New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-03

.o,-. decided against you then you . WSTa
i asSas Ess S Ss d s''5:ss
20 e1TSst your reputation as 'adsma''''' man
erect yGg W, have S. pepD esIIsSnfa An
terest In those proceedings ina. are pe"'e
| AS president OF that Department
NO PERSONAL INTEREST.
o.As president Of that Department. bui I,, M.
Teitner You have no persona MAKE dollar worth Of
| difference to you one way or the other' A''
s'So-But your position in these tigatons is as an
| officer Of the citv? A.-Yes. air rr,,,ov n
| Q.-And the head Of q department ''''''
0~An appointse OF the Mayor A-o aonIs ~ the
city in the delicate matter OF extracting from
0ecessary amount to run the Government; oxe,s or
you have TO s GS moneys Of RsI liked
BY the rate haven't youg You nave ,b so law in
M The money! A monSS h2 aye
make on properly ard o whaey ,ss
property we find the money comes 'o" ~ '
or9ndB5y tbe assessment is meaps to the end
'Gt !? A %sa9ss Just for the
| Or COURSE you don't assess for the purpose
don't the sx Of ylpdSati
a hs not SSua }sal esta!e moro isn't any
Q.You are not? A-No; ana there II" ""'
| man that Is a real estate expert
NO REAL ESTATE EXPERT. HE SAYS
| o-rs there any real estate expert In your tax
artmen7 Ahere sn any S sgc9 5ud dsns
o~Is any in your department sw VINO Sb IS
real estate expert? ,eaf ay IL Than e Others
but there are none you car call real estate eNpe'
3-NooW then. YOU make this assessment in order
that the proper officers Of the tha may
of the Government. don't you; that is your pur-
Jqs read the ssse " she
without regard to the consequences What do
VOC en BY t ss A that we
| with the law in making the assessments and vaiu-
a' oBT You don't mean say that your assess,
mens made With the fun uTders tbs
nn t6ey is are re make ee hs eo
do With the tax yo on Goac nS
did you consider that the acts nat y9u tho he
fSSs2 q Sens and sst The money Ss
every piece Of property that we assess VIII heceS-
o.DAnd that the tax to be collected depends upon
the way that you assess? AIExaeittIy; osnsrds
QnThe amount OF tax TAX 10 S.s be tpoh TIE
amount we assess.
oAnd the amount Of money to be ia iaksn from y1n
his property? A0Thst Is true ,v aepends
upon the way you assess the property A'-rhat Is
then ySq 10 qs "a. asss'i
not to Assess s s2n at their &
rate becomes all the heavier on those that have 10
pay? Ayes IL We make too many exemptions
HE KNOWS THE CONSEQUENCES.
OFF YOU make too many exemptions yes, and
If You leave out persons that ought 9 be personally
taxed then the tax rate is increased? A-Yes,
SThen S Pg maS duty 9st TO the and
ndivduals when you are making those
That has nothing to do with our assessments 1tc, =,
| Q.-Do you not have In your mind conception Oh
| tbe r1nO function which furnishes
the means BY which the band Of the tax sashereef
Course in the sense that we what will be
the consequences OF our act
rs Isl oSS.S.4ss P Re sS,s 3;
York and SP ndVsas owners
o-Atter ali this testimony will ask you what
the " witness chair that win prejudice the rights q
possible ftis for Tn" You i sitting here telling the truth
a w ca You You hags @
affect the interests OF the city? Al think see
out on R1d this investigation e may Be preudica
city
Q.-what is that? A-The presumption in your
statement and legal proposition OF yesterday that
the taxpayer has no remedy practically in court
! over the Judgment OF the under those de-
| clsions.
| Q-Except in eases OF inequality? A-Except in
| cases OF inequality.
o.-Yes. A-Now 20 further than that and
think the Court Of Appeals has held that the af-
frmatve Is with the assessor whenever an IN
crease is made. Therefore the burden Is upon
! the city to sustain It's assessment. 10 show some
additional reason condition. We believe we have
additional reasons and conditions which justify
this Increase and we believe we sustain our
: assessments upon that ground.
GIVES HIS CASE AWAY
. o-was 1t that principle which you have stated
which you afraid TO have introduced? A
Yes: that is one
o. did not ask you for IT, You volunteered IT.
A-Your questioning Of me would lead up to that
O-You have already stated It. Now, II that is
thing that going jeopardize you in actions
you have given 1t yourself. A-You fencing
one way and | am trying to tell the truth under
oath in the best possible way. and am here
city officer trying to sustain the assessments at the
same time
O-Mr Feitner will tell you very frankly wha
= is in my mind think 1t Is one of the stranges
propositions that ever heard made seriously thai
the head Of the Tax Department should hesitate L
| answer questions concerning the way the taxes
have been made. for fear the truth which you mus
assume he will tell viii njure the department viii
y | lnjure the assessments which he has made anS
: against which individuals are complaining? A.
g You must remember that now have extraordi
nary conditions brought about by the Legislature
n | and have to meet those extraordinary condl
tons.
Q.-Now. Mr.. Witness 1 will ask you this ques
ton directly, What have you done as department
In the laying of assessments which you are afrai'
TO tell here on the witness stand for fear 1t vii
I | ena Bile individual property have thei
r assessments reduced-what is It? Al cannot an
y, | swer that question.
- Q.-Why can you not answer 1t? Any own ide
OF public policy In the situation don't justify me
answering that
q | Q.-Have you done anything Mr.. President OF tn
l. Tax Department. which you do not care 10 stat
= here. in the levyng OF assessments taxable value