New-York tribune., 1899-06-14

buildings and something 70, equalization. and
Gr ,besa papers ali relate TO the first sse
,ion and he has made all his increases for equal.
Think think Of r that. as COmmissioner? AThere is no
question about II but ;hat ne IA. ,d taken IN thS
e9~But that is stricken out3 A.-That don't ns-
M sa hs asn5 blank II ha 1' BEEN there FOR years
and in order to use them up they simply crossed
out this word and put equalization there on TOP
Q-Then. sir. when this blank. with the word
ton" was COPIED into the field book and the field
book copied into the regular tax book the
ss2HS ss2iiy. 'o' eR"a''A'''O" ''O II wv
DENIES IMPORTANCE OF REPORTS
o-Tt did nots A-Not necessarily.
0-That Is the Judgment OF the deputy7 A.
That blank does not amount 70 anything.
Q.-whst is 1t for? A.-well' only as said D.
o.-well. you tell me this is record OF the ohnc'f
Q.-That is a record? Alt is record as far
the chief deputy Is Sp ,5o deputy IN the field
iS9S he Sns sa. aPF !. the ssE
Q.-Yes; and that judgment having been estao-
o-And these are the original bases for tn. ns-
ures IN the books. aren't they? A--WelL sup
Q.-sure? Al suppose they
OWN you tell how II is that In the entire
Borough OF Manhattan this little bundle Of papers
is oil that remains in your office Of original depu~
ties reports? A-Hs own book Is there.
Q-what? Al say his own hook Is there.
Oils field book 4. there but that was made
up from these? A-Party but not necessarily
though.
Q-These were the bases OF the field book7 49,
Oh, mol
Q-These were the check Of the Department on
his book? A-This drawn should say. nor1
the field book and returned TO the chief deputy.
Q-What was the necessity Of having these re-
ports n ALI? A-That Is customary for deputies
TO report.
Q-It Is customary Of course. but you don't pue
all tina; labor upon the deputy for nothing? A.
No.
Dwell. what Is Il for then? A-To report 40
TO what he has been doing
Q.-And that is the basis upon which your De-
partment can always hold him responsible on his
field book? For instance. supposing his field book
should show a variation. You would have his re-
port there to check IT, wouldn't your A.-Would
have hi. report there 10 compare II with.
Q-Now Will you tell how II is and why II Is
that all OF these reports have been destroyed. cx.
cepting these few relating to two or three blocks
in the first sectlon9 A.-That don't know. Mrs
Moss.
HOW DID THESE SURVIVE?
O-And will you tell me how It Is that these
escaped the destruction? Al haven't any idea
Q-And they are not old blanks because. as the
chairman points out they entitled 'Manhat-
tan" which is a name? Al see
Q.-Prlnted especially for your Department and
your administration? A.-You would have 10 in-
terrogate the chief deputy on that. Mr. Moss.
Q-I know. but | trying TO get near the
head I hate TO go for subordinates who may sayss
I'VE are simply subordinates and we are doing
what We are told 10 do" That is one reason I
have asked you here And another reason. Mrt
Birmingham is dead A.-That is true, too.
Q-Now. you will notice that these reports AIN
refer 10 one weeks work ending December 30
There is a handful of them referring 10 one weekoi
work and ! don't know how much more MI;
Birmingham did in that one week But these al
show for the week ending November 90 and thers
are By actual count returned on those papers 81
plots right down here in the important part OF tho
city Have you any idea. Mr.. Grell. how deputy
can actually go over 92 plots In this importanu
section in New-York and put the values on thsuN
In one week? Al guess he has got TO. forced
to: ne has got to do II.
Dwell now we have n. that whether NM
Birmingham did not. you can't tell. be<
cause his weekly reports all destroyed, except
this bunch. and this shows s92 plots sepa-
rately assessed IN week That is pretty
heavy Job isn't It? A.-Not in the district that
Birmingham had.
Ono? A-Some OF the rural districts are worse
yet. Mr. Moss.
Q-They are. Ayes. sir; yes. sir.
Q-Do you know anything more delicate than the
assessing OF values on property in the lower part
OF NeW-IOpk, Where CriterlOnS OF Value 80 ndfH
10 get where so many considerations have 20 be
thought Of where some OF your deputies have said
values change from year 10 year? A.-Well. you
have delicate questions all over, no matter where
you go.
Q-welI. 1t is a pretty hard thing that you expects
of these deputies, isn't II? A.-WeH, that Is whao
they there for
O-It is a pretty hard thing, isn't II? Ayes,
sir.
HIS LIMITED EXPERIENCE. ,
O-Have you ever had any experience in NewA
York real estate? A.-SOme.
o-What experience have you had? A.-Experi~
ence in private houses and tenement houses.
Q-How did you get that experience? A.-Froua
friends
Q-From friends7 Ayes.
O-Were you In the real estate business7 A.-Nd.
Q-Have you ever been in the real estate bust-
ness7 A.-No
Q-How long you in the brewing businessH
Alive years.
Olive years. What business were you In beS
fore that? A.-Produce
Q.-What kind OF produce? A.-Wholesae.
Q-Frut Or A.-Fruits.
O-Over on the West Side OF the cty7 A.-GanS
sevoort Market and formerly the downtown MARI
ket
Q-Ara how many years you in that busi~
ness? A-Wel, between twelve and fifteen years.
Q-So that. practically speaking. your business
experience has been in the produce business and In
the brewing business, collector and general
agent on the outside? A.-Yes.
Q-Now you will notice. Mr.. Gren, that this
deputy Birmingham in making his reports pro~
ceeded upon the assessment for 1895 as a basis.
You see there Is a printed column there for 1928.
He used that basis. and made an addition 70
IT which Is shown In lead pencil there. Do you
know that Mr. Birmingham made the valuatons
for the previous year? Al do not.
Q-Wel that has been testified to here, so =
suppose we may assume Il? Al do not
Q-And these blanks taking the basis Of 1885,
were general throughout the Department. vera
they Al presume