New-York tribune., 1897-08-19
TART TALK ABOUT TAXES
STATE COMMISSIONERS MAKE AN UNEA-
PECTED VISIT HERE.
pprs,nrxr sARKER DECLINES TO HAVE A FOR
NAL TALK IN PRIvATE-THE OFFICIAL

pprs1DrNr BARKER DECLINES TO HAVE foH-
MAI. TALK IN pRIvATE-THE OFFICIAL
HEARING TO BE on AUGUST 81
President Barker Of the Tax Department was
sitting in ms Office about noon YESTERDAY VINE"
the three State Tax Commissioners walked III
unannounced and sat down with the evident in
tentior Of having a talk. The three Con'ihis-
sloners are Martin Heermance. of Poughkeepsie'
Edward /. Adams. Of Elmira. and Rolin L.
Jenkins. of Moriah. Mr.. Heermance usuaii! does
tho talking for all three. and he began the talk
with Mr. Barker yesterday. Mr.. Barker eH-
nressed surprise that the Commissioners had NOT
announced their coming.
I'VE have the right TO expect the coartes! o.
beng informed l.. advance of your oihcia Visn
he said.
MIR. Heermance said no discourtesy was ihteho-
ed and the Commissioners merely wanted u
have a talk about the local taxes ahd assess
merits 1t is the duty of the Commissioners "
visit the local department after the assessment
is finished examine the work and make rePoi'
10 the State Board of Equalization which 10 ~
decide IL the local assessments should be IN
creased or diminished Heretofore IL mas oee'i
the custom of the State Commissioners 10 give
notice to the local Tax Commissioners OF an IN
tended visit 80
"1 canno, consent to have a formal talk with
Won now" Mr. Barker said. because my fellow
Commissioners have the right TO be present al
such q hearing. Mr. Sutro has gone East on MS
vacation. and Mr.. Wells is not here now al
though he may be in the city. When we nave
our formal talk it must be with my feiiow-Com-
missioners present, and in public.
Would you want newspaper men present.?
asked Mr. Heermance.
"Certainly if they want TO be here. was MT
Earker's reply, "for our formal talk may he OF
interest to the public which gets its knowledge
Of affairs through the newspapers Some OF the
taxpayers might want TO be here also
I'VE don't want reporters present al the near
ing" xo,,,so 90 .o,x
business with you alone or to recognize thIs ds
an official visit. in the absence OF my coHeasues
We have been expecting for long time 10 get
warning of your visit. and now you nave coiie
here and found me alone
I'VE are willing that you shouid talk LOT the
other Commissioners.
"Weu. | might do that if they were present.
and l probably will when they are mere put n
am not going to talk to-day except in an unofil-
Cal way" ,.
MIR Heermance said the State Commissioners
did not want too much publicity just now, and
he spoke of some things which had been pub
lished as having caused too much excitement.
Among other things he mentioned the recent re-
port that the local Tax Commissioners had been
threatened with indictment for fallng 10 III
crease the valuation of property for taxation.
''Who was responsible for that story? MT.
Barker demanded
"Oh we only sent circular to the Dstrict-At-
torney calling his attention to the law and ask
ing him to enforce it -,
''Oh YOU did? Then you admit that you tried
TO get us indicted? Well the attempt failed,
and now If you have anything 10 say about the
way this Department is conducted you just walt
and say it publicly.
There was some discussion about time TO be
fixed for the hearing and at length IT was set for
Tuesday August u. at lO a. m MI Barker I saIo
that was late date in view of the fact that
n would leave little time for report upon the
New-York City assessments. perhaps anything
said at the hearing will have little erect on the
report anyhow" he suggested.
We'll perhaps not" was the reply