Another $10,000 Grab

New York, 1895

ASSEMBLYMAN VACHERON WILL RUIN THE TAX-PAYERS.

Proposing to Give a Republican City Treasurer $10,000 for Doing Literally Nothing — Reduced Ferry Rates Secured by Mr. Madden — General Legislative News.

ALBANY, April 18.

(Correspondence of THE FARMER.)

Mr. Vacheron has had another steal bill passed by the Assembly. The bill empowers the receiver of taxes of Long Island City to settle all arrears of taxes and water rates, and he is to be paid $10,000 in addition to his salary. It is now the duty of the receiver of taxes, under the city charter, to receive and receipt for all back taxes, and his salary is $3,000. The $10,000 that he is to get will be just so much money wrung from the tax-payers and presented to the receiver of taxes. The bill is in the interest of Lucien Knapp, who was elected receiver of taxes by Mayor Gleason's party and the Republicans. His term lasts two years, and the new law is only to be in operation two years. It is a most outrageous act. The Senate has to pass upon it yet.

The Assembly passed Mr. Madden's bill, providing that the rate of fare for foot passengers on the ferry operated by the Long Island railroad company, between Long Island City and Thirty-fourth street in the city of New York, shall be as follows : Between the hours of 5 and 7 A. M. and between the hours of 5 and 7.30 P. M., 1 cent for each foot passenger ; at all other times and on Sunday, 2 cents each for foot passengers.

The Assembly passed Mr. Vacheron's bill, providing for the application and distribution of receipts from premiums collected and to be collected from foreign fire insurance companies in property in Long Island City.

Mr. Madden has introduced a bill providing for the manner of the collection of taxes in Long Island City.

Governor Morton has signed the bill creating a tax arrears commission for Queens county.

A bill has been favorably reported in the Assembly to release Union College from the payment of back taxes in Long Island City amounting to nearly $500,000. Vacheron made no opposition to the bill.

If Boss Platt decides to kill the Greater New York bill, it will not be the first thing of the kind for which New York city has him to thank. It was to him almost wholly that the loss of the World's Fair by New York City in 1890 was due, and it was to the World's Fair that Chicago can date most of her enormous recent growth.

Iu the Senate a favorable report was made on Mr. Madden's bill, providing that the East River Gas Company shall charge the same rate for gas in Long Island City as in New York. Subsequently the bill was recommitted. The lobby did it.

In the Assembly a favorable report was made on Mr. Madden's bill, fixing the salary of the clerk to the police justices in Long Island City at $1,500 a year. He must be a stenographer.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, April 19, 1895, p. 1.