Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-27

New York city has q larger number of i'm
portant Offices to ell this fall than ever before
In its history. Besides President and Vice
President 1t has an increased representation in
Congress-is greatest chief and an associ-
ate judge Of the state court Of appeals, greater
hst Of assemhlymen than at any previous period
and IN the field Of county and municipal poll
tics the following: A mayor, a register, a
county clerk. an additional surrogate, the presi-
dent Of the board of aldermen and city Judge.
With their notifications these latter officers
cover the most powerful American munich
Paity. controlling the politics, the business,
the social order of the great city Of New York,
with its million and a half population and
hundreds of millions of wealth. The men elected
will dominate, in all probability, unless checked
by local coalitions and the vote of the interior.
the public affairs Of the mightiest state in the
Union, and through that, possibly, the course
of national affairs during the next four years
Some complaint against any new assessment
that measures the assessed value OF property
might be expected. II might also be expected
that there would be a reasonable number of
cases, in the MANY thousands considered, where
the assessors. however competent, would err in
Judgment The great amount of complaint
against the new assessment. however, suggests
that the board. perhaps in their zeal to pro-
duce an assessment nearer the true value. ~
have gone too .ar in The way Of increase. This,
taken together with the many instances cited of
seeming Inconsistencies gives fair ground for an
earnest appeal 70 the assessors. sitting as a
board of equalization. to revise their work. so
far they can legally do with the utmost care,
80 as to leave a. little reason for complaint as
possible when the assessments finally approved
and spread upon the tax books The great in
crease IN assessments should, however, afford
no occasion for serious alarm concerning the
growth and prosperity OF the city. Provided
the assessment is equitable one taxation
would soon adjust itself TO new conditions and
The needs of the city, 50 there would be no cor
responding increase Of burdens imposed on
property owners The present condition of
Affairs brings strongly to light a peculiarly
which, In the opinion Of some, is a defec, in our
TAX system The rate Of taxation is constant
and necessarily If assessors do their duty. AS
required by law, the amount Of the assessment
Is variable In other communities the rate of
TAXATION Is hxed when the amount of the assess
ment Is known 1t is argued elsewhere that real
estate interests are bette6erved by high assess
meni and q low rate OF taxation than by low
Assessment and a high rate of taxation.
Tho rate of taxation il one more likely to in
fuence person intending TO invest than the
standard Of assessment, although so far as the
actual burden imposed is concerned, if taxes
are. properly adjusted, it makes no difference
whether Il is the assessment or the tax rate tina,
Il high As the legal power of the Commits
noners to lower the tax rate is Questioned the
proposal Of the Senate District committee to SC
amend the law Or to make il possible to adjust
taxes TO this new assessment or any other tina,
may be made in the future seems 70 be timely
and to do sway With what little apprehension
might be produced by high assessment in the
minds Of those solicitous for a continuation OF
The healthy growth of the city.