Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-24
On This Tammany May Have Trouble
With Brooklyn Allies.
LATTER WANT fHE COMMISSIONERS
1t is a Vital Matter From a Finan-
ciaI View Point.
PATRONAGE FOR MIR. PLATT
pecial Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star
NEW YORK, December y. 1897
1t is said that the policy of the Brooklyn
leaders now is to let everything else go If
they can secure control of the tax and
| finance departments of the consolidated city
They got the controller, and their success
has encouraged them to believe that they
may finally name majority of the tax COM
missioners. The control of the tax depart
ment is of vast Importance to property
owners and all kinds of business and finan-
cial interests in the boroughs of Manhattan
and Brooklyn.
The charter directs the tax commission
ers to eQualze assessments throughout the
territory of the consolidated city, and this
concerns property owners more than any
other feature Of the new government. The
commissioners and the deputy commission
ers who make the assessments are in real
1ty the sole judges of the market value OF
rea! estate. The Brooklyn politicians are
backed up by the taxpayers and many
strong financial influences of that borough
In their efforts to get control of the taxing
machinery of the greater city.
Ihey are making fight that has already
embarrassed the Tammany leaders. and
mas caused much delay in making a final
slate for city appointments. Very strong
influences in the borough of Manhattan
have been brought to bear upon the Tam
tax department on this side of the East
river. The Tammany leaders realize tina,
they must control the tax machinery If
they are to approximate their ante-elec-
ton premises. OF course they disclaim
any political reason for wishing to retain
control of the department, and place their
action upon the basis of protection to the
property owners of Manhattan and Bronx.
Why Tammnny Will Object.
A glance at the situation will show why
Tammany is not likely to let Brooklyn,
whose tax rate is very much higher than
the local rate, have the say about the
equalizing CT the taxes. The next tax levy
must be uniform throughout the CONSOLE
dated city. That is, the rate must be the
same In every borough, and the basis of
assessed values the same. The Brooklyn
politicians and taxpayers expect to obtain
a double reduction. lower tax rate on
reduced valuations. In order to Obtain this
immense practical advantage for that
borough from consolidation, it will be
necessary to raise valuations of real estate
in the boroughs of Manhattan and the
Bronx to 80 or 50 per cent of its market
price, and also fix higher tax rate next
year. The increase of valuation for taxi. &
purposes and an increased tax rate opera lie
TO reduce the market value or actual selling
price CT real estate. The adjustment and
equalization desired by the Brooklyn poll
tlclans and property owners. if accom-
pushed, would at once increase the market
value of real estate in that borough to the
extent of millions of dollars. and cause a
corresponding depreciation of values on
this side of the East river. 1t is not likely
that T2mmany will permit this, with the
net result that there will be more political
sore spots and more knives out seeking for
a weak spot in the tigers armor.
Rapid Transit Problem.
The question of rapid transit still agitates
the New Workers. Your correspondent re-
Gently called attention ~ tho 70 tb,f o,-.r
third of million dollars had been ex-
pended by rapid transit commissions in
connection with this underground work and
connection with this underground work not
spadeful of earth turned, not stick or a
stone or an iron placed in position This
expenditure of a third of a million dollars
only illustrates the size of New York on
erations. the lusciousness of the plums that
await Tammany and the METROPOLITAN
method of doing things. In a smaller city
the expenditure of a third of million dol
lars without visible results would call for
emphatic protests on the part of the peo-
pie. 1t would produce a political reyolu-
ton if it did not produce mob.
One OF the papers opposed to the rapid
transit project several days ago discovered
apparently for the first time this waste an.
contained an arraignment of the rapid
transit commission for spending so large
an amount of the peoples money and pro-
ducing nothing to show for it. They are
The members of the commission are not al
lowed a salary, ii was also explained. but
they vote themselves 5000 apiece with an
alarming and frequent regularity. The
law, it may be mentioned in passing allows
the commissioners "a reasonable compensa-
ton, but it would seem to have been wiser
and cheaper to have arranged for paying
the commissioners salary. Up to the
present time the rapid transit commission
question seems to be chaos COMPOUNDED"
Sa,,,,n,
Senator Thomas C. Plat is busy arrang-
ing his slate of names of republican mem
bers of the various boards and commits
sions, but it is not expected they will be
announced this week. 1t is, of course, de-
MED that any understanding exists between
Richard Croker and the senator whereby
the latter will get all the republican pat
ronage, yet Chairman Quigg hints at the
same thing in another way. 1.-The repub-
lican organization al the proper time he
says, will submit the names of the men