New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-28
SUGGESTIONS FOE TAXATON.
TALK WITH JAMES A. BRIGGS.

ATALK WITH JAMES A. BRIGGS
LIGHT TAXATION IN THE FARMING COUNTlEs-GEr-
TING THE STATE REVENUE WHOLLY FROM COR
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. IN CITIEs.
There is mucn interest manifested in this
city on the subject Ct taxation being considered by
the JOINT Committee Senate Assembly aud the
Advisory Commission appointed by the Governor The
resigpatIon OF Samuel D. Babcock from the Commission
ana Senator Jacobs from the Committee IL regretted ~
weakening the representation of this city aud Brc0kyp'
which, more than any other places IN tho State are SUI
ferers the existing Tax laws. Four OF Inc COmns
missioners appointed by the Governor are farmers
Referring this fact, TRIBUNE reporter In CONVEX
sation with exstae Assessor James A Briggs, asked
him he thought the farmers OF the State pay more tDan
their fair proportion OF State taxos.
al will state TO you facts; they need no oomments
said Mr.. Briggs "But II the Committee with the Adj
yisory Commission has only 70 relieve the farm property
OF the State The work OF the members Will be very easy
or the sixty counties. pay State. county ana
town tax OF over per cent Of these the city
taxes In Albany and NowYork Counties arc Included In
the rate Nine pay lees than er cent AID over
Ila per cent TwentySx pay less than = and over
per cent and eighteen pay ess than J. according TO the
report Of Controller Of the state for the year 1880
Chautauqua County ia regarded as an agricultural
county and lands pay only So per cent OF the
taxes assessed there real estate Cayuga County Is
an agricultural county and the farmers pay only DO per
cent OF the land Columbia Is agricultural, aud
the farmers pay only 20 per cent OF the land taxes
Duchess Ia also agricultural and the farmers pay less
than per OF the taxes asessed on real estate for
State county and town purposes.
"Of the State taxes for 1880, tho Counties OF New
York and Kings paid within fraction Of SO cent Of
the whole amount The State taxes In NeW-fOrk CITY
for 1880 SO so per capita In Kings County 81 Az
in Chauauqua 81 49, These counties have lsls than 80
per cent OF tho population Of the State The farmers Of
s,.A f.ea
90 far as State concerned they have nothing to
COMPLAIN Of although their complaints chronic:
and they have four members OF the Board 81 minister
them Perhaps illustration OF the aAscasment OF the
real personal OF the town In which OF the
farmers ON the Advisory Board lives Will show how
oneruus upon the great and
interSt he representa- In 1879 his town assessed
for 2OgA2 acres OF aud IN the OF $3.50. 1885, From
the real estate his county In 1880 the State Board of
Examination deducted IS per cent on the assessed valua
lion This left his town assessed nj S2SO2Sl or irac
,op over 81 All acre for the land. The township paid
State TAX Of 1916 Of. This 10 Slate tax on land per
cnuta IN his town Of fraction A oeuts The pr
sona property was assessed al frnctOn over SO per
cap,ta sud the State this asseSsed valuation OF
personal property Ia this oppressed town was @ii s6A
tax of u per capita for State purposes Tor the year
1850 ON the assessed valuation Now. tbe assessed
value Of the personal property IN the town OF this Ad
visory Member will not buy even tho bedsteads In tie
400 houses there The gruss sales from these farms IL
1875 were SI46O0O the sale Of and poultry alone
bcpe 600 This about the way the farmers OF tie
state are oppressed by state taxes
"Have you any theories about State ta1Ationf'
"Iknow very little about theories aud regard them hs
n, small value unless they DO rodaced TO practical
use.r
nvhat amount Of State tax r. derived from personal
propery after deducng the persOnal properly assessed
20 corporations Ia the state J.
81 eatiInate the personal property hssessed 10 indE
idaaIs Mt 1882 600 The State tax ON this sum Ia
1897 OOO or l2 per capita for the population y"
the Slate The assessment OF personal property Ia u
farce upon which the curtain should fall never To be
u,,d nm again in this state least In any city. would
leave IL 70 the Board OF Supervisors to say whether per-
sona property should be assessed In towns or not IL TIE
neople OF the are IN favor oil taxing personal
nroperty they will elect Supervisors of their own
opinions. believe In legacy aud succession TAX.
PennCyaua received last year on tax on collateral
tnherltances 500, AL. The legacy and succession
tax pad IN England last year was s3,70o.806. or
S18633 03O"
.How would you raise taxes for State purposesp
Entirely frem incorporated companies. and at once
and forever relieve all real estate and property
OF individuals from State taxes The Incorporated com
panies Of this State pay SOOOOO0 OF state taxes
taxes onerous would railroad, Telegraph. expires.
and steamboat companies on gross receipts fire an1
companies and banks their capital. all privae bank
aud brokers percentage. IN stamps. Oh az bis
rates taxing the receipts Of railroads. az road
that pays dividends AFFORD 10 pay more tax than
that does not running EXPENSES repairs anu III
How wsnld this manner OF taxation for State pur-
poses affect tue rural counties In the StateP
"Wen take Chautauqua County. The State tax on this
S lhe coang Is SIS 81 Now, say that The county
town, school district aud road taxes on incorporated
would save under this system Of state taxation
S45. 900 year. and would have only their county, town
and village taxes ~ pay. Take Cayuea County. The
state tax on Incorporated companies in this county
Tor 1880 81 423 SO. The sLato this county Is
SS5 $40 Say local taxes incorporated capt
iaI m the county 10000 and then county would
save under this system S43,OOO a year Under this
system the great benefit wOuld farmers AS III
corporaied companies IN the cities and villages"
"Would you tax bonds aud mortgages, securiues OF
IL would exempt bonds and mortgages and mercan
tile trading capital from taxation In the cities ana SUI
buildings and premises occupied Tor hn KIND OF business
mes otherwise taxed. A. B. Ia merchant and pays
49, 900 year for his store rental value tax OF er
year rant; per cent ON this is $50 year tax II r.
f. his own store aud occupies II, tax him per cent
It's rental value. have no doubt Whatever II syH
tenn Of taxation like this could be adopted for This city
that OF fortune would come here from all sections OF
CANT homes money woud be loaned here on bond aud
mortgage for building and for all Legitimate business
purposes great abundance at per cent Ut can
retain our present National banking sysIem-the best IN
word and the progress Of our city would be with;
reason why the laws for taxing personal property IN
Warren or sullivan County should DC tao same US ~ ~
busness Why have the same laws here IN this city ior
taxing personal property, with its 100000 people. as
In Wmo, Herkmer County, with 100000 acres OF lana
aud 1876 mhabitantsf
"TaEe OF all taxes landed MORTGAGES and personal
securities ana business capital TAX horses ana car
rages household furniture over $1,000 or $loOV ~
value aud paintings, statuary and articles of luxury,
and IN the years ~ least f3OOOOOOOo VIII 10
added to the value OF the real estate In TINS city
would not leave telegraph poles and wlres ana pipe
lInes and horse aud elevated railroads. and steam rail-
roads, assessed by 5000 or 1000 town aud cry as
put groes receipts 20 cover all taxes
would adopt "A system that would levy all taxes Ia tne
most and simple manner and get the argest
amount OF revenue most Just ana equit9De 10
law taxes IN perfectly equal manner 70 human
ability have gwen you mere outlines the hllng