New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-19
THE DUTY OF THE TAX COMMISSIONERS
PRESIDENT BARKER TELLS WHAT THE MAYOR
SAID TO THEM LAST SATURDAY LEVY
\ uIGIIEE WITS YI.AE

SAID TO THEM LAST SATURDAY LEVY
NY BE HIGHER THIS YEAR.
Mayor Strong had :ong interview with Tax Com
m!.sioners Barker, Sutro ana Wells on Satlrd ~
last. and the report was circulated that the inter
view for the purpose ~ recognizing the TAX
Department. The impression went tia, n
wholesale removal of employees was 70 he made
The present employees went 10 IA lying their fr,on Is
to their support. and new applicants for Places
poured in yesterday upon the Tax Comniss oners
until they thought they were going to be mobbei.
Presden, Barker, when Spoken to on the subject
said that consultation az 10 removals or ap-
pointments had been held by the Commissioners.
The work Of the Department; being OF ''ich deli
cate and responsible nature the Commissioners VIII
naturally move wiki great care. and only after
much thought. and IN no case until after the WORK
for 1895 has been completed The books Of record are
now being prepared. and Will be delivered T. the
Board Of \ Germen on july l. NJ. Barker sIil that
it a mistake to suppose that the conversation
Of the Mayor with the Commissioners ON Saiurlay
was only 10 discuss tho Department patronage
That subject he said. was scarcely touched upon
He added
The Mayor stated to az that it his desire that
the Commissioners should give the most careiul ana
conscientious discharge 70 the dutie. Of their otco
that the laws governing taxation were for al classes
axe AN ana iaAt 1hey aoud be nna hat ,hc
duties were Of the most important cna.aGep FOR
greater responsibilities intrustcd lnasmuch as by
nually raised by direct taxation. suihcient to man.
tain the city Government The Mayor reminded
that. at the best, taxation. ana particularly per
sOnal taxation was unpopular. conse lucnNy X was
the duty OF the Commissioners - treat all taxpayers
withou; dscrlminn ton: 10 follow closely the Jaw.
and to end,av TO relieve x "a IA rs cDrNc!en-
tiols discharge OF our duties would permit pr -"
total value OF personal property in the SKY coul
the state. SHOWN ~ me eqId.HAt .pA tapr
OF 1894 amounted $40 rs .a5. S'lH.@SGlSS Of ths
was assessed In the city IF N"w-l ork alone. i"AV-
ttr balance be distributed throughout tie re-
naming n.ty-nne counties OF the state, and ina,
Notwithstanding the city Of NewYork was called
upon to pay almost fifty per cent 81 the whoie "a
tax il receives credi. on the equalization tin'
for this propOrtionate.y large amount 81 pefS,hdi
estate and u9on which the state collects u tax.
Nearly SOS 900 added to tAe assessed vAue o'
real estate in this city last year. anu STAT" taS
levied upon this equaiZei amour; OF both rea! am
personal property as SHOWN II, M --lud''"i''''
fable OF 1SsD 20 tho amount ~ s. sll.oi1.Gb
The Mayor said that he recognized that ihere must
necessarily be a large falling of IN valuations
me dcp~ession in the business world. and. IN view
81 this taken in connection with an increased *
pendl ture), he prepared 10 meet an increase
lax rate for 1881. He hoped. howeve.. Min r.
viyal OF business was n" promised esnrc'a 10y
OF the large building interest, maj WIN an cll,"h
might be anticipated for ls- The Mayor hri"f5
touched on the possibility . change among en-
moves and eaid that they should DE 90 "c,r WIN
the sole view Of their peculiar htness ana aiap'-
ability 10 the duties which they are - .AiFFr
w. ;nsie,el that the department sAOud De at
,nin,s,nred free from political bias and thai tho
illness Of an employe ehouii not be suborinaiei -
nolticll preference In word his whoie conNefst
ION with us devoted 20 urging SiIlct al
berence to the principles Of good government