New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-16
ROCKEFELLER TAX PROTESTS.
ASSESSORS SIT IN THE WESTCHESIbf
TOWNS TO HEAR GRIEVANCES.

The assessors OF the towns of Westchester County
sat Yesterday TO hear the grievances Of taxpayers
who wanted their assessments reduced In some
OF the Weather towns the protests were so numer-
Gus that other sessions must be held Inc town
OF Greenburg one of the richest in the State led
in the number Of protests. and Mount Pleasant
where William and John d. Rockefellers places
are situated, had interesting meeting. There
were few complaints there. as the taxpayers had
not generally examined the assessment rolls. Elk
Judge Noah Davis drove down from Pocantico HIS
and requested a reduction. The assessors examined
the rolls, and informed Judge Davis that his land
assessed at 500 an acre. and not at $1,000. as he
had been led to believe. This satisfied him, and he
went away.
Howard +. Morse, counsel for William and John
D. Rockefeller filed protests on behalf of both. with
affidavits. When the referee decided John ID.
Rockefeller's suit against the township last year,
he fixed the value of Mr. Rockefellers property at
1898 1872 80 a reduction from about $4,000. For some
reason the referees report has not been confirmed,
and the assessors put the estate down at 700 !,
to the figures OF the referee, a difference OF $lG-
l42 80 If the refuse to grant his request
The assessments against William Rockefeller were
satisfactory. with single exception. The Board
case and assessed his estate at s23S 175. In the
year Mr.. Rockefeller purchased the Butman place
of forty acres and the assessors valued this at W.
90, just double what he considers II worth. IL the
assessors maintain this valuation he probably VIII
join his brother and renew the tax fight 49,
William II. Douglass, whose property adjoins John
D Rockefeller's, filed protest asking for a reduc-
ton from s3S 900 to $50 900. Among the Others who
applied for reductions were J. Romano Brown,
from $27520 10 $1,000: John Brisben Walker, from
500 $50 TO $63 100: John NJ. Furman. from 1880 TO
$1,000: ex Congressman Amos Clark, $500 on; Mrs.
Phoebe Bryant. $1,000 personal off, and John VI;
Waterbury 900 personal of. The Board adjourned
at o'clock to consider about sixty applications;
For the first time in several years the GLeehburs
assessors met without clerk or counsel The SEES,
sion held In Tarrytown. The Board received
125 protests and will meet to-day TO consider them
Some Of the larger taxpayers who applied for re-
auctions were General Samuel Thomas y Jennings
McComb. DR.. William II. Salisbury, William r
CHRISTIE, the Lorena Company, Orlando J: STnithi
Catherine r REWARD Herbert c. Squires. Elms'ord
Improvement Company Eliza T. Minturn. Richard
NJ Hoe George Hope MARS and DR.. Joseph Has
brouck. - 80 -,
The assessors Of Ossning met In Sing Sing only
thirty protests were received. and these were or a
small nature the valuations this year having given
general satisfaction. The White Plains assessors
received fifteen protests. and about many more
taxpayers came too late. The assessors dended 70
hold another grievance day next week. In order %
give these people opportunity 70 protest. Inc
principal complainant was Smith Williamson, VINO
wanted a reduction from $4,000 to s41 ooo. F. S.
Barnum wanted reduction from $4,000 TO $4,000.