New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-11

He thought that from his position as CITY
Treasurer he should have gained clear conception
OF municipal financial problems. Mr.. Knapp said:
IL am opposed to this remarkable increase In
property valuations in Long Island City, not only
because much property has been valued for more
than IL is actually worth would SELL but because
this sort OF thing In my experience always paVes
the way for corruption and fraud. In the time Oh
the Tweed regime in New-York. assessments were
lower tax rate could be declared and this latter
fact be used political capital. There was be
administration Of the ciys Affairs. OF course, il
full value. 1t would not make much difference. but
where It is only done in few places the people
creasng the valuation Of city property to an ex,
cessive degree great opportunities Tor corruption
orally taken advantage OF. The city. moreover;
will naturally suffer from largely incre req, &c,
called to pay 1t appears to me to be be s grant
nonsense 10 say that the County Board OF super.
suffer.
I'm fixing the pro, rata amount Of The county
must pay. the Board is naturally governed largely
by the valuation put upon the city or town by sne
would seriously Believe the tax valuation Of city
assessors Therefore. | fail to see where Long
Island city Is to escape paving larger amount OF
been raised from EOco.Coo to $2 10000 -. The state
Hoard Of RS has aresdy aHdsd Long 10
Island city Is stuaied) this year; Last year 1t
much injustice has been done to property owners
in the assessments | know of hundreds OF va
os /" for e to M a S'
valued by the Board Of Assessors at from 600 TO
5 ia The Nancy 5 IN M
sSd reCsny for @ ha5 has ,h had amount yauqOn
worth These appear to be fair examples OF nun
Mr. KNAPP said that the Board OF Aldermen gen.
orally have the taxroll ready in the first week In
February and that IL would then be learned wha mat
nish for the expenses Of Mayor Geason's admins
THE ha A rate Sc "a aG wGus
last year and still the tax bills would be a
Under tax valuation OF 100000" said Mr.
Knapp; the city Is now bonded to the run 10 per
not say that Mayor Gleason has increased the tax
vau;. for the purpose OF issuing more city
do say that il the full limit of bond issues had not
been reached by million or two. do not think
valuation. also think that we should take con-
servative position in relation TO making further city
but this is largely in the future. l do not deem 1t
just as it is to become part Of Greater Kew
York 1t Is not likely that the valuation viii be de-,
the other hand, It will probably be increased"
Mr. Knapp said he st that arfs
uations placed upon their property In the courts.
lie said that this l,sa'ion might SERIOUSLY inter
serious deficit in the budget. n the courts de-
cdcd that the city had assessed properly at double
It's true valuation. the assessment would probably
I've cut In half regardless Of what the tax rate was
fixed at. The city has way 10 remedy n def
cit of this kind. Mr.. Knapp said after the budget
Is made out. until the following year. deficit In
n city's budget may affect the payment OF the sal
aries OF school teachers, hremen. policemen and
Other officials
The property -owners Of Long Island City last
year paid In taxes about $4,000
or the amount raised. about 100000 was for state
and county taxes. and the balance was for the ex-
penscs of the city's administration and the pay
of interest bonds and for the contingent
fund. Tho tax rate averaged over four cents in the
different wards. Although Mayor Gleason has
doubled the tax valuation of the city. should he
succeed in having the tax rate decreased In a pro-
portionatc rate. tho property Owners would not
feel that they have so much cause for complaint.
As they not that he will do this. they fear
that their already high taxes will be made still
her