New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-24
WESTMINSTER COUNTY.
THE GRAND JURY INDIcTs ASSESSORS
IN NINETEEN TOWNS.
rrs pREsENrMENr REVEALS sHoChiNo
xrc,rc-r OF DUTY on THE PART OF
OFFICIALS IN FAILING TO TAX


NEGLECT OF DUTY on THE PART OF
OFFICIALS IN FAILING TO TAX
PERSONAL PROPERTY.
The westchester County Grand Jury af'er IN
vestiga,ing thoroughly the acts OF the Town as
SCISSORS in making their assessments mace i's pre-
sentiment yesterday to the Supreme Court at ""i'e
Plains Justice Keogh presiding The preseh'ihe".
elbows wanton neglect of duty and disregard Oh
law on the part OF the assessors OF most Vi INC
towns in the county and it accordingly indicts
large number Of them. Justice Keogh comph-
mented the Jury. and said that by us WORK IL IA"
made the whole county Of Westchester us oeo'o'
The presentment is in part as follows;
~ , mc o r are in respecs 10 the assessment Of
personal property for purposes OF TAXATION, ma
ssble with neglect of their sworn duty. so entire
and continuous violation of the law uesuoyine
Completely the intent and ptrpos Sc Oh tle a0t IL
ing personal property. In only three towns or H t
fwenty-two In the country do we hnd iaitn ,ua
effor; at compliance with the letter ana s S.n
of the law notably In the town OF North Sa t.
on the other hand there is abundant evidence
hy the testimony OF assessors themselves that
many assessors either through incompetency OF
ton OF their office never 10 nave reau .ie ."
or o' - have informed themselves Of its contents.
va who admit tina, they are absolutely ignorant
OF what the law constitutes personal Pp',aiii,,
ihrourhout their term OF office. in some instances
covering a period OF twenty-five year; ,ba,r az
sworn statements to the cor1e' M in Compliance
with the law. ,,,.s % wes.
We find that there are many RESIDENTS ol w a. a..
chester County who in the open ana e'eiN u"s
enjoyment Of species Of luxurious "eati fer ,beT
Yachts fast horses costly equipages, kept ior i'm
own Individual pleasure and enjoyment t iii
neither to their business nor livelihood Wlch VI ~
classes of property certainly should bear i's Sar
taxation bur which. on the other hand' Is en''e"
overlooked by assessors 81. ...oro; rron-
In the following the ratio OF persona, ~
erty 10 real estate is less than per cent pe 3m
Mount Vernon East Chester, North Caste au IN
Rochelle. In contrast 10 these ma! De y ner cont
~ North Salem, in which the ratio - 81 Per cent;;
Taking the entire county OF Westcnestei 90 e, go
assessed valuation OF property for 1870 Is
OF which s9a Opo is real estate. neine "" PER on,
and 81 2IS 900 IL personal property. being 50 ner
The latter is ~ by eco taxpayers being the totai
number OF all individuals partnerships ana coipo, ,
atjons assessed for personal property ont OF pop'
iation of 5000
The Grand Jury in conclusion presented 10Y u III
dictments against one or more OF the asse9So a.,
each of the following towns. directing that Inc Ds
tr,ct-Attorney institute civil proceedlhss as h,rs
them Bedford COriandt. Fast hes,eI' ~. Ver
tJarrison Mamaroi.eck. Mount Pleasant. Noun VI
non Newcastle. Rochelle. North
non exieboro Pelham Poundridge. Rye. Scars
dale White Plains and Yonkeis.