The sun., 1879-02-22
TAXING CORPORATIONS.
An Effort 10 Compel them tn Hear their share
Of Public burdens.

ALBANY, Feb. 2l.-A question which has
attracted considerable attention in and around
the Legislature, and which bids fair to become
one Of the Leading questions Of the rest Of the
session. is that Of taxation OF corporations. 1t
WIS brought directly before the Legislature by
the introduction of sweeping resolution by
Agrculturst Wasworth on the 5,h OF Febru-
ary, in the following words;
W;, There sgegar; to be- wd;,grc.d feeling Of
ton IN the evasion ot corportuns H. meeting their iair
Wb''a' II Is ipcumbsnt the Legislature to dc.
N'e aud en'ct the measures necessary To remove all
therefor exsO and with the view 10 such lcrslauon df
S Is i ysf S & Sn We S ,aiS Should Ii to una % ne s
date as possible o the facts relating to tile eVasions
R..sr.i That he Committee on ways and Neansi in.
date a. possible whether anv ani r 80 witch Of lie COR
paraio, O. ne stare does not bear H. air aud just pto
Commi'tee 20 inquire into and ascertain the stock or
nJeJtcdnes. where such torornd6n l. taxed the pfin
cirie upon WHICH such tax iimr9~ed the amount Of tax
alton II has nid duriug each Of the last three years and
any necessary secure lust taxation each
R,.!c,i, That said Committee in making the nvesusa
ton hcriu authorized, have power to send ior books
persons, aud papers
The presentation OF the resolution took the
Assembly by surpriie for coming from the
source that II did no person could charge that
1t was n strike. On the call OF the roll II was
adopted-s2 to 8.
AT the meeting OF the Ways and Means Com
mttee. n few days subsequently. the resolution
was taken up and its broad scope considered.
A subcommittee. consisting OF Mr.. wndsworth.
Mr.. Fish and Mr.. Grady. was appointed to make
the examination called for, obtain the data and
report to the full Committee the conclusions
person taken charge Of the subject. The first
stop was To- send TO the clerks OF the
Board Of Supervisors Of every county
fnF NJ
assessmenis levied upon ali corporations
In the years referred to in the resolution. to.
grther W IN the amount Of taxes paid. The re-
sponses have In sevrrl instances been prompt
some furnishing the data nn others referring
e. reports mndr 20 the Comptroller OF the state
The luttrr on 'ial Is also preparing n stntemrnt
Of the facts in his ofllce. which will he rrndy
next werk The facts thus eatnere, are being
tnbulAted under the direction Of MIR. Wadsworth
as fast Ms received. TheyNwil be arranged not
only to show the amount OF taxes paid by all
! corporntions the proportions paid by them in
ea'h courtyard the result upon the taxation In
each county. by providing for the assessment Of
AL corporgtlon~ al the Sige capital ant the pay
! confident that he will be able t. show 10y his
tables that the taxation OF the corporations di-
rect hv the State will relieve "A large part OF the
counties from any State tax. and prove more
| satisfactory than the present mode. The plan
! being considered ia 70 tax all corporations NJ
/ Albany the money To he paid direct to the state
Treasury and then credited TO each county on
! It's state tax in proportion TO the amount Of
| corporal" property which each county has with
! in lis borders.
! In addition TO the collection OF the data ms
| above. Mr.. Wadswnrth has obtained the statute
! ~ Pennsylvania for the taxation OF CORPORA
tipus. and Is IN cOrrespon i"ncr with ON 'ns In
that stat TN reference 10 the details of is opera
/ tons. lie is nlsn condufng like corr epond-
! ence with the authorities OF Illinois in reter-
enre 20 the corporation tax statute in that state.
| which has been pronounced 10y good uuthori-
/ ties 20 be- moro Ell 'ent than tha law OF Penn
/ sylyanin. The pr"srnt intention Is 10 make
! these basis Of n hill to be reported for New
| York with such changes ~ necessary To nuke
| i. applicable here. IL IS not believed by Mr..
| Wadsworth that Il will be necessary To pursue
/ the investigation into the bonded indebtedness
! and pital stock OF the corporations. as point u
. out In the res llution. In order TO prepare the
nll for their taxation. but TO provide In the bill
for ascertaining all OF these facts in assessing
| tho tax
The table Of figures md calculations being
/ prepared will he one ~ the most valuable TO be
| presented In the Legislature. II will he two
! weeks or more before il IL ready. and will be
| reported with the u ID prepared in accordance
| with IL showings. The fate oi the bill before
! the Legislature, in which the corporations have
| shown themselves all powerful. can only be
| sprcu .Ated upon az pres"ut. Much Will depend
| upon the showing of Mr.. Wadsworth's tail. OF
figures. aud whetner the corporations will he
/ ah. 10 convin @ the law makers that these par
tlcular localities will be injured by H.