New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-25
TO FIGHT FOR HIS JOB
Levenson. City Marshal, Says
Mayor 0usted Him Unjustly.
TO SEEK REDRESS AT LAW
Declares Gaynor's Action Due in
Part to Animosity Felt for
Prendergast.

Joseph Levenson. who was summsriy
dismissed Yesterday as a city marshal by
Mayor Gaynor on the charge of Heinrich
Lemmermann that Mr.. Levenson had at
tempted to extort money from him for
personal fees while engaged I'm collecting a
personal tax assessment from tho com
plainant, is going to consult with his coun-
sci with a view TO bringing a suit FOR re-
instatement.
Mr.. Ievenson, who Is the Repub1c9n
leader of the Cd Assembly District. was ap-
pointed a city marshal by the Mayor at me
request of Controller Prendergast, to whose
office ne was attached for the purpose OF
collecting personal assessments in arrears.
He believes that the action Of the Mayor
is due more to luminosity felt toward the
Controller than because Of the truth OF
the charges preferred against mo-
Acting Controller Mathewson expressed
himself as greatly surprised by the Mayor
action. lie said he had always FOUND MT.
Levenson to he careful, honest, alert 10
the interests he represented, and above
suspicion. He further said that Mr. Leven-
son was a man OF standing In the COM
munity. and he could not believe he was
guilty OF any improper or dishonest con-
duct.
Mr.. Levenson said that he had not been
represented by counsel at the hearing held
BY the Mayor, as he did not think the
charges OF enough Importance.
1T is surprising" he said. that an OK
Judge OF the Supreme Court should accept
the unsupported word OF this man against
TO him from many persons. all Of whom
made requests of me that their taxes be
reduced, and I'm answer to whom | dis
tinctly stated that / had no authority to
reduce the assessments.
MY friends I'm the business and social
world. as well as those who know me po-
litically, need not be told anything about
my character or reputation. II Is CALLING,
however, to have to appear in the public
press as an extorter simply because the
Mayor has some grudge against the Con-
troller, or because he is opposed to the en-
tire system of personal taxation.
While in this office have made every
endeavor to protect those that ] felt were
unjustly assessed, but | insisted upon the
payment from all those that I felt were
trying to dodge, with the result that where
last year the marshars collections were
10000 | have already collected more IMAM
$4,000.
I'm reference TO the fees collected IN TINS
office the public should understand that al
fees have been collected In accordance with
the law This Office is conducted on a zee
basis, out of which fees must pay the eN-
penses Of conducting the office. 1t Is I'M
possible to collect more than SZo0,0u from
delinquent taxes. and at the rate allo"eu
nv law the total amount that could be so
collected as fees would not run above No''W'
and after deducting the expenses OF main
tanning the Office there would not De ielt
net sum OF more than 5000.
Mr.. Levenson declared that the Mayor
had promised to await the presentation OF
an opinion on the collection OF fees rem
dered bv former Corporation Counsei RiNes'
but that he had not kept his promise.
In his memorandum Mayor Gaynor' re-
ferring 10 the warrants for the COLLECTION
of personal assessment. said:
To use these warrants 10 extort money
tn he kent as fees is intolerable. al SUMS
collected must be turned in 10 me CITY res
The fees allowed thereon by law. Maly
persons are assessed on personal properly
who have none, but they are pestered py
the controllers marshal with these war
rants This must be stopped. rms TAX
ought TO be done away with. " is I'M
scientific unequal, unjust ana pesuteroue'