New-York tribune., 1910-01-11
FOR TAX REFORM
rtyNOR U4RNS THE
NEW BO4RD.
,fo,,or Wanfs Political InfPu-
euces Diuorced Entirely
from York.

.,.vor c;avnor read the new Board OF
r. commissioners Z lecture in old
esshioued honesty yesterday when ne IL
..re5 me new members. and told them
+bst hereafter political influence. love and
,,,one,- must have no bearing on The tax
assessments.
The Mavor summoned the new tax COM
r,issioners TO his office in the morning.
md thew lined ,lp IN this order: President
lawson Purdy. Daniel s McElroy, Judson
= Wall. Charles T White. Charles j. Nc
t-orrnaok and Edward Kaufman
II bad determined not TO reappoint Two
- ,-o, !, said the Mayor frarSly. but on
c.-eful consideration felt th't Jus'ice
-eouires me TO give them an opportunity
- e,,ervtI,ine has 10 yield to justice. You
-. zach bsen informed Of my main pur-
-. have selected you to make valua-
..o-s ~ real estate uniform throughout the
- ci-v The law requires the fair sale
,..,re N be adopted. Establish a basis and
..ts il uniform Continuing, he
said s...-
- ore for political influence, love
or money II political ieaoHrs come ash-
-. +bsr that dav has gone py. Pollucs
-,,,,St ne hsnisl1ed from your department
- everv deputy who sets down a mani
festlv wrong valuation De olsulisseo 81
LeslS ne gs not entitled to trial, but only
- o,rorftInity 10 make an eXplahatlon-
re- Sooner they are brought 70 reanze this
N n te1ter II Is doubtful if they ought to
- :, the competitive Civil Service at all.
- -heir duties are not formal, but re-
.,,,,s the constant exercise of Judgment
and discretion --..
: deputy, and We viii have him indicted
80 rneaner person exists than one capable
OF irving 10 get rid OF some Part OF his
faxes BY throwing it on his neighbors- No
FURY could spare him.
The Mayor mentioned then the case Of
the New York and East River Gas Com
pany's plant. at Astoria, which. while as
sessed at $4,000 was rated by the COM
psny itself At more than 100000 when
making up the total capital on which the
company should he permitted to make
dividend OF at least per cent.
REFERS TO CUTTING ESTATE.
He alluded. also to the Cutting estates
property on the waterfront of South
the tax books 81 2, 900, was sold 10 the
city for s4.565.357.
He continued:
I do not say the Tax Department under
Va-ued the property TO the extent Of this
excess Of $, ,457, So. In justice 10 the Tax
Department | am able TO say as my best
judgment. after examination. that the
property could not have been fairly valued
~ over S-5gl.eo0. and that substantially all
N excess OF that sum paid by TIE city was
eNeesslEe- me Spectacle OF the city bar
gaming tnrplSh one set Of its officers TO
psy A.565.351 for land which another set of
its officers valued for taxation ar only
Sl-07e0lo a. lis true value cannot help but
draw the competency or the integrity OF
government IN question
There was another piece al Harway
Basin valued on the tax rolls for several
years a. about 81. 39. when there was
actually a mortgage on il for s27600o and
the purchase price was &lJ0. .0Go. These are
some samples Now, you nave an able man
thing a. once in This great city. I have
appointed you 10 work with him and give
all n Your time 10 THIS business, and have
u accomplished IN one year.
The deputies must no longer be left IN
90 as tney Ike. The charter saws thev
shal aet Under 5oaT direction. Let them
means Go our ana direct them Yo,, can
l.ot az ms work by sitting in your Office
20 .. sections OF the city, and have your
assistants 90 the same
am particularly anxious about this
Borough u Manhattan. Only the othar
& eay me ale OF piece Of real estate here
2 aS Teposted for 3. 10000. l found il on
the tax rolls for $4,000 II the dwellings
ana ordinary holdings We're valued on TIE
.ots on the same basis there would be no
INJUSTICE. but they are not They are valued
vel Up 70 what they could be sold for
Look 70 all this.
SELECTED FOR INTEGRITY.
You AIr. EcElroy. know all about val
- in Manhattan. You know how I came
o appoint YOU You have all been care
uiiT selected for your competency and
integrity. ald ] feel certain YOU viii not
nsa ppolnt The people of the CITY Dis
riouuFe justice iE ali things is the prime
'Olect OF government, and see to il. you
b this matter
Also. il X no use 10 levy personal taxes
N persons who have no taxable personal
property u IS q general annoyance More
Fsf- Il results in a large deficit each wear
n the finances represented by uncoIIecfihIe
--rears Of personal taxes There are many
Hi IONS OF sCch arrears now for which
permanent bonds have 70 be issued Please
30 that this yearly deficit is reduced 10 a
oy more care in the lew of
~ tax
When R Fulton Cutting saw a copv or
Mayor Gaynor's speech 70 the new Tax
Board he said the statements therein con-
serning the Brooklyn waterfront property
we're simply reiterstion of similar state
nents made during the campaign by Mayor
5ayncr.
The Mayor knew then and knows now
hat do not own that property" said Mr.
-utting
During ire rampaien Mr. F,11t-j,- -a;S -