New-York tribune., 1915-03-29
MR.. POLK'S APPEAL
New York City Mulcted for the Bene-
fit of Upstate Counties.
be Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Tribune has done a noble work
for the City of New York in publishing the
letter Of Corporation Counsel Polk concern
ing taxation Of the aqueduct lands. | sent
the letter to Leader Hinman, urging him to
have the bill reported, and | also wrote TO
the Speaker.
II is a strange spectacle of a Democratic
Corporation Counsel, appointed by fusion
Mayor elected by Republican votes, appealing
to the leading Republican organ Of the
United States for simple justice. Shall the
people Of four counties -Westchester Put
nam, Ulster and Greene-rue greater New
York? The countrymen think the case should
be taken to the courts and carried up to the
Court of Appeals, but this is expensive, and
if. under the code of procedure, it can be a
preferred case a decision may be had in three
or four months.
The point seems 70 be that local assessors
think structures of the aqueduct, like the
great Ashokan Dam, should be taxed real
estate, like building on a city lot. There
is much difference between the Ashokan Dam
and city building. The former yields no
revenue while the latter does-that Is. an
income from rents. OF course, don't speak
for the Court of Appeals, but | do not think
even Judge at Special Term would favor
putting more than nominal value on any Of
the structures Of the aqueduct. do not
know whether the tunnel under the Hudson
River near Storm King Mountain is built OF
iron or brick. 1t may be tube like the
Hudson River tunnels between New York
City and New Jersey. Surely only a nominal
value should be put on the material of that
tunnel. | don't think il shodld be taxed
If a committee on taxation and retrench-
ment wishes to tax the Ashokan Dam and
other structures, let it report A. L. Smiths
bill. with some amendments. Judging from
description of the bill in The Tribune, II
were again a member OF the Assembly !
would, after the reading of the journal, rise
and move to discharge the committee herein
and call for the ayes and noes might not sue
ceed for the first two or three days, but
would have hands shown so fast that guess
many OF my colleagues would vote aye. al
though | do not like the general principle o.
dissoving committees on measures involving
millions Of dollars, like the taxation OF aque-
duct lands
II the bill is killed in committee and New
York City cannot get justice It is very posi-
BILE that some Of the Republican Assembly
men will not return to Albany next winter.
month ago | went 70 Albany with 500 men
to favor the Lockwood -Ellenbogen bill to sim
plify building inspection in this city. We
almost illed the Assembly Chamber and that
four hour hearing made a great impression in
the Capitol. feel so strongly herein Il at
am inclined 70 take a carload Of men to Al
bany to demand justice in this matter Of
taxing aqueduct lands.
Tribune readers know well OF the scandals
of this aqueduct. the enormous price paid for
land, those farmers getting five or six times
the value of their farms FOR aqIeduct pur
poses, the prices paid exceeding their widest
dreams, and the immense expense OF pub
fishing lands described by metes and bounds
in New York City news wspapers. think the
advertising bill. was nearly 100000. would
not know a description Of my own farm by
metes and bounds, and don't think one free
holder along the line of the aQueduct ever
recognized his property when it was printed
in metes and bounds.
Let every one follow The Tribune herein
and adopt the Jeffersonian motto: Economy
in the public expense, that labor may be
lightly burdened by taxation"
ALFRED r. CONKLING.
New York, March 27 1915.