New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-02

The Chairman-You may take your seat. and the
stenographer will strike these remarks from the
record. You will have opportunity to say what
ever you may wish to say when your turn comes
o.Mr sheehy, YOU are one one Of the Tax Commits
Q--And you have an equal voice with the others.
have you not? A.-Certainly; - ,
haven't you? Al have.
o-And you are able to answer these questions:
can give 'O' "
Q-,You are not distressed by my questions? A.
o5M;tThey are perfectly simple easy and gentle
ness stand This is one OF the first pleasures 1
have had for hours NOM ask e sUu wa:
the principle which should apply and 4 you in n,
20 per cent why should not that same rate substan-
TALLY be given 10 every lot-an increase OF % per
Q-what do you assess on7 A-on its marketa-
competent men was IT not7 A.-Yes. but the con-
dtions may be different.
OIL understand II was fixed In 1885 oy comPe-
tent men. was II not?
FEITNER Is ASKED TO SIT DOWN.
Mr. Feitner-I beg your pardon. That Is legal
conclusion and he has no right to ask layman
10 pass upon 4 legal conclusion.
The Chairman-Take your seat IL you DO not
take your seat you will have to leave this room
Mr.. Fetner-That is only legal conclusion
which he asks.
The Charman-The stenographer will strike this
from the record.
Mr. Feitner-The question that he asks
The Chalrman-Mr Feitner, shall have to In
sist your taking your seat. / shall insist upon
your maintaining order and decorum and respect
for the committee. And II you do not We will
have o you from the room. You are a
gentleman, and you should act in a gentlemanly
way. You will be called the witness stand and
you will then have every opportunity TO make
such statement you may desire You Will have
every opportunity to make your statements when
you on the stand. You gentleman and
you should behave like gentleman before this
committee.
Mr.. Feitner--I enter my protest
Mr.. Hofman-It might az veil be stated by me.
II the witness does not explain It, that there are
over one hundred Thousand cases pending against
the city OF New-York the result OF taxation
and II certain evidence comes out II is going to
assist those parties who fighting the city OF
New-York and who litigating these cases
against the city. and IL will thus prejudice the
rights Of the city. / want TO explain that that Is
what the result OF this evidence will be: 1t will be
giving those persons who have cases against the
city the advantage Of knowing the city's position.
Mr. Moss-Very well. Why should they not have
that advantage?
The Charman-You are assuming. Mr.. Hoffman,
that this witness is going to give this particular
sort of evidence
Mr. HofYman-You are prejudcing the rights Of
the city Of New-York, and I want TO call the at
tention Of this committee TO that fact. II you de-
sire to go and proceed at this time upon these
lines, with that explanation by me- have no de-
sire TO interrupt you.
Mr.. Moss-I am asking these questions TO get at
the truth from the very head OF the Department.
and the truth can hurt nobody. II certainly will
not help the city to do injustice to its citizens.
II exists TO do justice to them, and although
had no such intention II testimony given by Mr.
sheehy Is llumnative to the court in cases that
are pending, why It is the very highest service
we can do to the city and its citizens.
NO SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN.
o-Now Mr.. sheehy; ASK you again: those
who are now serving W You 70 tney o nS
raise this year? A.-wen, on the same principle
last year. they went out in the field and they
and they 'H are responsible for it We have given
no Instructions as 10 their assessments They
and they have gone forth into the field and used
their best Judgment, and assessed the property
Q.--Let us see; you the Tax Commissioner
tell me now that you gave your deputies no in
know that the charter provides and the law pro-
vides that the Tax Commissioner has no right 10
give Deputy Commissioners instructions TO assess
Q.-I don't know II that is the law, but II 1t is
bringing out STt' Al" .f' wouIS sa sy anu we'll '''"
Ozone moment, Mr. sheehy, you can have that
The The Bronx E1i boroughs? Ayes ~ ~
9-Into eight dlstricis 80, A;MM ore
Mr.. Moss-Are there ten. Mr.. Laimbeer?
Mr.. Laimbeer-Ten sections including The
o,-Ten sections including The Bronx? Ayes.
Deputy Commissioner? A.~Yes
Q.-And that one Deputy Commissioner Is ex-
pected to cover that large field and officially tx
the values Of each parcel in that large section? A.
Q.~Yes. and you say that those deputies. each
by himself each in separate s.. section were sent
out TO make their values for 1899 without any In
structions from the Commissioners? Al say
Q.-Were they sent out without anv advice by
the Commissioners A-rhey were advised under
0-What were they advised? A-The charter
,o.-Wnat did you advise, them' The Judge
t the the matter Us OF their duties ''' VIC
soIWhat method did you take t IL, II any, MI
oso ten to
Ono: never mind the charter. What did you
the secsions' A'~Uniformify as between the sec
Ono special INSTRUCTIONS gwen 40 no
what their eyes showed under the law
INCREASE OF 1877 10000
Mr.. Moss-Mr Laimbeer. what was the increase
under the assessment? I refer TO Mr.. Laimbeer
because he made exhaustive examination of this
matter Mr. Laimbeer states that approximately
the increase for Manhattan and the Bronx was
1897 10000
The Chairnan-Is that according 10 your recol-
lection? Al can't remember the exact figures.
Q.-The figures as stated sSz7,oooooo for
the two boroughs Manhattan and The Bronx?
Ayes.
Mr. Moss-Now Mr. Sheehy. you have been in
the real estate business for many years Has ever
such an enormous increase In assessed values in
the Manhattan and The Bronx occurred before?
A-Well the conditions didn't require II.
Ono no. the question Al don't
remember OF any such Increase.
Q.-Has anything Ike II occurred? Al can't
recall
Q-Do you know that the assessment for 1925
was an increase OF about 80 10000 over the assess
rnan, for IaoTo A-Yes