New-York tribune., 1899-06-09
o.-Thst is what you assess It fort Ayes

Q.-Thst is what you assess It fort Ayes.
Q-Take your district. Supposing building sold
for $4,000. would you assess 1t for solooo7 Ar
thought IT would sell for 10000 would assess II
that
Q-Do you consider the property is assessed for
the full value? AIT what the owner wants 70
sell for.
Q-supposing he wants TO SELF Al qualify
that because there are times when person Will
want piece OF property and pay twice what Its
real value is worth. would not consider that
fair value for the assessor.
Mr.. Moss-Here Is an example we nave an
hospital Increased from $4,000 to $4,000. the New
York; city police court stays at the same ngure'
and a public school sl25oo to $4,000.
The ChaIrman-Upon what did you base that IN
creased valuation? Al thought the property
would sell for more than sl2STo
Q.-That property? Amy property
Mr. Moss-The Fire Department IL increased from
$4,000 to 10000; St Marks Church and school
from $50 900 90 $4,000. Have you any Idea In your
mind what governed you in making that increase?
Any judgment.
Q.-Yes, but entitled TO know now that
Judgment operates II operates in such way as
10 Ak values upon which people must pay How
does 1t operate? A.-What properly are you talk
ing about?
STANDS ON HIS OWN JUDGMENT.
Q.-I am talking about property generally. Do
you operate it altogether yourself? A.-Mysef
Q.-Nobody instructs you? A-No
Ono superior instructs you? Al consul,
with the chief.
Q.-The figures that you furnish as they h'iai's
leave your hands, are the figures that stand? A.
The figures that / write up In the recoru oo'n'
Q.-Yes? Ayes
o-Those are the figures that stand? A-fes.
Q.-And they are only corrected by an appear 10
the Commissioners? Ayes.
O.-The Commissioners are not supposed to e*-
anime them unless there is an appeal? Al don
know. -
They don't correct them.
$50 that what the property-owner mas 10 pay
denends entirely on what you put down? A
And, too,- . ...
o.-unterposing1 Subject to appeal? A-And the
conclusions which arrived at after cohsul'.hs
with the chief or after the chief consuiteo with
the Commissioners.
Odd you consult with the chlef ABOUT any VIC
of those values? A.-Generally.
Q.-How? Al Ale a report every week
O.-You file a report every week? A-fes.
Q-With whom? A.-Mr. Bell
O.-With Mr. Bell? A.-Yes. :.
Ole is another deputy like yoursef7 A.-He
Is the chief.
Ole has to govern the entire city OF Now
York? Ayes, sir.
a He has 10 govern the Borough OF Manhattan
the Borough of The Bronx the Borough OF queens.
the Borough of Brooklyn and the Borough Vi
Richmond? Ayes
Ole cannot go out in the field! A-No'
Ollie does not go out In the Held! A.--No
Ole simply looks at those figures that you ana
every other deputy bring in? Ayes
O.-How can any living man examine all those
figures carefully-how he do It? Ale mas
always found time to talk 1t over with me.
O-And II he does II he examines all those hs-
ures how can he really be an expert on reai estate
values? He never corrected any of your hgures'
aid he? Ale talked with me about them
NOT CORRECTED BY THE CHIEF.
Odd he ever correct any OF your figures? A
No.
o-You didn't expect him to correct any7 A.
No.
O-What. you expected him TO do was to keep
Won n line with the general policy of the office!
Ayes sir.
o.-The method OF doing things? Ayes, sir
O-But YOU we're the ultimate judge? A-fes'
sir.
O-Now. here are these books which you say are
Tho only books you have written down in A'-lhe
only books in which wrote the memorandum
Odd YOU carry those books around? A
Those are the books.
o-carrv them around the streets? Although
the whole business and went over every piece OF
property in that section
Q.-You mean TO say you walked thfoueh 'e
district with this book In front of you looking up
at the houses and writing In this book? Al
take one book and clerk another, ana We carry
the maps.
O.-How long does 1t take you to do that? A
From the first Monday OF September until jan
uary 8.
Q.-Dont you think that would be so remarkable
a sight that it would be noticed? Alt has oeeh
noticed many time
7
one here has ever seen deputy going around the
streets with one OF those books.
MR.. FEITNER PROTESTS.
Mr. Feitner-That Is not fair.
O-You really have done that? Al did.
O.-How many days does 1t take you? A.-From
September s. or the first Monday OF September,
until January.
Q-Every day? A.-Didn't carry those books
every day. Carried the books every day until we
covered the district
O.-How many days was that? A.-Three
months-September October and November. and
probably a part of December. After December Is
we then would go out on unfinished new business
or alterations Then we don't carry the books
with us Only on the unfinished work. But for
the three months we carried the books every day
except Wednesday. which Is our office day
Dwell, do you not carry any small memoran-
dunn books as you go through the district7 A.
Nothing but that field book and the map.
Mr. Moss-I think that will do for the present.
Mr.. Fallows-I have just question. Mr. MOSS
Mr. Fallows-During the time that you were In the
field making these estimates did you make any re-
port to anybody? A.-Every week.
O-Eyerv week? A.-Every Wednesday we would
make a report to the chief in writing Of the por-
ton Of the district which we covered
O What was the nature OF that report In writ
ing? "A copy Of the field book with my esti-
mate of what the property should be assessed at
O-Is that filed? A.-With the chief.
Mr. Fallows-Mr. Moss, have you suoppnaed
these weekly reports?
Mr. Moss-I have not.
MIR Fallows-I would like TO see those weekly re-
ports. - ,,, . 49,,
them. -,
Mr. Moss-Have you those reports? A.-No, sir;
they are turned over 10 the chief.
Mr. Moss 90 Mr.. Feitner)-Will you produce them
tomorrow
Mr. Feitner-Yes. sir
MI Moss-Then / will not issue any subpoena.
Mr. Fetner-What district?
Mr. Moss-Covering that district east OF Third