The sun., 1918-11-11
SMITH JOINS FIGHT
ON TAX LIEN SHARKS
Governor-elect Asks State
Comptroller for Delay Pend
ing Legislation.
TO CONFER WITH TRAVIS
Mayors Committee Busy in
Crusade and Will Get Aid
From Samuel Untermyer.

Gov.-elect Smith has jumped INTO the
night TO get a revision Of the State tax
lien law which has enabled real estate
sharks to mulct hundreds Of delinquent
taxpayers In Nassau county OF their
property. Mr.. Smith believes that the
law. although good in itself, has been
! oppressive In its effects. and he sug-
eests that II should be amended SO as to
prevent amy band OF men from obtain
ing control Of property without the own
ers thereof having had their day IN
court"
On behalf OF the Mayors committee
on taxation. which had been conducting
| the investigation OF the Nassau county
tax sale scandal, Mr.. Smith has written
letter to Eugene NJ. Travis. State
Comptroller, asking the latter to grant
the committees request for postpone
ment OF the sale of about 10000 parcels
Of land In Nassau county, which has
been set for some time In December.
!, Some OF the land to he put UP at auc-
ton by the county and sold for the
amount of the unpaid taxes thereon be-
longs to soldiers and sailors. or TO their
! dependents, who will he stripped Of their
holdings II the sale Is carried through.
Over 90 per cent. OF the property owners.
tho committee estimates, will lose their
property through the sale. Comptroller
Travis has promised to hear the com
nlittee's arguments for poatponement
Of the sale at a conference TO be held in
his offices at 2 30 T. NJ to-day.
Mr.. Smiths Request for Decay.
The purpose Of that hearing" says
l. A. h.
State Comptroller, rs to ask you to ex-
ercise what they believe to be a discre-
! tionary power lodged with you to delay
your approval of the publication Of the
| list OF properties offered at tax sale In
the county OF Nassau, as comprehended
in Section 151 OF the Tax Law. which
contains the provision. NO such list shall
he published until the same shall have
been submitted 10 and approved by the
State Comptroller
mo harm can come from delay. while
on the other hand. what seems TO be
| agreed by everybody to be an oppressive
law could be repealed or amended in
| such a way as TO safeguard the interests
OF all concerned.
Soldiers. sailors. as we'll as all other
citizens absent from home in the service
OF their country, should have their day
in court to the end that they he not de-
prived Of what might represent the saw
!nes. OF a lifetime.
II have watched very carefully tho
work Of the Mayors committee" said
Mr.. Smith In a subsequent statement ex-
planning his interest in the tax lien
scandal. ''and I am fully aware Of the
hardehips imposed on a great many peo-
pie. particularly the poor. by the work
!ngs Of this law. consider the law
h,,t I ~
prevent any band OF men from obtaining
control Of property without the owners
| thereof having had their day In court.
u should think that any man would
be happy to he of service to the poor
people and the sailors and soldiers and
their dependents in case like this
especially as the county will not be the
loser through the postponement."
Conference to he Held To-day.
The conference in Comptroller Travls's
office to-day will be attended by Nathan
Hirsch. chairman OF the Mayors COM
mittee on taxation; Samuel S. Breslin,
attorney for the committee: Grover
whalen. secretary to Mayor Hylan;
Peter J. Brady, president of the Allied
! Printing Trades Council and secretary
OF the Labor League OF New York city:
James p. Holland. president of the State
Federation OF Labor: David Hischneld,
Commissioner OF Accounts and a repre-
sentative from District Attorney Swann's
office. which has been cooperate ing closely
with the Mayors committee in the lnves-
tigat!on OF tax lien cases
The committee holds that even II the
State Comptroller has approved the list
. OF the lots TO be sold and has author
| lied their publication he may still with
Draw or revoke his approval
In this contention the committee is
supported by an opinion from Samuel
Untermyer. who has agreed. at the re-
quest Of Mayor Hylan and Chairman
| Hirsch. to donate his legal services to
| the tax lien crusade free Of charge.
The Mayors committee also attempted
| to delay the sale through an applica-
| ton for an injunction made before SUI
preme Court Justice Scudder. After ar
| gpments we're heard on the application
Justice Scudder gave the attorneys for
| both sides until to-day 10 file their final
| briefs. In order to give Mr.. Inter
myer time TO go over the papers, how
ever. Justice Scudder later deferred the
fling OF the briefs FOR two weeks,
BY enjoirinE the sale 'of the property
or having the State Comptroller post
pone II the committee hopes to gain
| time in which 10 have the Legislature
| pass remedial legislation requiring the
| county TO give the delinquent taxpayers
sufficient notice before selling tax liens
or their property. Under the present
| system the property owner receives no
direct notice that the taxes on his prop
erty are overdue. Before selling the tax
lien on the property the county officials
merely insert notices of the impending
sale in newspapers published In the