New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-02
TAX METHODS EXPLAINED.
EDWARD SHEEHY SHOWS THE GREAT
POWERS OF THE DEPUTIES.

EDWARD sHEEHY SHOWS THE GREAT
POWERS OF THE DEPUTIES.
Mr.. Moss-Mr sheehy.
Edward c. Sheehy sworn.
Mr. Moss-Are you one of the Tax Commission
Q.-By whom were you appointed A-By Mayor
o-And when? A-January. 1898.
6-How long did you know Mr. Van Wyck be.
fore you were appointed? ACUTE number OF
0NAre you acquainted with Mr.. Croker7 A
o.-You have known him number of years. have
your ,A.-Yes, sir ., ,,o n.r,oo-.,c
cl 1wom f ad s you frs, speak with or who first
sonsr! 70 Xr Se0 Mayor told one evening
he had my name for consideration for commits
Dad spoken to any ~, one about it befOre'
lions either YOU WITH or hs Or
o.SYou have held property for him? A-No, sir.
Q-What was the Transaction Al held no
o;-what was the Transaction Al acted as a
o.~That was alla Ayes, sir.
do you not now hold property for him. A
o-You do not' A.-No.
Q.--Had you ever been Tax Commissioner be-
Q-Have you ever studied the Subject of taxa
ton? Al have been interested in real estate for
5Ie the is's SUBJECT iTt' fairly r well nave
o.YoS. know.dss Of tsnat0n was simply wha'
Q-And owner of real estate' A--As the
owner Of real estate. .
scription Of the powers Of your Department as Il
be the makes q no nG pb
display. as do the Police, Street Cleaning and Lisht
twenty OF the citizens and with them It's dealings
Are all s yodke a1a ss I'll That Us IN
the sense Of highway robber necessarily It draws
penses sne ot the Do you agree with
that far AWe as far as the duties q The },
TOO STRONG FOR sHEEHY.
at can rob one man and enrich another, and
Do S" you T believe that that is so' XNNo SIR can
You csh3Ot DO it. because it !, on the principle of
Q~You believe equalization is one Of the great
and important duties Of the Tax Department. A
oMDO you know what the principles 4, Of direct
IS to OF direct
o.-Whst-to see IT assessed? A.-To see what
S the in city
Q.-Yes? A.-Equay and Just.
0.-wiih economy A.Nwith economy and In
bottom Of the e the Of Yt ~
basis Of sn that the
9.Now. surprising the Ia! Commi:sioner does
mott % Il % he
some property higher in bic value and other
@a'sR e nf hea ss e5
BY all means
6-Lsrssiy then this is true. that IT can rob on.
man and enrich another It has the PhysGs poSer
could. But you must remember. Mr. Moss. that TN" no
Sn al Any the
made under the Tax Commissioner? A.-They are
OIL know, but the Tax Commissioners are re-
sPonsible for those deputies. are they not? A
o.Who appoints the deputies A-rhe Com
o~And the Commissioners can remove them, can
| they not? A:-On charges, yes.
deputies do not do their duty pfopery the Tax
Commissioners themselves have the power 10 cor
rect It. haven't they? A-They have sir
sHIRKs THE RESPONSIBILITY
$50 1t comes back to the Tax Commissioners
o.-And II the deputies appointed by the Tax
responsibility rests upon the Tax Commissioners
r T9s f sn that ahs HYes can correct their
has Is snG ~ hsf 0T rich
o.-By unjust DETERMINATIONS BY. slothful meth
GS making to tax assa By ana
conscious Of the njustIsses q Which they are none
ments and Taxes can raise rents. That is true.
isn't ~ Ave can't anti raise rents, ,... -, - 49,.
taxes on7 A-Not always.
The .Witness-It is purely a matter of the land
able the e M ias ' biz
ISN'T ne? A-That Is according to his way OF doing
TSa have he s. ys5' apt S a A Ax h.
si apply aisG5%i1atiOns in favor of che
making taxation lower tor them. lower values Il
can do IT, can't It? Alt can't build up business
by lowering taxation. You can only benefit the In
o-You can make its expenses lower by making
its taxes lower It can 60 that cant H. Afes 81
ySa ssS. q Voice &: Il ~ x.. .a
that aus H Fs sha sa Is 70 &c *.
recommended by the Civil Service Board.
o.-Do they suit your Did they suit your An
o'suLLIvAN BOBs UP AGAIN.
Mr.. o'suivan-what do you mean7 The whole
NJ oHAnsxer the question. Can you answer The
Syn o~po they suit you, Ayes from the mode Of
appointment, through the Civil Service Board we
nave oe r. sA epu,y-commissioners2 Ayes sir.
Nav. you any fault to and with them? Al have
moi discovered any yet This year Is the nrst Time
we made any assessment for the Greater New
Soi@Have you any fsul; TO end with their work.
Se". s ssn &c any BEEN attracted to tina.
"S9 t1w ec Is bryan oHara' Do you know him'
Ao-Iwhat business was he in before he YVES ap-
p9 nMaepry A Perry What business was he in
before he was appointed Ale was an old at
taSne gu .ns j McEnroe' Ale has been there
for pumssIF o. Moore1 Ale ha. been clerk in
the s9sra ~ outsnrldsei A-A very good man.