The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-03
BUSINESS AHEAD In ALBANY.
NEW YORK CORPORATIONS ESCAPING
THEIR JUST T1XATIOM
TaNpnyers Eyes to he Opened To AN Injustice
Freight DETERMINATION - Another Move
Against Insurance Superintendent Smyth.


Freight DETERMINATION - Another Move
Against Insurance Superintendent Smyth.
ALBANY. March 2.--The subject of tho
taxation OF corporations Is likely to be brought
prominently before the Legislature this week.
Wadsworth. who led OF in this movement
has succeeded In getting all the information to
DO obtained from nearly every county in the
State and is now having II arranged in tabu
lifted form. 1t Is believed that these facts. when
given TO the public. ms Mr.. Wadsworth says they
will be ms soon as he can get them into n con-
densed and Ineligible shape will cause gen
eral astonishment and open the eyes OF tho
people to the injustice that has been done
them In the exemption from taxation OF the
property Of large corporations.
One OF the greatest difficulties. Mr.. wads-
worth says. has been to get the amount OF divi-
dends that have been declared by these corpora
tions. but in the main he has succeeded quite as
well rs he expected to- and though the informa-
ton obtained is not MS complete and full rs he
could wish. yet in his judgment it lie sufficient
TO show that n radical change in tho manner OF
taxing corporations is absolutely demanded. in
justice TO tho other taxpayers OF the State. Mr..
Wadsworth is now preparing a bill which he
will present with his report upon this subject.
and which he believes will remedy the evils
complained Of. The State assessors are also en-
gagged in drafting similar bill. but It is not
probable that both will be laid before the Legis-
lature, ns the assrssors arc in perfect accord
with Mr.. Wadsworth. and II Is likely that they
will agree upon one measure.
The corporations will, OF course, bitterly op-
pose the passage OF any law changing n condi-
ton OF affairs in which they are iaring so well
and when they are combined. IA touching any
single measure. they can bring to bear pres
sure that few Legislatures are strong enough
to resist. There IL no good reason to believe
that this Legislature will prove an exception to
the rule. The influences and arguments which
corporntions can command are generally moro
potent than appeals for justice from the people.
whom the Legislators are supposed TO repre-
sent, But the indications are that this move
ment Is 10 be earnestly pushed. and among
those who are behind II there is no representa-
tive OF tho " striking element which. in the
past. has almost always been active in the In;
itiatory movements against corporations. and
have always sold out at the last moment.
But IL IL almost too much 10 hope that any
thing Of real benefit will be accomplished this
winter. The session is now more than half
over. and II would DO very strange indeed II
the corporations. with all their friends and paid
attorneys in the Legislature, together with the
convincing arguments they can employ. should
not be- able 10 staye on any final action. This Is
especially true OF the Senate. which they have
controlled almost absolutely from the first lay
Of the session. There is bare possibility that
Mr.. Wadsworth may be- able TO get his bill
through the Assembly. though II IL not prob
able, but II Is almost absolutely certain TO be
strangled In some committee OF the Senate or
butchered outright. should II ever reach that
body. But the facts which will be brought out
in Mr.. WNisworth's report, and the agitation OF
this question. will unquestionably have much
% do with the makeup Of the next Legislature.
Men who are found opposing this movement
this winter may be RELOCATED 20 private life. and
others who are not the employees or attorneys 81
corporations. and who cannot be bribcd 10 do
their bidding. be sent here to protect the rights
of the people.
The passage by the Assembly on Friday-only
one member the Lone Fisherman OF Suffolk.
voting against it-of the resolution providing
for the appointment OF q special committee 10
lnNpsttlynfp tho alleged l.
roads in the matter Of fr"ights reminds me that
similar resolution passed the Assembly last
year. but came 20 grief in the Senate. Senator
Turner ~ the Eighteenth District had charge Of
the matter then. but for some reason or other
he failed to get II before the Senate Tor cOnsid-
Grafton until the very last day Of the session,
and then only about an hour or two before the
Adjournment. when everything WIS in confu-
sion and Il WAS an easy matter for the friends
Of the corporations TO give II its quietus. Mr.
Turner then made a bitter complaint that he
had been dcbarred by parliamentary tactics
late hour Alter tho adjournment OF the
last legislature II Will be remembered. tho
Chamber Of Commerce passed resolution
calling upon four Democratic Senators from
New York and Brooklyn To- resign because they
had voted against this resolution. Since then
senator Ihgmas Murphy ms been elected from
tho city 81 New York and be comes from IN,
district in which 1t is rrcsumahle lhnt major
iiy az the mcmh'rs oi the Chamber Of COM
merce reside. But instead % sending the rcao-
luilon to him. thc Chamber ~ Cummcrre ha-
again committed u Co. tho charge oi Mr. Turner
| hy whom Il WIS introduced about the same time
Mr. Hepburn introduced -iil.la resolution In
the Assembly; but Mr.. Turner has not as yet
male any attempt 10 call Il NJ for action. Mr.
Hepburn resolution rs now before the Senate
/ but courtesy viii prevent amy other senator
| than Mr.. Turner from calling IL from the table
II Mr.. Iurl't does not move 90 tho matter be-
lore long, tlN business Oi The senate WEI Doc ion
| such shnp" mat hy parliamentary tneucs The
| friends 20 the railroads may be nhle 10 again
sfHYe on action until the Inst day of the session
| Snch n result would he bad for both Mr.. Turner
aud the RESOLUTION; and the Chamber - Conn
li