The Tax Arrears Bill

New York, 1895

Senator Childs has once more proved his faithfulness to duty by passing through the Upper House the bill to establish a bureau of tax arrears for this county. This is the bill that Assemblyman Vacheron has threatened to kill. The death of this bill ought to mean the political death of Mr. Vacheron. An arrears law is absolutely necessary. If it does nothing else it will lift Newtown out of a condition that threatens her with financial ruin. Every intelligent citizen of that town understands its deplorable situation in the matter of back taxes. The damage done the town in the last few years represents at least $100,000, and it is to put an end to this calamitous state of affairs that the bill is designed. In every town in the county there is property so heavily in arrears that the taxes actually outrun its value, the consequence being that the owner will not pay, and cannot sell, because no one will buy. This proposed law will seek out all such cases, make a settlement with the owners or lessees, and restore the property to a sound commercial basis. In most of the towns the assessment rolls contain property that cannot be found, and the reputed owners of which are mythical. The proposed law is intended to seek out all such cases, remove them from the books, and give the assessment rolls a healthy tone. When this has been done the sum annually in arrears for taxes will be ten times less than it is now, and, besides, buyers will be plentiful at the annual sales, so that the arrears can be actually wiped out every twelve months.

Mr. Vacheron will undoubtedly do his best to kill the bill, but we doubt his ability to succeed, for Assemblyman Fairbrother has much more influence at Albany, and his town will be so greatly benefited that he will use his influence to pass the bill.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, March 22, 1895, p. 4.