New-York tribune., 1885-02-20
HARD TIMES AND TAXES.
RELIEF FROM ASSESSMENTS SOUGHT.
SWEARING OFF" PERSONAL TAxEs-TiiE siA'"
TAx-AssE, ,sMENTs on BUILDINGS.

SWEARING OFF" PERSONAL TAxEs-TIiE STATE
TAx-AssE,sMENTs on BUILDINGS
Inquiry was made at the Office Of the lax
Commissioners yesterday as to whether the haru '.'
had made any difference in the number OF persons seen
ing relief from taxation President Ascn said tha1 'no'
apparently hal, for since the tax poohs "o
opened In January there had been steady rush OF per
sons seeking relic ffrom assessments From the number
of persons who had OF their personal 'aAc '
thought that when the books close there Will DC re"
tion this year from the total OF assessor P'iso''
property compared with last.year
A cursory examination Of the books showed that .o
total OF assessed personal property on the opening u
amounted to $3.50. 600 0O0 large share OF who
has already been OFF The total of the aSseSse"
personal valuation last year on the opening OF th'
books was about S225 600 900, which by tho swearing
OF process was reduced to S218 538.74G, reduction Oh
over SGOOO 900. Last year 7441 persons sworc on
their personal valuations, leaving only 1926 persons
who are liable for personal taxes. But many OF those
did not pay. About 10000 persons arc regularly
assessed for personal taxes and about 5000 regularly
Off" All OF the Commissioners agree that the
tax laws for the assessment or personal property arc so
faulty rs TO be almost worthless.
"The result Of my experience, said Mr.. Asten, con-
vnced that great injustice is done by as they
now exist IN regard to personal taxation The number
persons who Off their has greatly increaseu
since the loopholes in the law have been made known
through the newspapers. The persons who can peS'
afford to pay escape altogether. The persons We
obliged hold the widows and orphans VINO nave
had property left TO them which Is on record In the sur
rogac's office and comparatively poor people, VINO can
not make temporary purchases OF Government ponu WI
credit order escape II comes here ana swcars
of mis- we have except to release
Shareholders in banks and some corporations OF
residence, outside the city which they occupy during
the time the assessments are being made ana thus are
enabled that their residence Is not IN New
| York although they may nave n mousse mere ttTttiH
property such as mortgages, IL exenpt Ill adJoinns
States and people invest there instead Of in New York
Many manufactures have been located just outside OF
this city 10 escape taxation In Sew,i9 un az
| though all their business Is transacted mere.
The tax rate this year will he higher, think owing
| to the Constitutional amendment. ana that ~
cep on corporaiions and franchises should be abolished
instead a small income levied all incomes above
$1,000 In that way we would reaeh the persons VINO
now escape, and who can best afford to pay
In 1877 the personal properly ~ the city was assessed
since last year being only 1886 iG But the ratio
of personal assessment is stll much higher In Newfork
ihn where in the state In the entire state inc
sonal property 3 cent Of the total tax In 80
counties the ratio below the average and In y above
| H. In New-York the personal property pays
about G per cent OF tho total tax while In Kings
Westchcster. Richmond, Chemung' ADhny ana olhet
counties the personal ony ABOUT per ce
OF the total tax The greater the assessment on
property real estate the larger the share OF the state
tax by the city. Hence the Tax Commissioners are
careful not 10 assess personal property unless there Is
lected Within a comparatively few years the city has
paid to the state over s3,OOOOOO on personal assess
mciits Wlch proved % De NoltnlcSr iuc IcHut was
that much loss Ia the city.
Last year the Board OF Equalization added about
81 IA the total assessment OF this cy, while
il deducted So 900 from Erie County, the home OF
the then Governor SO6l3 O0OirOm Kings, the home Of
Controller Chaplin aud large amounts from other coun-
ties. csgation made some time ago by rcal-c-
tate showed that the ratio OF assessment real
estate IA NcwIork Ia Onethird greater that the average
throus hon the state In counties the assessment
il oniy twenfyve per cent of the value and vet the
State Board clry adds to the valuations IN this city
for the purpose Of Increasing the state taxes 10 be
paid by the city which average nearly onchalf OF the
entire state In the flush times OF the Tweed Ring
valuations made high IN New York 10 keep dowA
the tax rate aud there has been steady increase IN
the valuation every year since that time. No other
county the state has Ike record but the city. haN
ing no representation the State Board oi Equazaon
Is u able escape from the injustice Of being compelled
TO uay half the state The Tax CoHmi soncr-,
referring subcct yesterday spoke OF 1t as great
outrage.
which follows every increase OF assessments
i'm this Of the reasons why real estate owners
are npdin 80 much fault with the unusual increase In
me real estate valuations this In the lower part ~
the city The percentage OF increase this 10y wards
Is "a follows: