New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-03
the community tina, there ha. been favoritism-

Q-And Incompetence in this great change that
pockets Of the the community on the basis Of three
hundred and seven added millions Of dollars A.
ncerrect naements II at an in the past assess
mens; that we care are making them correct now
assessments for Mayor srong's Commissioners In
1885, you as the head OF that Department. knowing
that section the most important, section In the
city should have known It: did YOU know tg A.
Not under those conditions
Ooh. never mind those conditions. We are
talking about honesty compeency Justice a
there. In that most important section IN New-yofk.
to represent you and MI Van Wycks Instructions.
rnIssioners he was unjust dishonest. unfair. In
competent did you know that? A-of course
9-po you know nsw' A.No, 49,
o.-How can you Justify the work that was done
is dead and gone and cannot come here and de-
iend hmseIf3 Al did no; impugn him. ! have
You are the one that is doing It.
oEHow can you sustain your own figures WITH.
2e. them hen then cb n Gg n. ia sl. as
ment talked Of? A-That is what the law gives.
and must depend the honest judgment or the
Deputy Tax Commissioners; tina, the others are re-
sponslble with him
have Hight TO haS n So9' only ns exercising
honest Judgment but men exercising enlightened
on such as S an
entitled IT, and they have It II the Civil Service
/
HE THINKS 1T ALL RIGHT.
Q-How about YOURSELF Al think they have II.
.,o.-Are you controlling these men? DO you watch
Sye to- 50 tar as a the sefs
| Q.-Do you willingly? DO you assent 70 the
done, and you are willing 10 be responsible! A.
In 50 far as the law makes Us responsible ,s we 90
that you are willing morally to stand responsible
| Q-Yes. A.-So far as I know yes.
Q- And do you know, toe. that upon the honesty
dep the " propoona tae State e tax Which the
people OF New-York City have to bear? A-of
o-DO you know that Z your men. for any pur-
pose, run up the valuation OF property IN New
you Increase the burden of State taxation on New
| York? Ave do. for which we are very sorry
! Odd you know that when you were increasing
the Borough OF Manhattan So7.coo'o" you were do
Odd you ever talk with Chris. Birmingham 20
was so different in iSe from what 1t was in 1887
Q-Why didn't you? A.-Because was depend
Didn't you talk with the Chief Deputy about
city. any more Interesting section OF the city. in
! these matters. than this very nsighoorhood OK
Wall-sr. and Broadway and Newest? A.
! / think We il more or less together.
! Q-That Is II; YOU did go over i more or less.
bringing in much heavier Assessments n some d.
d din why he did ~ Al '0"' remember ''''
DID NOT ORDER 1T DONE.
ODD you tell him TO do ~ Al don't think
Q-Are you sure that you didn't, pretty sure that
o. would Ike have you refresh your reco-
lection Think Of ts tina That !, Is quite ns imggor
values up? A.-Whatever was done was under
oENow let US take block no. q. No. q Broad
ST. the Johnson Building. raised from 3, 10000 to
fRniIiine raised from 5000 to 10000 20 per cent:
No. G6 Broad-st.. the Morris Building, raised fron
M mssSns are not one Or Ss of those those Sanss
In the same condition that you nave put the Bowl
aTha5 his The first S Eat Under n;
q & hd don ney h Tsre sny ~ 5e area
9The johnson Building NO z BToa or X. + is
assessment? H-THe assessment here evidently
was intended to be full for 1888
Q.-Exactly, it was apparently SO. but that build
ing the Johnson Building, was substantially in the
same condition as was the Bowling Green Build
Now how is It that II the Of this build
ing should stand an increase OF q :S per cent these
| this year why shouldn't the Johnson Building have
been Increased &C % per cent? A-oh. that all de-
Q'@And the judgment Of the deputy? A.-Ths
o@And the the judgment OF tie deputy A.-rhe
Judgment OF the deputy is in everything that he
does
oSow let We have 10th taoT Se asu.s' n" &
sr Ts e al small building an nsis
nihcant building alongside OF these great structures
have lust me1tionf 800 s 10 DC 10 Won 9 yd ~
o-That. sir is On Increase Of I2s t-ico per cent;
is9s al SIS 900 assessed IN 1899 $500 Increase
q al 1T ps Gc- Sen ta 9"ssS q to S an IN
crease o. . per cent End d IN 70 B ;o m 4 20. ~.
cent A-Thai only seems 70 he in progress this
year; 4 Is new building COINS Up ,o,r,., -, .,
per cent. and when 4 gets finished maybe Il VIII
| be l?5 per cent. A-Maybe 1t would II II Is ne"
! building.
CONDITIONS NOT THE SAME.
Dwell then. why wasn't the Johnson Buidins
| run I'D TO 100 per cent when It was finished? A.
Bsagse the vsT ,beT no VII the "9 same Awe
don't know the particular instance Duh you are
oI@t us see what rates we nave on that block
Twenty per cent % per cent = per Sr cent sSn, pc,
cent. ali the work OF one man and done IN conseSu.
pn vg which Win show whether these properties
are now valued at - per cent Of market sales A.
think you will hnd some recods OF the deputies. tn
o.~Are they in he field books? A-Yes
stand me by saying they 70 per cent OF recorded
Ts o% DO " 9oa y want sa 10 correct IL Arhs
Te per sc sa OF wa per cen OF recorded
sales why are they not . per cen, OF reOOrs ,o
J sales A.-BecauSe RECORDED SAFES are hot a4bo@
| cether reIiabe-every kind OF sales.
Q-How you take a basis Of ANYTHING tns
II not reliable? Alt is taking the best evidence
that could ind. O..
! O Don't Won see Mr. Commissioner Alt
/ comes down to the judgment OF the deputy. .
| Q.-fiow awful wonderful and powerful Is the
! Judgment OF the deputy, Alt comes down 10
'' oLHe can take recorded sale which ordinarily
ne should take notice Of. and he can say that Is q
wash sale? Ayes. -.
! The Chairman-Supposing the consideration Is uF
/ The Witness-Supposing II Is sale under FORE
! closure are you going 20 make that the basis!
NONE BETTER THAN THE DEPUTIES
Q.-what are your instructions? these men
understand the situation. because they nave peen
! In that Cor years and years. Their Judgment -
the best better than any one else.
| Q.-Take this man in the first district How many