New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-19
a recent lecture he referred to tax laws as 1.-The
hodge podge of slxty.day Legislatures"

the owners of the same class OIL property IL 10
not surprising that such an unjust ana unequa,
arouse indignat ton and condemnation In the minds
Of all who cxpect wisdom and justice from leg
islative bodies.
THE CASE OF THE WoRKINGMAN.
To Institute n comparison between THESE TWO
methods OF taxing real estate take the case vi
mechanic or a laborer. who, after years OIL toh anu
abnegatlon, finds himself enabled TO purchase d
modest little home for himself and his FANNY u" '"e
annexed district:
At night returning labor sped ,.
lie sits him down he oT aena nS round 81 surveys
While his lov'd partner. boas,fu OF her noaro'
Displays her ceanly platter on the BOARD
In due course. the assessor appears upon the
scene, and after inspecting the laborers numple
home fixes its value for the purpose OF assessment
Such valuation may appear excessive 10 the prouu
owner. yet he knows that It Is less than II cost
him. and he is ,contented ,,. mind ,s
relieved of that burden for another year: ne Is
payer he has contributed his mite the support
Of the local Government that protects protects MN ana MS
BUT suppose the matter did not end there? sup
pose he assessed for s., 800 on home for which
after compelling him TO make a sworn statement as
to the price he paid for Il. should adjudge thas ne
ence between the amount fixed by the assessor and
the cos, OF his home what would be ms Ieelnss
great hardship and oppression? He would be fort
innate indeed he was not then SomPe Gd 70 p sa
under ordinary circumstances. but for what II
would bring at forced sale. which always means
II every laborer who owns his own happy lite
IN this ib sfs to m ga IA o @ hee Wnd
be few such homes for the taxes would grlnd 'ne
return to life that had become repugnant 10 hiin
ard rear his children amid the undesirable sur,
tenement district. where dreful temptations would
constantly surround them
TRIPLE CRIss CROSS.
The assessors Of this city then have to meet this
bewildering condition of affairs
Firs,-Many persons are complaining that the real
estate Of corporations is assessed at its actual
value.
Second-The corporations complain that their real
estate ia assessed too high. ,., .n. oil t,s
Thirc-The State assessors complain that al inc
real estate in this city is assessed TOO low ,o.,o,
me f-st cass is ciamoring for an investigation
The second class is threatening to take It's caplta
elsewhere, while the third class Is threatening 10
There are on lie assessment rolls OF the Tax De-
part:nent for this year nearly seven thousand cor
poIation domestic and fores and n0sT Ta s'6S
corporation owning real estate that Is suoleer 10
and not Cor the assessed value as private owner
would he. , .o,
To secure tho necessary evidence OF such actual
value corporations In making their annua sworn
statements to the local assessors, are required 10
give the following information
state the cost OF your real estate
State for what amount your real estate is car
ried your books as an asset =,
state assessed value of your real estate" o,-
The gross assets OF corporation also appear
upon the same statement subdvided as follows:
Pc. ..Psgfo e.ta, property
Tbs sum OF the latter two items makes the gross
assets. -, -. . ,..o,
whether the real estate of corporation is included
in the gross assets at its cost price or az IT'S as
the assessed value only included then the differ
ence between the assessed valuation ana the cost
dad
assessabe value OF the capital 70 tina. extent
WHAT is ACCOMPLISHED.
It will thus be seen that the charge that the
actual value OF real estate OF corporations Is not
assessed has more foundation than castle
built On air. 1t is such unwarranted assertions
that poison the public mind "A little fire is quickly
trodden out. which. being sufferd. rivers cannot
It has been alleged that If the names Of those
on the tax isi a large addi9n to the eI1 Eos
would be thrashng old straw That idea has oeen
followed out before and 1t resulted WITH ro, rev
list Of names from whom nc. tax could be collected
Is It proposed 10 put tariff upon dancing! ,hoso
Ri aFFs 5 @n0f % gSfSs Thsy i've that
sprngtme OF life which Byron refers to when he
says:
On with the dance! let Joy be unconfned:
No sleep iii mora. when Youth and Pleasure meet
They have separate estates which the asses sSer
parents. Many of them are sill! students at col,
tax lists and have been for years
While the Tax Commissioners openly declare that that
will add TO the list of persons subject TO personal
taxation, 1t Is an unquestionable fact that no new
tenn Of taxation. The ground has been gone over
so thoroughly that every conceivable plan has
f 3Ss9 It F viii pr 9S SS5 S little fruit
One wise citizen lately approached app G0mm an
Original conception, and that was to copy every
al the tax Office and swear Off" Under his sys-
s [en Tv in this RSC city was to e assessed
But he was met with the interrogatory: Sup
Se t tax an be @ey hsys no y TO
appear at the tax office and swear OFF, Then
assessed would be included in the assessment
rolls certified to by the Commissioners to me
BOARD OF Aldermen, and upon which the tax rate Is
based. This would result in a serious financial com,
rlicaton, for large deficiency would have 10 DE De
one further suggestion TO make TO increase the tax
M aGG Ri hd to Da and the on
the tax lists there would still be the cry:
Well whites l a begsar will rail-
And say there is no sin but TO be rich;
To- say here is no vice but beggary
There /. no county in this State where such
honest and determined efforts are made 10 en-,
pcrsona property as are made in this county.
Outside this city there is no concerted effort made
districts Net such thing as personal taxation is
comparatively unknown: h hs do ao TAX country
NOTHING ESCAPES THEM
II New-York city dog is to be taxed the State
taxing officials come bouncing down hitherward
and not only insist that the city dog be taxed
from the tip OF his to the tip Of his tail. but
demand that his feas be taxed also. IL they could
only get a city dog once freed they would make
the Tax Commissioners tax his bark or threaten
indictments,
II the grasplng hayseeds should ever develop
into observing naturasts the fate OF the greater
city would be sealed inevitably. for they would
discover how bOundless the limits of taxation,
NOT only so far az II affects the inhabitants of
this civ but 80 far also as II affects the in~abi-
tants or dog
So naturasts observe a hea
Has smaller neas that him prey;
nd hay smaller still to bite eu
And so proceed al innnltun