New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-11
JUMPING ON GLEASON.
LONG ISLAND CITY TAXPAYERS RAISING
A STORM OF PROTEST.
THEY CHARGE THAT THE VALUATION OF cIry
PROPERTY HAS BEEN INCREASED WITHOUT
WARRANT AND THAT INIrsT DIsCRIM-

lhEf CHARGE THAT THE VALUATION OF CITY
PROPERTY HAS BEEN INCREASED WITHOUT
WARRANT AND THAT UNJUST DIsCRIM-
NATION HAS BEEN PRACTIsEp.
The action OF the Board of Assessors of Long
Island City in raising the tax valuation of prop
erty In the city from sl7,OOOo00 to 81 V,l 900 has
caused protest from the taxpayers more pro-
nounced. perhaps, than the city officials have ever
heard before.
The taxpayers Of Long Island City seem inclined
to place all the blame for the increased valuation
Of their property on Mayor Gleason. They point
to the fact that when mayor Gleason first In
structed the ciys Board of Assessors to increase
tax valuations James Davren. one of the most
influential members Of the Board and "a large
payer. sought to dissuade the Mayor from carry
ing out his plans. Failing In this he promptly
sent IN his resignation. In fact. Mayor Gleason
has at time sought to evade the full RESPONSE
bility for increasing the valuations. Neither does
the wrath OF the indignant taxpayers appear to
worry him any. The invarable reply which he
has given to all who have asked what was his
reason for increasing the tax valuation OF the city
Is that the readjustment of tax values was made
necessary by what he terms the loose unjust and
discriminating business methods pursued by the
preceding city administration. lie insists that
large corporations doing business in Long Island
City, as well many favored individuals, have
escaped paying a reasonable amount of taxes In
the last few years because OF a too low tax valua
ton being put upon their property. Mayor Glea-
says that he means to stop all this and to
bring these corporations up with IA round turn.
Many citizens. however assert that Mayor Gleason
has not confined himself to the corporations. They
say the assessments have been increased we'll on
comparatively small holdings. they assert. in an
apparently extraordinary degree. The majority or
the citizens OF Long Island City do not worry over
the increased valuation Of the property Of corpora
lions They think that the corporations are able to
pay the Increase but in advancing the assessments
on little homes the people OF Long Island City believe
that the Tax Board should go cautiously 20 work and
should make innovations slowly. The taxpayers de-
clare most emphaticaliy that Mayor Gleason and MS
Board OF Tax Assessors have used no discrimination
in increasing the tax valuation OF properly from w.
600 900 to so O increase OF about 40 per cent
They have held Indignation meetings in different
parts OF the city and threaten that the end has by no
means been reached.
One Of the leading officials OF Mayor Cleasons ad-
mnis.ratlon said recently that the present hue and
cry against the Mayor or account OF the Increased
valuation OF property would entirely die out next
spring. when the people receive their tax DIS lie
said that they would then learn that their taxes are
no higher than they have been In other years as the
amount paid In taxes depends the tax rate as
much az the assessment OF property. The onicial
admitted that the assessors might have made mis-
takes in few instances. but that, as the Board set
aside certain days hear applications for readjus-
men,s Of values any owner OF property could go be-
fore the Board and have errors rectfed He said he
was fully convinced that in all cases where errors
had been made Assessors would cheerfuly reduce
the assessments.
The official said that the talk about Mayor Glea-
son desiring to raise by taxation n much larger
sum OF money than before 10 use in the ad-
mnistration OF the citys government was wholly
unwarran,cd. He said that the amount OF money
10 be raised by taxation depended. 80 far as II re-
lated the cys affairs. entirely on the action or
the Board OF Aldermen in making out the annual
budget In which are included the amounts set aside
for the yearly expenses Of every Department OF the
city government. The tax rate must depend. he
said Oh the appropriations in the budget. AMI
neither the Mayor nor anybody else can legally
raise by taxation larger sum OF money than TIE
budget calls for The official insisted that, no ma
ter what the tax valuation of the city should be
placed at, the taxpayers could not legally be com
PEELED to provide larger sum than that appropr'-
ated by the Board OF Aldermen In the annual
budget for the expenses OF the various city Depart
ments and TO pay the State and county taxes
When asked II II were not that the city
would be called upon 20 pay larger amount
Of State and county taxes on account OF the IN
creased property valuation the official said that ne
thought IT would not He said that the state
Board OF Assessors fixes the amount o' the State
tax which each county must raise. and that the
Board OF Supervisors OF each county then decides
what part OF this amount and Of the county tax
each city or town In the county must pay. lie did
not think that Long Island city would he called
on TO pay a larger sum for state ana county taxes
because it's tax valuation had been Increased
Lucien Knapp. city Treasurer OF Long Island
City and a manufacturer OF brass goods at NO. .
Frankfort-st New-York. Is opposed to the Increase
in the valuation OF the citys property. When seen
by a Tribune reporter Mr.. Knapp denied being op-
posed to Mayor Gleason's ideas on political
grounds He said hat ne had attended some OF
the meetings Of the taxpayers 10 protest against
Mayor Gleason's act because nc had been invited
10 do So He added that. at these meetings he had
not In his speeches referred TO politics. hut had
confined himself to talking on the citys finances.