New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-08
EIEECED BY TAMMANY HALL.
prRAL TAXPAYERS ROBBED OF A LARGE
SUM

SUN.
,Nns BELONGING 10 THE STATE SOLD TO
NETWORK CITY FOR LESS THAN HALF
THEIR REAL VALUE.
,,,, -,r merriam CORRESPONDENT OF Tnn 1RiBuSEa
Albany. June 6-Thc haysecd- Legislatures at least
,ov,r robbed one portion OF the State for the benefit
q, anothor Yet this is what has been done by the
late Tammany Hall Legislature in providing for the
sole Of 1Os acres on Wards Island fifty acres AZ
scr,,ne's Point. Staten Island, and four acres III
Now prighton staten Island, belonging to the state
for fine pa.try sum OF $40 0OO Two years ago COM
mttce OF the Senate. composed OF majority oil nv
nubllcans and representing Senate Districts on'sue
NJ the city OF New York, declared that these lands
ccr, worth 81 800 900. But Tnmmany Hall sena'
Tor; have no mercy rural taxpayers. anu 'hey
uassel bill to sell the lands for FAR NUN less tiah
that to their own constituents.
Attorney General Rosendac and Controller camp
he'll acting by direction OF the Democratic Lcsisla
lures Of 1902 and 1913. Thursday transferred 'he
lands mentioned from the State TO the city OF New
York The ostensb.e price was 81 ,Ooo,oo" put
senator Cantor. the Tammany Hall leader III 'he
Senate and chairman Of the senate Finance commit
Tee. had provided for certain deductions In payment
Of claim, against the Commissioners OF lmmiSrn'ioh
so that tho net sum (which will so Into the state
Urea sury will be- Only e54 COO. history oil the
lie may as well understand that Ta'nnany Han rules
the LEGISLATURE and intends shear close the go'deh
fleece OF the taxpayers OF The rest OF the state.
In 1900 the Senate appointed Il special committee
TO learn the value OF the land belonging TO The STATE
near Ncw-york which has been referred TO, as Vi"
dty OF New York wished to buy II. among the mem
hers CT this commit,rr were George b. sloan George
T. Erwin, Titus shcari. Charles I. sax,on >. sioat
Fa,sctt, all Republicans. and john {. jacobs Demo
crnt They made Investigation and submitted
rep .rt Oh January ~, 1891, accompanied Win DIAL
for the sale Of Wards Island and the other i'has
indicated to the city Of Ncw-iorh Below i an eA
tract from the report showing the opinion he'a ny
the Senators named, who all signed the report Us W
the value OF the lands:
"In con sIdcring tho question OF selling the property
tho c,mmtter has cnicavorcd through all available
sourrcs to ascertain, as near as prictrapi' It's ''
murket value To this end the gentlemen COMPOSING
the Board OF Commissioners Of immigration. also 'he
Controller and the president OF the Dcpar'nieh' VI
Assessments and Taxation ~ the t1'y OF New-fork,
were Invited TO appear before the committee !" give
information As result of these Invitations three
- the urmlrr, Of the board OF immigration Com
mlssioncrs and the city officers mentioned attended,
the meetings Of the committee. ana eApr"ss"u oPn
ions a SUMMARY Of which l. attached 10 this report
These opinions varied somewhat. but the impression
mnde upon the minds OF the members "i 'h' com
uIt.c wa, such ~ 10 create belief that the iald
account Of the buildings. and other improve
m.nis was worth not less than 81 3oooo'
Taking that figure, then. rs bnsls Ok con'pn'h
lion there should he afd"d not the cost, o"' tue
value. OF the improvements ~ they 'MS' ~ '"' prs
ont time The Commissioners Of Immigration nave
o,undea in buildings aud bcttcrmcats since the lana
came into their possession slisp,693. but 1t Is only
mir 10 s,ntc that all OF these bc,terments are not
worth their cost under present conditions III
crriully considering the mnt,cr. then, the committee
reaches the conclusion that with the peUerme"'s
made by the Commissioners, taking account ohiy oil
the Vcrplanck Hospital the barracks ana the hs'h.
,>ylun leaving out all other buildings, the value Oh
the property, including IL" lnnd can d, 10 re"So'
pbc process OF appraisal be placed at less 'hnh -
,uOvw - a.aOO 900; aud that either the Federal
covcrun,n, or the city OF New-loIk would make
very advantageous bargain we're they 10 p''"m' P"i
chasrrs Of II at these valuations. Indeed IL Is
the Judgment Of the commltt"" that s.'1ooUU Woua
the city Of Ncwfokio pay Tor the property Ill 10
rirr dos not take Into account the lnhd, q, o ~
guinc's Point, which must be- worth ~ icast ~,
report. submitted a bill for the sale of The lands. IN
lbs M they provided that inc proceed, 81 ,sy s%,f
Of a moricagc upon the Wards Island lands amount
in ng % sJS.ooo, which. with he accrued Interest,
srS"a ,soa S rie T u e taS ,hi tia. claims
Of various hospitals IN hr in'eri1r o. ann ,laa '
there was any surplus 1t should be paid into the
siatc Treasury lf ~" lands should he sold Tor
~ 100, 90, the total amount which would come mo
ill., STATE Treasury after all the DEDUCTIONS had Deem
made would b. ~ ,sOo.COo. 49,. A.. ,,
stature having been Stolen by the Democratic party
II was though be- prop'llous fnnnent by senator
Cantor to introduce u Eli proydins for the sale OF
Wards Island and the other lands o. III" STATE 10
The city Of Ncw-N York at much smaller sum. Mr.
Can,ol's III named sI.fOO,0OO rs the price 10 br
paid by city, but the bill also provided that thcr'
should he deducted from this amount by tn. author
Ties Of New York money suiHirnt TO pay ihs mort
rng, of 300 600 given TO ihr Enlcrhnf inudstrin
Savings Bank. with interest from loIo ani nsn 'nr
SIOt,3I7 80 Of claims for caring for Immigrants ny
LoSpals In the interior Of tue State. with interest
from Nav 1876, when the claims were hl'd
:" An that the State will adj 10 the general iund
by the sale Of these lands upon Wards lslana ana
siarn lsiani." said Controller Campbell on Fruay'
will b. about s5iO.OO0.' A..
The BIZ Of senator soon'. committee provided tnni
n lens ,I29 Ol shorld be- added - the general
fund iy The sale OF these Lands cni " ~" nnus ind
sold for 81 800 900. the sum OF ~ .5oooO womb n've
bech added that fund Here is a loss to the state
Of ~ 100000. The rural taxpayer lost II. The tnx
payer In Brooklyn lost II. but the taxpayer oi New
York CITY makes hy the transaction. Ncv'rth",css
the taxpayer Of New York would not ENJOY 'aklng
money oui of the pockets Of his frl0w-'aNmyrr. III
the rest OF the state and II Is to b. doubted " hc Jay
PAYERS elsewhere will permit repetition OF inc robuery
The rural taxpayers do not enjoy being ecce even ny
Tnmmnny Hail. and they will soon show fheir resent
ncnt over this matter.