;
Tho commissioners receive So, 600 year eseh and
the clerk and stenographer 81, 800 each: The act
made it the duty Of the Counsel to the corporation
To defend the interests of the city before tho Com
mission, and of his assistants; John A. Beall.
was assigned for that purpose The amenda.ory
act Of 1882 provided that the Corporation Counsel
shouid assign special counsel to the commission.
Torporation Counsel Whitney designated Mr.. Beall,
aud MS salary was fixed at $50. 900.
The commission has only held meetings twice
week II is its duty under the law to examine INTO
all complaints made by owners of property object
ING To assessments for street improvements and to
hear and determine what relief, If any, should be
cranted Petitions for relief had to be filed before
November /. 1880, but an amendatory act was
afterward passed extending the time to November
i. 1852. Altogether 1854 petitions were filed,
affecting nearly all the real estate in the upper part
of the city. On April So 1850, there were unpaid
assessments TO the amount OF $S 4566So nearly all
of which have come before the commission.
DECISIONS BY THE COMMISSION
Decisions have been rendered by the commission
in the following important cases: