New-York tribune., 1899-06-14
REAL ESTATE ASSESSMENT.
TAX COMMISSIONER GRELL MAKES SOM
IMPORTANT REVELATIONS.
William = Grell sworn

IMPORTANT REVELATIONS.
William f. Grell sworn
of Ii the city Of New-York? e AoYes. sir
! Q.-When were you appointed? A.-Flrst OF Jan
uary. 1885.
,,Q-Dd you apply for the, appointment? Al
did. applied to the Mayor for the, appoin,ment.
the first tin instance shortly after the election
..Q-And either before or after you applied TO the
! trict leader? Al have no district leader
/ Q.--The leader OF the district in which you live?
! represent the German Democracy
Were you selected as representative Of the
! Odd the German Democracy indorse the ticket
! Q.-And then your appointment followed as a
| compliment 20 the German Democracy? A.-On the
recommendation Of the German Democracy. Upon
/ the German Democracy.
Q.--And to whom was that Endorsement sent?
/ Odd you go to Lakewood? Al did. went
Q.-Whom did you see there? A.-The Mayor.
/ Q.-Any one else? A.-There were lots OF people
nucceeded in the election did you not? A.-Some
'Q'-And you found your name was acceptable
there, didn't you? A.-Well, on the promise OF
Q.-What business were you in before you were
ment. was collector for the Consumers Brewing
C9mpany "A OF ,b them Gorrorv,
Soliciting trade. and SO forth,
ON securing trade? A.-Yes
located? A.-Avenue A. the block between Fifty
Alt has leased property between Fifty-thrd and
Fifty-fourth SITS. portion Of the old lumber yard
there.
PRICKS Up HIS EARS.
Q-Have YOU done anything for the brewing
company since you have been Tax Comm!s-
soner? A-What do you mean?
Q-Have you represented them in any way? A.
No.
Q-Have you had any business dealings for
them? A.-No. there is man in my place.
Q-Keep your voice up. A.-An right.
Q-You have Of course, with your fellow
Commissioners? Avery day a rule.
Q-And did you understand that the provisions
OF the charter conferred a peculiarly responsible
duty upon the Tax Commissioners at this time.
that s. under the consollda ton? A.-Yes sir.
Q.-What the peculiarly responsible duty
which you understood devolved upon them? A.
The main duties were 20 equalize the property
through greater New-York in the five boroughs.
sir.
Q-what DID you understand required 20 be
done In equalizng the property? A-That Is,
value the property according TO It's location and
in proportion 10 better location or reduction In
other locations the case may be.
Q-I understand that: but wasn't there necessity
OF equazing between the different boroughs? a.
Well every one knows that the Borough ~
Queens as well as the Borough OF Brooklyn
and
Q-Walt a moment. You say that the Borough
Of Brooklyn and the Borough OF Queens were
sessed high? Ayes.
Q-Prlor 20 consolidation? A-Yes SIR.
Q-Any other borouehs7 A.-Not TO my knowi-
edge any higher Mr.. Moss. no.
Q-Then you say that notoricusly these two bor-
oughs were assessed at higher proportion OF
value than Manhattan was? A.-To my knowi-
edge, yes.
Q-And you think that OF the duties that
dcvolved upon the Tax Commissioners 10
change the inequality so that the same proportion
OF value would exist in the different boroughs'
A.-The charter demands Il.
Q-What did you understand was the proportion
In Manhattan prior TO consolidation? A.-What DO
you mean. the rating?
Q.-The rate. Yes. A.-Of the assessment?
Q-Yes. A-well. TO my knowledge. OF course,
haven't looked at figures in the office: should
Judge about 60 per cent
Q-sxty per cent in this borough. What in
Brooklyn? An Brooklyn It varies from 10 10 70
my knowledge
Q-And IN Queens? A.-Queens. they hardly
haven't any. They were way over the mark.
Q-What? A-Over the 100 per cent mark.
Q-They assessed over the 100 per cent
mark in Queens2 A--some Of them. and other
property wns not assessed at all.
FEITNER INTERPRETERS
Mr. Feitner-He is referring 20 Long Island
city. ITO the witness) You are referring to Long
Island city
M Moss-I am examining the witness
Mr. Feitner-I don't want you 20 mislead him.
Mr Moss-Nov. when you say he Is referring
TO Long Island City. OF course he s. referring 10
Long Island City.
The witness-I am referring 10 the Queens Bor-
ough portion OF it.