New-York tribune., 1886-07-07
Observation-Disclosures
STATE TAXATION NOT EQUALIzED.

THE INTEREST IN THE COMING VISIT OF THE STATE
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
A good deal Of interest is shown in the Tax
Department in the this of the State Assessors
Tor the purpose OF nqurng into the valuations OF real
estate. The Assessors who down from Albany yes
crdav, will visit Brooklyn to-day and return TO New
York tomorrow The action begun In the courts, and
which Is still pending in the Court Of Appeals 10 relieve
the city from the payment OF $500 $50 the excess OF It's
just proportion OF the state which imposed as .
result OF the action OF the State Assessors has had the
effect OF awakening interest In the Hereto
fore the State Assessors made merely perfunctory
examination OF assessments in this city without TAX
ing any pains inform them,elves TO the Just rela-
ton between valuations In New-York and in other
Counties they have regularly made'up so-calIsd table
of equalization" by which tho city would be made to
nearly million dollars in excess OF It's just share
Of the State tax claimed oy the city authorities The
Democrats for ery charged this result OF the bias
Of Republican state Assessors against Democratic city
But tho Democratic Assessors appointed by Mr. Cleve
land when he Governor. have been In this respect
worse than their predeces
Although the city under this method Of equalization"
isI made to pay one-halt the entire State tax, II
has been unable to secure representative the
State Board OF Assessors In the last Legislature ef
fort was made TO remedy this wrong by adding two
members 10 the State Board but IL failed. The terms
OF tho three in oice have expired, but
Governor Hill nominated successor for only one OF
ward committee not approved By the Senate 30
the city finds isel ysaruness the Court Of
Appeals should the decision Of the General Term
in the situation before far rs this state tax
Is concerned. But while the General Term refused TO
afford the city the relief by which sought
the court expressed the opinion that the State
Assessors had not complied with the law In
making a proper Investigation OF the valuations IN
each county and in preparing digest Of facts for the
state Board of Equalization 10 act upon.
The state Assessors required TO visit the counties
TO inquire mo assessments and TO prepare written
digest of facts which the state Poard OF Equalization
is 10 act In equaZng assessments n each county On
the basis OF this equslized table the state Controller
computes the share OF the state tax to DO paid by each
county. The Board OF Equalization is made up or the
three State Assessors. the LieutenantGovernor the
speaker OF the Assembly. the secretary OF stsre the
ursr Last year the Mayor and Corporation Counsel
determined to make an effort TO get this
Board to deal fairly with the eIy. Willard
employed by the Cor pOraOn Counsel TO take charge or
the matter They to work aud secured FROM the
officials In every county list or large NUMBER OF
the trus valuation as estimated by these county ocers
In addition they obtained from each county list o rea
estate trausfers during the prevols year with the
assessed valuation and the consideration named IN the
transfers. These statements all verified under
and formed probably tho most complete table ever
prepared for judging OF the relative vsiustloLs OF rea
In the counties. In Nevfork 1881 trans
OF real with the prices realized aud
the OF assessment In some cases the assess-
exceeded "a per OF the full values In ai-
dltiOn aitavits furnished from large owners or
rea estate and persons familiar with assessments ln
New York giving their knowledge on the subject. o. b
Potter stated that hs assessments IN
we're less than so per cent OF the market value.
while Othsrs made similar statements. The highest
In the other counties, and the lowest 10
New-YOrk as shown by the returns. there be-
Ing sets from some counties were as follows: