The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-21
OUR ENORMOUS LOCAL ASSESSMENTS.
Demands of Public Institutions and
the School System.
UNFAIR APPORTIONMENT.
Official Suggestions for the Re-
duction Of Taxation.
Albany, Jan. 20, 1875.

ALbANf, Jou. ~, 1910
The question Of tho State nnances-the most i'm
portaut ono como before the Legislature lis first
divisib.e thus
How reduce taxation throug bout the StatoY
Bow 10 apporton necessary taxes?
The moro specific questions are follow They re-
ate TO the canals and every other class Of State
10 the prisons and every other class OF State ill.,
situations; to the work the new Capitol to legisa.
tive expenditures Of all kinds, and 10 every source OF
local taxasion In cities. towns ana villages.
THE STATE DgBr-uNSxPgSDYD BALANCES.
In his recent Message Governor Robinson described
how the State debt reduced during tho last two
ADMINISTRATIONS OF the State governments and the
port OF Comptroller Oicott supplies particular inior-
nation on this subject It appears that the funded
dcbt Of tho State was reduced from s23 600 900 In
1876 10 something less than $ll.o0o,0oo IN 1877, by
cancellation OF moro than $l2,O0O,O00. Thcro
IL at present actual surplus in the treasury of
over 81, 600 This surpIus is nearly $500, 600
In excess OF the estimates OF last year,
result mainly due TO q reduction OF about $2l0, 00U
IN prison expenses and increase previous prison
earnings Of some $4,000. II was also due In part
the overaxation OF the people for The support OF tho
Onondsga salt springs, which paid into the State
treasury more than tho total OF their tax Under tho
advice OF the Comptroller the Legislature appropriaes
yearly sums for several purposes and. thon passes
tax bill to produce the money. Tho is levied
property throughout the State. according to the
assessed values OF the preceding year, but finally
colsc,ed tho basis of valuations Of the succeeding
year. those valuations have been for the past
eraI years considerably raised annually.
In this way the taxes prescribed Tor specific pur.
poses yesA alter year have resulted In those
sive contributions tho State treasury which, taken
together now aggregate the lump sum alluded 10 OF
81, 100000 Of unexpended balances. This, to quote
she language OF that patrsrchsi Governor, Alvord,
now Chairman OF the Committee ON Ways and Means
Of the House, 'has been going on since 1872 ever
since the democrats stopped stealing" The total
Of uuexpended balances win probably amount to
So, 000, 600 by the close Of this year.
THE CAPITOL
One problem In connection with the Stase fuancss
is solved by this continual accret,on OF over.
payments OF taxes into the treasury. That vast un-
comey pile OF stone brick and mortar which is the
beginning OF the Capitol. and which has already
oest toe State thun S. 900 000 needs 10 be com
pleted at some time or other torn down and re-
moved TO New York. IL seems to be agreed that it
must continue to from It's present foundations on
the highest hill In the midst OF this old fashioned city,
ana the question consequent is. How soon shall
IL DO flushed? That question Will DO debated
next week In both houses. In the meantime
the Capitol Commissioners, In answer q legislative
request, have made careful estimate OF the
sum required to complete and furnish tho building,
remove the old Capitol and other buildings, and lay
out and fence the surrounding ground. They believe
these things may DO done for the sum OF S. l9S S25
and that the work may be pushed with such rapidly
that both branches OF tho Legislature and the Execu
tive may be placed In tho Capitol on the nrst day
oJanuary, 1872 But TO accomplish this work must
be carried forward through tho winter wherefore the
ssing $500, oo0 They also ask that an add.
uonal Of $500, 900 shall be approp Rated
In the Supply bill at the end OF the session.
This would make 100000 for the purpose Of rem.
deriug the most important parts Of the Capitol habit,
able next winter The Senate Finance Committee
have already approved tho suggestions Of the Capitol
Commissioners The $500, 900 thus asked Tor during
the present year Tor new Capitol purposes can DO
readily spared out OF tho unexpsnded balance of
$l10o,00o in the treasury Indeed it is believed not
only by Governor Robinson and tho Comptroller. but
by the most enlightened gentlemen OF the Committees
oil Ways and Means OF the Senate aud the Assembly
that the progressive accumulation of balances
as above described will suffice complete the Capitol
entirely without directly taxing the people another
dollar Tor that purpose II this anticipation be well
founded 1t supplies the financial question respecting
the Capitol and leaves taxpayers regret prin.
was committed upon them In the original design
TsREE PRoBLExs-FiRsr. THE STATE CANALS
With the new Capitol thus disposed Of with the
bounty debt cleared away. with the expenses Of the
State prisons greatly reduced under tho ut
OF single efficient superintendent so that during the
last three months oil 1877 the returns OF Sing Sing
formerly the most costly among Them, showed an
actual rovonue to the State treasury oil
with these tbings accomplished and tho canal ex-
pcnditures reduced At The ratc OF $500 year for
tho last two years. tho principal problems which must
now engage tho attention OF tho Legislature and the
people are those connected still with the canals uhe
question OF FREQ canal not being uppermost) the
valuations OF properly and local taxation In cities
towns villages and public nstii uiions including
decidedly public schools.
IN regard to free canals, the Governor, tho Comm.
trolicr aud the Auditor Of tho Canal Department arc
Almost a. ono In recommending that tolls should be
reduced to ~ loast u minimum. This Is regarded as
necessary that the Eric Canal may continue to attract
70 tho State aud to New York city that immense
volume OF freights which has hitherto poured
through the State, surprising In value all
irsghts attracted through other States other ports
on inc Atlantic seaboard. ! cannot do better here
tnsu 70 submit nrst tho following valuable
ana lucid statement, first Of the Comptroller. next
the Auditor. The Comptroller says:-
The constitution Of the state contcmpates that the
shs canal dsS shall from hS ,urpln"
Of tns esnss Owing to aas general stsanauon n bust
81 Railroads. tho canals cannot surplus The
Canal nas successfully far beyond the
hopes projectors FOR long time II had the entire
monopoly Of the carrying trade and the prosperity
10 ssctscus Of the state through which II ram created
nd tor lateral CANALS Tho these lsteras
~ charge the IT the Erie Canal which
charge was only just Ioug the Lrc Cans had
the Legislature gave 20 the railroads tho right to
carry freighs without the payment Of tolls the
power The canal 20 meet these charges By this act
yaiirosds IL practically abroxased the pledges Of
and cheap transport alton tho policy Of the
Il Just destroy tho canals under the preiest Of cons
wben the state viftuay aofogsted all these
By avertng tho commerce OF Tue canals IT, tue
~ilross thus y'v~s .wry =" ths
'ch,svrd Il must tho Erie lanai Tor its greatest
liz IL /. I'M narrative tho toll sheet shall he fixed AZ
nnmum with no sxpscsas,on o. earning from the
- Ala more than their expenses and the expenses must De
Sscsj 10 The lowest poius conssens With safety Millions