New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-12
TAXING OF CEMETERIES
Assembly Candidates Pledge
Support for Such Action.
INTEREST IN MOVEMENT
Office of Corporation Counsel
Prepares Bill To Be Present
ed to Legislature.

One result has already been accom-
plisned by the civic organizations OF
Queens which have started movement
TO bring about legislation to compel
cemetery corporations TO pay their pro-
portionate share OF the cost OF public
improvements in their respective locali-
ties within an area OF assessment. A
committee of the organization has OBJ
tanned the assistance OF the Corporation
Counsels Office in the matter. The city
will he represented when the civic or
CARNATIONS OF Queens will advocate the
passage Of an act TO bring about the de-
sired results.
The Corporation Counsers Office has
prepared bills under the direction Of Joel
Squires, who Is in charge of the Bureau
of street Openings in Manhattan TO be
presented to the Legislature. Mr.. Squres
has found a way TO overcome the
stereotyped objections raised against the
bills of this character by the cemetery
corporations in that the assessments
might be levied upon the plot owners and
that II the assessments were not paid
the land OF the plot owner might be con-
iscated and thus result in the removal OF
the remains of sFe dead.
This possibility Of dlsintering bodies
has always stirred up opposition. AS
means Of overcoming this obstacle in tho
bills now prepared provision is made that
ms soon as a lot Is sold by the cemetery
corporation the power to lay an assess
ment upon that plot is gone and the bur-
den must fall upon the corporation and
will be charged upon its capital invest
ment II is expected that the cemetery
corporations will vigorously oppose the
proposed measure.
II the bills are passed IN the form in
which they have been drawn II win make
possible the levying Of an assessment for
the proposed boulevard through Cypress
Hills and Mt. Carmel cemetery connect
ing the parkways OF Queens and Brook
Ign upon the cemeteries. In order TO as
sure no opposition from the upstate
members Of the Legislature the bill will
be so drafted as 10 include only cities
having a population OF 10000. which
will make them applicable TO only New
York City.
lowing streets in Queens: Queens avenue,
through Flushing Cemetery; Fresh Pond
road. through Cypress Hills Mount Nebo.
New Union Field. Machpeah and B'Nai
Jeshurum cemeteries: suburban street,
Epsilon street and Fresh Pond road.
through Mount Carmel Cemetery; YER
mont avenue, through Evergreens Gene
terry; Weisse avenue. Metropolitan ave-
nue. and Woodhaven avenue, through st.
Johns Cemetery: Pitkin avenue. through
Bayside Cemetery Laurel Hill Boulevard,
Calvary and New Calvary cemeteries.
Starr street and Metropolitan avenue,
through Calvary and New Calvary ceme-
teries: Astoria avenue. through 81.
Michael's cemetery; Eliot avenue. through
Mount Olivet Cemetery; Ncwtown avenue
and Belts avenue. through New Zion
Cemetery; Barrett street. keystone street
and Queens Boulevard. through Maple
Grove Cemetery. and Eliot avenue Way
land avenue. Metropolitan avenue and
Mount Ollvet avenue, through Lutheran
Cemetery.
The development Of queens would be
given decided impetus By the extension
OF these streets IN the manner indicated.
Lying in the geographical centre OF the
borough. the cemeteries have served as a
barrier in the developmnt OF the borough.
A meeting OF the civic workers. who
are opposed 10 the present method where
by the cemetery corporations evads taxes
and assessments. was held last week. and
II was decided 10 pledge all the candidates
FOR Assembly in Queens TO vote for and
support these measures. Not single
cardidate thus far has refused 10 support
the measures. Among the organizations
interested in the movement In Queens
are the Taxpayers Grievance Committee.
OF the ID Ward: the Winfield Taxpayers
Association. the United Civic Associa-
tons. the Astoria Taxpayers Association.
the Homestead Civic Association, the
Glendale Taxpayers ssociaton. the Wood
side Improvement Association. the Win
field Improvement Association, South
Ozone Park Board OF Trade. the CONNER
cial Board OF Belaire. the Last Elmhurst
taxpayers Association, the Dunton Civic
League and the Elmhurst Taxpayers As