The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-04
Mayor Mitchel's Blunder.

corporations whose personal property
valuations have been put at $5OO,OO0
or more in the tentative assessnlents
for 1915, printed in the newspapers
Of yesterday, exactly twenty have
been raised from the final figures OF
this year to $S5O,OOO. and two to
100000. In every other case the
appraisal has gone to 100000 or to
$1,OOO,0OO. This exhibit 10 not de-
rived from q source ~unfriendly to the
Tax Department. but from the books
Of that department itself. More con.
vincingly than any exposition from
outside the apartments Offices IL
discloses the vain and uniformed
methods employed by the to
initiate the assessment rolls. and con.
dennis their work.
The results attained are preposter.
Gus OH their face. and vitiate the
whole personal tax roll. They show
that the totals were reached without
serious inquiry. The power Of the
Tax Department was used to intimi-
date. not to investigate. The plan
adopted was to impose an assessment
regardless Of the value Of the tax
able property owned by the victim Of
the process, and leave that sufferer
to swear OF the excess amid cries of
tax dodger' and 'perjurer." These
cries, 1t will be observed. have al
ready been raised. and honest men
whose chattels are set down in OH
cial Ignorance at sums the taxes on
which would bankrupt their owners
are already held up to contempt as
~lawbreakers because Of the necessity
the city has put on them to defend
themselves against ruin.
How was this list. advertising Its
~insincerity and proclalming its injus-
tice. composed? The method. "a
miliar to all who have had to do with
city affairs, Is succinctly described
by Mr.. MCGUIRE. the president Of the
Real Estate Board Of New York:
Names are taken at random from
club lists. directors lists. city directo-
ries. hotel registers. apartment house
lists and other equally valuable sources
Of Information as to the financial stand
ing of citisens.
an Brooklyn. I am told, a directory
seven years old is used. and the result,
is a list that Is a farce.
II am informed the assessors fire.
quently base their assessment on the
character OF a mans name. % Reginald
Mont Marmaduke, though a street
cleaner. will get an assessment OF
81. 900. 900. and John Smith. a million
aire, will be passed over"
In this manner the delicate bust
ness Of raising public Is un
dertaken. to the discredit Of the law
and the confusion Of the public. The
assessment rolls are blOated with un.
cOllectible imposts: the business com
munity is upset and disturbed the
estimate Of city revenues is falsified
at its source. and the important sub
ject Of city finance is disordered and
disarranged. There could he no more
wasteful form OF maladministratior
than that which permits such a state
OF affairs. The effect on property
owners Is disastrous, and on the city
not less lamentable. Where such Of
| fetal conduct Is tolerated the owners
Of property will not remain, and Their
migration Injuries the community In
it's every interest.
Mayor mitchell has not reproved
his Tax Commissioners for their reck,
less and silly abuse Of authority. In
deed. he has sided with them in the
controversy that has been aroused
instead OF with the Comptroller, who
Immediately recognized and denounced
the blumder worse than II crime tina
had been committed. In this tn,
Mayor has made mistake he vii
regret. He has given his approva
to an action that can I've Endorsed by
no grown man whO studies It's effect,
impartially.