New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-06
FINANCES OF THE STATE.

ANNUAL REPORT Or THE CONTROLLER.
POSSIBILITY or REDUCING HE TAX FROM SIX To
THREE MILs-CLOsE or A DECADE OF EXIRAF-
AGANCE.
SO large part of Gov. Tilden's message related 10
the finances of the State that the annual report OF
Controller Hopkins for the fiscal year ending sept
80 1879 loses much of its interest The Governor
referred to nearly all the topics which the Controer
discusses and much of tho statistical Information
is common to both documents. Inc Cohtfohef
states at the outset that the debt of the State on
Sept 80, 1866, was SOL, 53J,0o2 %, and 1t was to
be paid within II years. Yet" ho says, "uader
the influence of extTayagant habits, importUiate
appeas and demoralized ideas of public service the
Legislature chose that inOppOrtune time for
beginning, with liberal appropriations, varl-
Gus elaborate and elegant public buildings
the ultimate cost of which, If completed according
to the original designs viii, 1t Is estimated be over
$50 600, 900. The same spirit of prodigaiIty and
wastefulness pcryaded other fields of legislative
action as well As the management OF the canals and
other branches Of administration. Extraordinary
appropriations made for various purposes and
while the steady increase in the valuation OF the
property of the State should have brought decrease
in the rate of taxation the advance III the one mas
in fact kept pace with the advance OF the other
He gives a tabular exhibit of such extraordinary APP
preparations from 1865 to the present ulne' anu
makes these comments:
This embraces only the extraordinary appropriations
which io outside OF the ordinary iihlhS eAehre u u,
Government aud It VII be seen tit %n We, 'Ie pp"
ten wears %l32, 900 900 OF state TAX
cousid raby tlan one nall OF the amount "SI loi
eprcia objects, independent Of the regular anu ies
innate ost government About D. per cent ~ VIC
amount was for the payment OF indebtedness - per
cent for extraordinary appropratO and IL per cent
for ordinary expenses No othef -lach'nt u h"fu'u ~
show the improvidence which has prevailed
wi
nary repairs and work upon the canals amounts Tor
less than half a million In 1866. IT To the inordnate
sum OF - 100000 ia 1870. since which Time IL has
correspoudingy declined. 3d. The approprauns Wh,,
at first may Justly have assumed the character OF charity
bnt which aiterward used this sacred name CLOAK or
unjuslihdIle sectarlan an rapiuy h.Snccl 70 iho
than II 600 900 In 1871 That was The period OF me
large deficit in the sinking fund which was unwarranta
bly, ,ercd for such alien purposes Fortunately I'M,
abuse was then arrested aud has since bcch piohpuu
by constitutional amendment Apart from me dents
the other most conspicuous item OF thc tps y Tue ~
expenditure for public buldingH Whlch mas Ieaci'H
more than $llOOoOOO. with these various excessive
drafts upon the Treasury II WAS Inevitable that inc taxes
should be heavy and burdcnsOmc.
But through the practical extnguishmcnt ot al TIE
State debt. except the canal debt which has been re-
uced 10 SO Jl4 40. and which should De met rom
the OF the canals the period II al hand wheh
large reduction Of taxation may DC enecte ~ was ai
nono IN last annual report that, when the general
fund and bounty debts were provided Tor the STATE TAX
could be reduced S500OOOO. That statement can
now be verified, and have the great pleasure O lhioI
ing the Legislature that the amount now III the treasury
next will very nearly provide for those debts at maui
object produces something more than the alprO Ilaou
n the excess be applied this purpose II should be-
additional tax OF hird OF mill WIZ snee 10 mako
complete provision for this indebtedness.
OK tic state debt apart rom the canal debt, only
OF mill will be adequate for that PURPOSE; 80 thai WINE
tax OF the current year IL AK mills inc Tax recent
Will be reduction of over $7OOOOOO To encct TINS re-
ducuon 1t Il only necessary That tho appropriations sn
be kept within reasonable and proper limits, ana me
Controller urges the Legislature to exercise the utmost
vigilance and nrmness IN this direction.
The following are the rates Of taxation for the en-
suing fiscal year recommended by the Controller:
t tT . scs oog 'sn'4i MIL
For he Sew Ca1itol q mill
For 10 DeOt = h''
Total. mills
The returns Of the several counties received nj this
office indicate that the aggregate valuation OF real ana
personal property will exceed 1900 100000 The tax
recommended schools will be observed reduced
one-iourth of mi but one mill tax on the present
valuation will produce greater than was raised 10y
a mill 1870 The proposed taI Of one-turd Of NIL
for the new Capitol ON the above basis OF valuation VIII
raise about $S3300o The one half mil tax anh9fi1sd
| in 1873 will produce Sl83S9o % IN excess II the
81 100000 appropriated by Chapter 1884, Laws OF 1870
for ths purpose and II the is devoted TO this OBJ
ec II VIII, with the third OF mill recommended
exceed the usual appropriation OF sl,0Oo000 o o- p.
In 1919 me s as. tax az al 2oSOSo 0i
In 1875 the taxes for all purposes known to :.
this office amounted 66926370 90
The gross valuation Of taxable properyn g~ss
The gross valuation in 1915 1857 90
|
In ten years S8I6eOO,4I7 90
Increase Of valuation Of 1875 over 1874 229 80
| I return the gravest aud important subject
which engage your attention, aud the
recommendation that the legislature shall, with vigi.
lance and rnness avail itself 10 the fullest OF It's
great opportunity TO relieve tho burdens Of the people,
fhe the fiscal ending Sept 80 1875, was u
mills my last report recommended for the current
fiscal year, exclusive Of extraordinary work tho
canals and the public buildings tax Of mills. The
provision these and other objects carried up 70
mills IL possible. has already been shown In
| clndng tho Capitol and excluding the canals to
| reduce the tax mills Such reduction, relieving
the people Of 81 900 900 tax In single year, will
mark the entrance Of the state upon period OF