New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04
GREATER NEW YORK'S TAXES
WILLIAM r. ROGERS OPPOSES THE
CHARTER IN IT'S PRESENT FORM.
An UNJUST BURDEN. HE CONTENDS. IMPOSED on
THE PRESENT CITY or w-YoRK-MEANs

y
THE PRESENT CITY or NEw-YoRK-MEANs
OF RELIEF SUGGESTED.
fBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRrpUNE.l
Albany March 3-Tt reported here tonight
that the Republican leaders after they have
damned through the Greater New-York charter,
may also push through act legislating out OF
office the New-York Police Commission This act
would sweep away the present Police Boards In
New-York. Brooklyn and Long Island City. and
put In their place Board OF Police named by the
Governor and the Legislature which would be in
power the territory OF Greater New-York at
the time OF the election Of the first Mayor next
November.
A second hearing given tonight on the
Greater New-York charter. Only one Assembly
man present. Mr. Austin. and only the Senate
members of the Committee on Cities. That is un-
fortunate This charter Is the most important
measure considered by New-York Legs-
lature. and the legislators ordinarily attend hear
ings on matters Of great moment. But since the
Assembly Is not In session and hardly half OF the
Senators in Albany the attendance Of members
Of the Legislature at the hearing was necessarily
small
The chief speaker of the evening was William
r. Rogers. OF New-York. who made forcibe APP
peal to the members OF the Legislature not to pass
the charter in Its present shape, since the pro-
vision that taxation shall be equal in all parts of
the city would increase New-York's taxation to the
BrOOklyn'S
TO the same amount.
In opening his address Mr. Rogers said he desired
first 10 submit n written protest against the char
ter on behalf Of the New-York City Fire Depart
m emit In his argument tonight he would conhne
himself particularly TO the matters OF assessment
and valuation. Appearing on this question for the
Union League Club. he represented organiZa-
ton Of men representative OF the progress, in
teiligence, business activity and public spirit of
the city OF New-York any body within It's limits.
They were therefore entitled TO consideration.
The matter OF assessment and taxation, ne said.
had been very lightly treated In the report OF the
commission Notwithstanding the fact that II was
the one subject OF greatest interest to the people
He read the tax clause of the charter and declared
that 1t imposed grossly unjust burden upon New
York City He quoted exhaustive statistics
corning taxation in New-York and Brooklyn. The
assessed valuation of real estate In NewYork CITY,
he said. was H7co,COoCo0 and the value of personal
property S(o00O00O The tax rate was 81 IA on each
Sl"' and the taxes raised $6.OoOco. In Brooklyn the
total assessed valuation S5ssO00,0cO and the
rate varied from 50 20 to "a % In different parts of
the city, an average Of 81 60 This was upon an as
sessment of Is to 50 per cent
Let me correct YOU" Interrupted Senator Nc
Carren. I'm no case has 1t been over 70 per cent
OF the value"
Il am prepared to demonstrate If you will per-
init me- that it is more often so than it is 10 per
cent" was Mr. Rogerss reply
Rogers placed at S5j5OOOOOo The Joint budget
of the two cities $50 $4,000 Upon the basis of
the assessments of 1896 New-York share of this
Joint budget would be $50 SS7 900 and Brooklyn's
%'S2o"o This was an increase Of about 5000 0O)
for NewYork and a decrease Of 100000 for
Brooklyn. With all the improvements I'm the An
nexed District, he believed that the increased bur
den upon the city Of New~York would be 100000
Ihese hgures, ne said: were frankly admitted by
the Brooklyn Consolidation League and 1t was
alton that Brooklyn was TO escape some OF her
Mr. Rogers suggested as a relief from this alleged
unjust sb burden upon city nat each bor
bursement; This system he said he had explained
in detail before the Commission. In, closing he
suggested that there general sentiment
against the proposed measure In New-York.
pon eI the dS not to be when the people
But that was merely an expression in favor OF
Would you Ike to have them vote AGAIN.
81 wish we might vote upon this BILL" answered
Il am perfectly willing that you should have such
Mr. Rogers then spoke Of the political possibilities
OF the concentration of so great proportion Of the
was quite possible he said, what had happened
would happen again, and that the great city might
I'VE may get another Tweed. Kelly or
Croker, he said. "and such possibility is worthy
your serious consideration"
Asked why 1t was that so few appeared to op-
pose the BILL he said the question forced the answer
Whlcn ne Dlusned 10 give, mat IL appeared use
less as everything was understood TO be cut and
dried.
George VI. Pinney. secretary Of the Greater New
York Commission, In reply argued that Brooklyn
and Long Island properly. when improved. would be
able to bear heavier taxation and thus New-York
in the long run would not suffer from a tempo
rary increase of taxation
Mr.. Pnney asked how 1t happened that a
payment OF 10000 annually was guaranteed to five
Brooklyn newspapers for the publication OF the legal
advertisements OF the Borough OF Brooklyn. and in
addition to be paid for publishing the adver-
semens Of bids for supplies in all parts OF Greater
New York He replied that this appeared 10 be an
error and IL so he had no doubt the Grea ter New
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