New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-03
A GOOD TINE TO PROTEST.
Mr.. BARKER WANTS AN UPRISING
AGAINST UNJUST CITY TAXATION.

NETWORK THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY lA>
COMMISSION SAYS. HAS BEEN PATIENT TOO
LONG UNDER EA ACrIoNs. AND SHOULD
MAKE HER VOICE HEARD
In commenting upon TIE visit made on 4uesua!
on TIE New-York Tax Commissioners %
A,se.sors Adams Heermance and jenkins 10 us
cuss the annual question Of equalization OF
taxes on real estate President Barker sd' ''
day. ,u. toya becn
~ 80 roma we find no bones broken alte' o'l
ANIMAL roundup by the State authoriueS a"I
do not hesitate 10 express my op'iho" III 'sH,.oa
the excitement that has existed as TO increase"
valuations by local assessors, or what We NAY ~
pect from the State IN the coming equt'.%''''
.rLo uholo Question Of increasing the i@h"Oic
valuations on real and personal property 'H.''
a II has been by the State authorizes an -.
particularly against The assessors 0l to tt,o1
IN This civ and adjoining counties, is not ca'1"N
u produce the most desirable results l''e 'F
,,odic increase the result OF fear on the Pt'I u
certain officials who have been. perhaps idu''S -
their administration. and their desire 10 es'"i ''
condemnation Of the Law. Is not the result Vi "I "
telligcn: and comprehensive administration "a '-'
LANGUAGE and intent Of the law for me puIPO9c "a
taxa,ion Had the Language and intent OF the Ia"
been a commandment 10 these SUBURBAN dsSeS'U'
which they had early learned an Fac"Se'' -,
assessing of property. both fe"i anu 49,
would show valuations to-day when wouiu DC an
nnrooch IN .oualization and would not now re-
ouire this spasmodlc effort. as produced Oy 'ie
round robin Of the State officials ana sent no'
only TO each assessing authority. nut 10 me GRIM
tnal prosecuting officer Of each county mtlna'ihs
that a failure on behalf Of the assessors 10 MAKE
valuations that would afford a larger basis Ioi
contributing 10 the support OF the S'Ae ms"
bring 20 the assessor the dire vengeance OF the a"
at has been the generally recognized fact that
while the local assessors in rural districts In oer
ing inducements TO wealth TO settle within the juris'
dic,ioo of their borouGhs by taking the smallest
amOut poSSs a@@regate amount suihcient TO supply
the budget OF expenditure for the wear nave HT
have been to the interest of all concerned. and by
'R Sh np ot the So Of Oca heads Their spasOc
forts toward es ,be G pper f the
lower milestone.
NO COMPARISON IN VALUATIONS
can attempt at comparison is constantly being
made between the valuations and the method Of
assessment in this city and the rural districts
There is no comparison. In this city the assess
nents are made with view to equalization. ana
while the work OF equalization is evident in this
city in the adjoining and in other counties through
out the state no such evidence is assured BY the
results OF the assessed valuation OF property both
REAL and personal. as shown in the hsures OF the
"New-York City assesses for taxes under a law
SeGGu95r to rs are dReS By the
Act. The Deputy Tax Commissioners, as assessors
Which represents. IN their Judgment, the sum fol
which such property under Ordinary cncunlSld
would SELL The Tax Commssone sit IN te Gt
OF The work OF the deputies. as complainants prlhg
ductions OF valuations for the purpose of equaza-
ton such applications AZ. IN ther judgment
''' fhe City Of New-York must be maintained: To
annually as well as the interest on the PUBLIC debt
and about one-haN OF the WHOLE Samount ma MAJ, IS
lister the laws OF taxation 20 that they VII pc lfast
epsTe the weanng and the intent Of The law
problem that has taxed the mna ana fh en6o VI
An @ on 9[ cbie obec to be aane9 in
tsxation A low assessed valuation is, popular but
with an increase of expenditure. low and ana G I'M
taxpayers mutterings and demands for reiorm-ior
change To npust to given s ss o. board
10 hear grievances to revise or sustain their own
Scorrect and just is to ask more than the average
man is supposed to be capable OF performing Inelr
final Judgment is law. unless. perhaps certlorarl
to review the proceedings is sought and the Sohrt
judgment Is reversed.
HOW ASSESSMENTS ARE MADE IN THE CITY
"By the Consolidation Act things different in
this city. The Tax Commissioners appoint the
deputies and annually. when the deputies are
about to begin their field work for the purpose OF
assessing the Tax hnn oS oe not a onS
read to them the law giving power 10 make ,o as
rnissioners to the meaning OF the law, ana me
practice as defined by the decisions Of the courts
Finally they impress upon the deputies the justice
Of equalization of valuations and the rights Of
individual prOpcrtN-OWncr. COncluninE Win d
solemn warning against discrimination and FAVOR
itism: ...o.. u.so, s.orr 70 by Tho
deputies wG befo re COURT judge
completed and grievance day arrives. from o me
Inissioners must sit continuously and hear such
complaints as may be made and reyew the w0rk
must correct the work of assessment. II they IN
'hs5 has Sea Sns eRp%nad the in the
of Of the the STATE aH and IN hence Sy or
and more equitaby is properly assessed in this
city than elsewhere This spasmodic effort in the
adjoining counties. If properly recognized by me
State authotis should bring relief to this city bl
county than in any other county of this State.
EQUALIZATION AN ARBITRARY ACT.
..The equalization by the State Board is
bitrary act The equalization it is called is
upon the basis of the greatest results to the
greatest pull. Object lessons might be had-and
fhey are annually occurring
I've here in New-York have pull, apparently.
Not the least striking Of the statements or adnis-
tha statement made by the chairman that they
proposed to weigh as against sworn testimony 70
common acceptances and The Ike to the , effect
that property bd ,ss o an increase Of It's vaua
tions, The main object the Commissioners Of Taxes
had b In UsT Sa the aw relating to
the Of er lSG nd
opportunity. therefore afforded 10 the visiting
State Commissioners to examine the officers who
mar r G Heermance sounded the keynote Of what
that the people up the State do not think that th.
civ is taxed enough No They never have; and
as long as the taxpayers OF this city remain passive
and nut in no rernonstrance TO the State Board OF
Eoualjzston other than wha: the Tax Commits
eic ners Of this city make then just so long must
they paw an increase OF taxation.
Here is the story of taxation. with assessment
locally and equalization by the State In a nutshell,
and IL rests with the people OF this CITY, who have
feen long-suner:ng and forbearing. TO say how
with almost two millions Of population. has no
voice or pull In the councils Of this misnamed
Board OF EQUALIZATION Its only privilege Is TO
stand and deliver which it actually does to the tune
OF about 80 per cent of the whole State tax annu-
ally.
THE PRESENT THE TIME TO STRIKE.