New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-21
THE CITY TAX RATE.

The tax rate which the Finance Committee OF
the Board of Aldermen has adopted Is
legacy from Tammany administration. 1t is the
result Of expenditures ordered by the city au-
thorties last December after they had been de-
feated and had no interest in making TINS year
financial showing favorable The rate agreed
upon is 1.92. which is Is points higher than the
rate last fear. The total amount to be raised
this year by the tax levy AS fixed by the Es'
Board of Estimate is $37, 4769Go to which Is
added deficiency Of about $97O,OOo, an IN
heritance from Tammany, making the largest
tax levy in the history Of the city, the legitimate
outgrOwth Of Tammany rule The deficiency IN
cludes 100000 due to corporation exemption by
the Court Of Appeals. and $4,000 for non-coi-
lectable personal taxes and rebates on taxes
improperly collected. Had Tammany remained
in power the size Of this tax might have been
concealed through Il low tax rate rounded
on excessive valuations. and by keeping up
the old policy Of morgaging the future III
bond issues But instead Of an increase OF
$50, 100000 in assessments this year. the In
crease is less than $140O0OO0 About $33,o0O-
600 Of value was added to real estate, but hari
times and the decisions Of courts exemptng GER
tain corporations from assessment decreased the
amount Of personality subject to taxation ny
about S19,OOO,OO0 BY such factors the tax rate
was fixed Its determination by the present
Aldermen was not Il matter Of policy, but OF
arithmetic.
OF course this tax will not pass without com
plain: That was one Of the clever tricks OF
Tammany to leave the burden Of an Increased
rate 10 its successors. to justify its own boast
for several years that under It's administration
the rate was low. General enclosures about the
actual size Of the levy and Indifference 10 the
debts piled up 50 long as the rate made good
showing were counted on TO discredit Mayor
Strong's administration. The present rate how
ever is not IA high were some Of the rates
under Tammany before the scheme Of swelling
assessments was perfected. IN 1SS9 the tax rate
was 100. and in 1890 it was 1871. But though
the old rulers did entail upon the reform admin
istratiou large expenditures they could not com
mel that they be made dishonesty. The works
which were undertaken by bond issles-the In
terest on which il falling due and swelling our
fax rate-ln the expectation of furnishing rich
pickngs TO favored contractors are being eglli-
mntely carried ON. and the people will get the
full benefit Of their money. The Speedway ana
the small parks i'm the crowded downtown re-
gions are being economically completed. and for
the first time i'm years the wards Of the city are
receiving humane consideration When left TO
itself Taminany had money to throw away
ON the paupcrs and the insane. and appropria-
lions for the Charities Department which would
be of any benefit TO the sufferers instead OF 10
the politicians were spnringly made. Last win
ter the I}onrd Of Estimate saw n great light, ana
gave for charities and correction S24GI.o2l.
They also included IN the tax levy rebates Of
over $4,000 70 The Second Avenue Rallrond
compnny, over $4,000 10 pay The expenses Of
nrnuiring land for Corlenrs Hook PARK charge
which The city contested. hut HE courts forced "
10 pay and mnny other items In settlement of
old mntters with which The present ndmlnlrrn'
ton has nothing 10 DO
II " unfortunate TINT necessity compels heavy
taxation at n time when industries ana Incomes
have not yet fully recovered from hard ilmcn'
but there ~ consolation in this years TAX rate
II is at least levied In fairness Property OF AL
kinds has been equitably assessed, and viii pay
It's inst proportion for the expenses OF me cry.
That is n departure from old methods by which
Tammany put reasonable valuations on property
of its friends and made up for 1t by levying
heavy charges upon small holdings. This was
easy of accomplishment. Large blocks held for
speculation could be undervalued vastly without
discovery. while small buildings could be forced
up almost to rental value, and the owner would
have no redress That system is done away
with. and taxpayers are at least all treated alike.