New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-11
EVERY HAND AGAINST HIM.
THE TAX COMMISSIONER HAS HIS
TROUBLES.
TIE &c THE BUTT OF THOUSAND COMPLAINTS
FROM CITIZENS WHO WANT TO hs'ArH
PAYING THEIR DEBTS TO THE CITY-EAsY

FROM CITIZENS WHO WANT To hs'N'H
PAVING THEIR DEBTS TO THE CITY-EAsY
CoNsC1rScEs OF THE DODGERS"
Slim. ~. Greater New-York charter has been the
subject OF SO much discussion the question: u AKA
tion has assumed a great Importance ana awaK-
cned n more intense interest thnn ever belore III
the minds of those who arc residents OF 'he s'ea'e
city There is public question 'ha' appe"'s
more directly 10 the intelligence OF peoP'c vi
means than the subject OF taxation an" yet
strange TO say, there Is perhaps no other supJec'
Of public interest which Is so little UNDERSTOOD
even bv those who are directly interested rs INC
laws which regulate and govern taxation.
Nor is this ignorance of tax laws conhned eA-
clusively TO propcrty-owners. for 1t Is "eh-es-
tablished fact that many members oil the "s"
profession are lacking In their kho"'e"sc VI
the provisions of tnc tax laws as shipwrecNeu
sailor would be at In an open BOAT anu Will
out compass or rudder OF the latitude IN which ne
g honelessv and heplessly drifting. 1t is this is-
norance OF the local laws of taxation on the part
Of the citizen that makes the duty OF the lax
Commissioners Of most unpleasant nature: one
fu of toll and trouble and endless DISCUSSIONS anu
dissensions Intrusted with great pupic du'y' Oh
the faithful performance OF which uepchua NV
ability of a great city to meet its opngatohs' pr
serve its credit and protect the lives ana properly
Of its citizens one would suppose that IN MAKING
an honest attempt to discharge that duty ia''h-
f,Ilv and Invariably without fear or favor. the
,rav commissioners would receive the support OF
that class Of peoplc most directly interested IN the
noace and welfare OF the city but alas such Is not
the fact.
NO PLACE FOR SWEET WORDS
The tax gatherer was never popular II every
rorson who has entered the tax Office and de-
nounced the public servants therein was arra'gned
before n fury. It would almost block the business
OF the courts Compliments In that atmosphere
are s rare as snownakes in July. and smiling races
would prove as genuine surprise IA sunbeams IN
q bowling southeaster on the Long lsiand coast
Frowns IN founccs and indignation IN cSe-si"SSeS
,rovau To he denounced as a robber is as much
IN. daily experience Of Tax Commissioner as the
frugal luncheon of solitary sandwich which ne
oats At ridday-if the crowd OF visitors VIII per-
mi, II he went 10 his peaceful hreside at night
without having stigmatized as timer at some
time in the day he would bo likely TO endure thosc
compunct.ons OF conscience whch SOMETIMES
am,ct a sensitive and faithful public servant who
FOOLS that for that day least, he did not earn MS
salary.
Of refinement who would shrink from such an eS-
hlbition OF malevolence with horror under ordinary
circumstances can In a public office. with l'steh-
arc standing agape with establishment at the I'M
toward exhibition, give utterance TO language '"a'
4, undeserved and wilfuly ana unJusuhaoiy re-
coo,s u,on the character OF public official who Is
only carving into effect the laws OF the muhlc'-
PATTY. ,,-
But Il Is no. always thus. Happily sunshine
occasionally creeps through the thunder clouds;
ao,oro,arce ia often succeeded by benevolence,
anger by amity war by peace frowns by howers
and denunciaton by appreciation
AN OCCASIONAL CONTRAST.
It Is a pleasant change for public servant to
have bouquets thrown at him instead OF brick
hats The Standardization that causes a Vibration
NJ the tympanum of the Tax Commissioner has
not always a jange. but occasionally there IS
sweeter sound that Is as grateful to his heart as
tho ioyful sound OF wedding bells After the TEN
pest there is a calm. and but for TINS heavenly
change the official life OF a Tax Commissioners
would prove unbearable
And thus this public servant patiently performs
his duties endeavorng to the best of his ability to
raise the money to public obligations to pro-
tect with an efficient police force the home and
the freside; TO guard against confiagrations; to
prevent and suppress epidemics; to Keep clean
streets and bouevards; TO create ana maintain
public parks and TO provide amusement and recrea-
ton 10 all the people
Tho expense Of a large city when properly gov
erned Is enormous and it must be met by taxa
ton Great public works must be undertaken
the nripal and interest of these bonds must be
paid and the credit OF the city preserved involate
II Is the duty of the Tax Commissioners to provide
for these emergencies.
An army OF men Is employed in the construction
~ these public works and In the city departments
and their wages must be forthcoming at thu
proper time. 1t Is the duty OF the TAX commits
sioners to initiate the proceedings which Will pro-
duca this result AS ancient writer once said
ha tranquility OF EatiOnS withou
troops. no troops without pay, no pay without
taxes"
The difficulties which beset the official path Of a
Tax Commissioner arise principally from two
causes The first Is account OF the ignorance
Of the law governing taxation, which naturally
leads q suspicious person TO believe that he Il
either being imposed upon or Disseminated
against The second arises from the defeated
EFFORTS OF the uncomfortable tax-dodger to escape
hearing his lust and proper burden Of taxation. j
tbese two discordant elements could be eliminated
from, the duties of a Tax Commissioner. his patti
would be strewn with roses; but as II Is now, n
walks with barred feet upon road that Hi
herman would describe as being asphated With
thorns.
One might as well endeavor to learn the depth
! Of an unfathomable sea with fshline as Il
| argue successfully upon. the subject OF taxation
with a person who is ignorant OF the first prin
| ciple upon which such laws are founded. You car
| quote the law and the prophets until your throa
is paralyzed, but you can no more convince hin
than you can lift the rock Of Gibraltar with
toothpck.
THE GENUS TAX-DODGER.
The Tax Commissioner is like the hostier who
pul.ng on the end OF halter. but there is a null
on the other end. and he is pulling the other way
and oh, how a tax mule kick! There is
| method In his madness also, for he has selfish In
terests to crafty. He wants TO Swear on" Unde
the peculiar conditions then existing II Is fair I
nresume that he believes with the poet. BE igno
| rance thy choice where knowledge leads to woe"
He will hold chair down by the hour while h
talks in circles travelling around the same foot
worn track over and over again. although Their
are a hundred people outside In line patiently wait
ing TO be heard. To him there is no world outsil
OF himself Argument has no more effect upon hir
than II has upon the back Of the water fowl II
is ss deaf to reason as is the Bartholdi statue. Il
fact the Statue Of Liberty Enghtening the Worl
IL only pygmy In comparison with the voluble gen