The sun., 1919-09-28
NEW ASSESSMENTS
MAY NOT BE LEGAL
Realty Board Doubts Power of
City to Punish "Profiteers"
by Taxation.

1.-THE taxpayers OF the city are watt
ing with great interest the final re-
suit of the new method of assessment
Of real property, by which the Tax De-
pertinent proposes to add $500, 100000
to the assessed value OF New York city
real estate" says a statement issued
by the Real Estate Board OF New York.
Heretofore" continues the statement,
assessments were made by deputy COM
m,ssioners of taxes and assessment, who
were civil service men and were obliged
to qualify by passing q very difficult
examination. Now apparently. the as
sessments are made by the Mayors
Committee on Taxation on the exparte
statements OF tenants. Whether this
latter method will stand the test of court
action is doubtful.
The rental value OF property has nos
been the determining factor IN estab.
fishing assessed valuations The COM
missioners of taxes and assessments.
after the most careful investigation.
fix the unit of land value in each block
in the city. This is carefully deter
mined by consulting their record of
animation After the value of the land
is determined, the deputies then fix
| the value of the improvements subject
to final review by the commissioners.
"As the deputies swear to the COR
rectness of their appraisal II is dim
| cult to see how they can be influenced
| by a desire on the part OF the Mayors
| Committee to punish a profiteer OF
| how, as stated semi-officially, they can
assess one building on a block at one
value and a similar building on the
Same block at another value without
| committing perjury
1.-THE Mayors Committee is In no
sense an official body with clearly de-
| fined authority like the Tax Commits
| sioners. 1t was appointed by the Mayor
| to secure new sources OF revenue and
| to submit amendments to the tax laws.
This object was forgotten in very
short time and no recommendation, of
the slightest Importance on the subject
Of taxation has come from the commit
! tee.
"On the other hand, there is scarcely
anything else that II has not investi-
gated, and Of late It has assumed the
functions and jurisdiction OF the NUM-
cipal courts.
Taxation must be equitable and
general. The power to tax cannot be
In regard to the semi-offlcial state
ment OF an increase of $500, 100000 in
| the assessed value OF real property. tho
Real Estate Board believes that this
must be an error. While there have
! been increases in values in some sections
there have been decreases equally I'm
( portant In other sections.
THE vestlng Of title In the city of
| large parcels Of land for schools and
! for new docks must necessarily decrease
the amount OF property available for
taxation" says the board. There has
! been decided decrease in value In cold
water tenements and In store property
along the side streets and on the ave.
nues in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
at Is a conspicuous fact that there
has been no material increase in new
construction because OF thu high cost
OF material. the demands OF labor
unions and the constant tying up OF
such work as was started.
previous tax sales have resulted in
the acquisition by the city OF large
tracts OF property which are no longer
available for taxable purposes. Real
estate experts looked for an even break.
but certainly not for an increase m
| assessed valuations"