New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-06-27
ASSESSORS IN TROUBLE.
THEIR REMOVAL DETERMINED ON.
WHY THE TAX COMMISSIONERS ARE DISSATISFIED |
WITH THEIR YORK

WITH THEIR TOhh'
The Tax Commissioners, acting on the report made
to the Mayor by the Commissioners OF Accounts, have
decided to remove the Board of Assessors The report
of the Commissioners OF Accounts and the letter of the
MAYOR arraigniDg the Tax Department and the Board
of Assessors Tor various alleged shortcomings and the
reply of both have been printed in The TRIBUNE.
The most serious charge against the assessors was tha'
they had neglected to confirm certain assessments or
work done by the city. and that. "a consequence the
ov had lost in interest alone about 100000 AT the
meeting of tho commissioners on Wednesday PRESIDENT
Coleman presented the correspondence when mao
passed between the Mayor and Tax Department. rel
alive to the alleged faults Of the asst ssors and mov'd
that the latter be removed from office
Commissioner Feitner asked that the matter
be laid over until Monday and this was
agreed 70 There il little doabt, however, that this
action will be taken
The Board of Assessors consists of John A. Lydecker
president and John W. Jacobus, John Mullaiy and
Henry A. Gumbleton. The first two are RepnbiicanS
The Tax Commission consists OF Michael Coleman
president Edward c. Donney and Thomas l.. Feitner
Mr. Coleman is a Democrat. but has never been prom
iuent in any oIganization Mr.. Donnelly Is n member
of the County Democracy, and Mt Feitner OF an
many Hall. Messrs. Coleman and Donnely will vote
for removing the assessors and Mr. Feltner VIII prop
oIv opnose such action. Mayor Grace Is anxious to
have the Board OF Assessors recognized, ana IL Is
understood that he really the power that is moving
fhe Tax Commissioners. Not long ago it was suggested
TO the Republican that would be well Tor
them TO resign and escape removal lhey refused 10
~ President Coleman said yesterday "When |
entered on the duties of president found the com
munication of the Mayor embodying the report OF the
Commissioners of Accounts and the accompanying cor
resnoudepce have examined 1t all carefully, ana am
of the opinion that, while there Is nothing oim'hay
wrong in the Bureau OF the Board oil Asse',oIs' 'ey
have been guilty of negligence Assessment li'ts nave
been mt over from time 10 time instead 81 beng acttn
ON promptly and he result Is that the citv mas ost
large sums in way Of interest the charge against
the property not being legal until the assessments Is
Viii the assessors be removed on Monday r.
IT would hardly he proper for me to say yes, 90
cause nv vote Is only one out OF three but thihH
they will be- .., .,.o;. ro,,o,.l,r
"No not directly. although he wshe. all the depart
me,ts 10 be conducted much possible on business
principles The Tax Department has me power OF APP
ponting and removing the assessors but cannrt inter-
tere with their official acts. But we feel that We are
RESPONSIBLE Tor continued negligence on Their paI anu
tberetore favor removing the present board.
"Wlll the new board like the present one. be COM
posed Of two Republican, aud two DShooratsI 49,
That cannot say. Certain men nave oeen RECON-
n,ended TO ms bat do not know H. cir politics
Commtssiouer Domncliy said - THINK the present
assessors will be removed ] think they have beer
guilty OF continued negligence aud ShaKhs-"p OIL Tie
Eu,eau will do harm.
Messrs Lydecser and Milaly were positive that the
MAYER was the moving power IN ne mater, ana Inas
The intention was to remove the entlrc po''u' insy
denied that they had been Negligent Ia any way f"r
II cir defence II cy referred 10 the communication sent
by President Lydecker. with the approval OF ane
covering forty pages Of typewriter copy sets uih
tbot uTior TO 1852 IN tine case OF asse' sInent nsts
against which interest to the amount oil S-ZfVf- ha'
been charged IL Wa atirbutabc 10 c,t'.'h tlo ~
side the authority OF the board The Ia" oil loSo' II Is
claimed had special reference TO n'1,s"enI' JG,I
rlcted prior 10 the enactment oil tue Ia" ana "h'I
10 reo,ired by it, provisions 10 b. tnaly passed
nnon by the Board OF Revision and Correction OF
Assassin Mt. within six months alter the passage OF
/ tft.ttp I'd
the law the Board OF Assessors coul1 '' c,I,3 II III -
opcratIon and Is stated that although hVe years
have eap-ed since IL enactment cert assessment,
| Ii.,s which were to have been confirmed "Ithh me
nrescribed limit Of six months were not sent 70 tho
board until several years aitetWalu. O,ic'g
never been transmitted, and stu remain VI ihe "ep'I,
ment having charge OF the execution oil the Work IL
l. also asserted that assessment lists nave pVe &c
| Iaycd for wears in the Department oi luohc N"'"s
al so,nctiocs bv adyce Of the Corporation Counsel
In one Instance of this kind the delays amounted to
II IL 400 10 The assessors say that tie pro Tsions oil
the law under which the board was organized are
strictIv followed In proof OF the care WIN ~sn ,ue
80 - Inc office has been done. they say ~ at during
the last ten years the amount ~ assessment f'o,r
and 1isuosod of is over $4,000 OOb nnd although h5
amount was appouioned on several nnhutr, lnouSahu
pieces OF property and involved millions oi SohPuth
M ,o, . an Ole error occurred IN the work OF dis
riutnq the cost Of the Improvement over tho poPy
benefited The charge OF lhe Mayor nm u,,'ns sS
three months prior 20 May the assessors hIFerissu
Lsts invoIvne 67j474 g.. including nearly AL the
old vet important lists while their work during I've
entire year 1881 IN advertising hsla "hy im'uI,,u
srCc o1D 10 il answered by the statement thht inc
Greater part of the necessary calculations ana Pfen
n,rv work was done before the close OF lat wear ms
doc,ment claims that the board made repeated efforts
"a have the Law Department settle the question rs 10
tho nower of the board 10 reduce assessments 10 th"
lair cost of the work In every case affecting the
validity of assessments the board has not i"Iou 10
consnlt with the Corporation Counsel In Inc Attst OF
The Eastern Boulevard and sewers from tiy hinth-si
70 hundred and fifty .iithst.. which with IT'S
b,,nches cost - Os5.D9i 20 Mr.. whitney, thon
Cotporuion Counsel, after thorough ihNcHuRa"h vi
tho cost of the work advised the assessors To MAKE
reduction OF - 20 per cent the object being 10 90
iu.tce TO the propertyOwners. and obtain IA uon VI
yL smonnt expended by the city could be collected
under the circumstances As result OF TINS cn9rt al
The a.sessmeuts Of the Eastern Boulevard ana DOuie-
vard sewers notwithstanding the efforts to save tne
CITY mart of the cost were vacated, ana inc "ho'e
amount lost The document gives long list showing
,vhe,e the assessments were delayed inr 'hilOuS
reasons some by the advice OF the torpoihtioh
Counsel Others by the action OF the controller eto
JLc CORPORATION Counsel said that that he hhh hh-
v;sed the board in cases where qucsiion.lhad arisen
with reference 10 the power Of the board To- perform
certain acts 10 submit them TO the decision OF 'no
courts. A.. a. ..-o.on,
II il understood that the SUCCESSORS to the present
Doard Of Assessors have already been determined on
Jbc name. given are Maturin Livingston, 4. NJ
Uovcrty CharIos T.. Wcndt and Edward Gilon. IL Is
nossible that one OF these may be changed
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