New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-23

w THE GOVERNORS COMMISSION AN
EHE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE-AN II
FORMAL DISCUSSION
| IBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUSEJ
ALBANY. N. T., Feb. 22.-The Governors Com
mission on Taxation and the Joint Committee o.
taxation of the Legislature held Joint session
iale this afternoon in the new Capitol This wa
Cne hrst meeting of the members of the Commission
One Oh their number, Samuel ID. Babcock. had de
ciiheu TO serve. NJ. Babcock was at first under thu
Impression that the Commission would hold sessions
uurlng tne summer or at q time when business viii
10 Tess active than at present He therefore
neiu the Governors appointment under advisement
Ior lew days. but wlen he was informed that the
commission would be expected to be in constant
communication with the Legislative Committee Oh
AAAatlon' and that a conclusion of their work was
oAeu Ior during the present session of the Legsla-
lure ne promptly sent his declinatIon Of the office
10 uoVernor Copell. His successor will be promptly
appointed
lnere were present Of the Commission: John F.
| seymour, of Oneida County; Thaddeus Halt of
OlS.er; Edward w. Foster Of st. Lawrence; George
ueudes' of Onondaga, and Alonzo Bradner, of
Livingston 1t will be perceived that the four
farmers who control the Commission were present.
Inc absence Of Joshua M Van Colt, of Brooklyn,
one Oh the Commission, regretted. Mr.. Van Colt
mas not vet responded by letter to the Governors
request that no would Join the Commission, and it
Is not yet known whether not he intends to do So
lhere were present of the Joint Committee on Taxa
tioh the following: Senators Wlnslow Sessions and
Lofd' and Assembymen Steele Bowen Morgan and
Hamilton. The absentees were Senators Jacobs and
FORSTER, and Assemblymen Waring, Holmes, Cock
and Andrews
Senator Wihsow, chairman of the ONT Commit
tee on Taxation. called the assembage to order,
ana requested the Clerk to call the names of
the members of the Commission and of the Com
mlttee. Mr.. Seymour, of the Commission
saiu That he understood that his fellow
members desired to hold a conference before
JOINT meeting was held. The members Of the
Commission thereupOn retired to another room.
and there elected Mr.. Geddcs temporary chairman
and Mr. Foster temporary secretary. 1t was evident
from the demeanOr of the members of tho Com
mission that they will claim equal rank with the
members 'of the Legislature IN considering the
revision of the taxation laws.
Nhie tho Commission was absent the members
OF the Legislature talked over their troubles of last
winter in dealing with the taxation laws Assem-
Dlyman Steele stated that Governor Cornell had
Just Informed him of his reasons for vetong the Tax
alton bill defining lands" This was one of the
most important bills Of the series on taxation Mr..
Steele stated that Senator Woodln in his anxiety TO
protect street surac railroads from double taxa
ton. had interpoated sentence in the bill which
would have had the effect of cxempting much other
valuable property from taxation.
When the Commission returned to the room, Mr.
Foster stated that Mr. Geddes had been elected
chairman OF the Commission, and that they were
now prepared to cooperate with the Joint Committee
in the matter indicated by the concurrent resolutions
OF the Legislature Senator WInslow then stated
that N might hN VOL In xar Ne bo
OF haste IN dealing with the subject, to draw up
plan Of operations lIo also stated that it was the
spirit Of tho concurrent resolution he thought that
the members of the Commission should have full
liberty tomlEe any remarks they chose at the meet
iGgs OF the JOINT Committee. "And attend any meet
iDg they chooscP said Mr.. Foster. nquiIngly !
" Certainly replied Senator WinslOw.
Mr.. Hamilton said no thought It would be well 10
decide at once whether exclusive attention should
be gwen 10 increasing the taxation of personal
property He would Ike TO call attention to the
Governors remarks In MS Last message on the SUBJ
jcct. a portion Of the Governors message pointing
ont the shuukaeo of taxation Of personal prop
ertv. was thcn rend. Mr. Steele read the !
remarks of Controller Wadsworth on taxation, and |
snI that he differed from tho Controller The |
mt Committed On Taxation had been compelled 70
pass what laws they could tho previous wears and |
hot What they desired Bile carefully PREPARED III
u" committee lad been SHdlY maired ~ the Legs.
Iture. Therefore many OF the bills were detective
r,at confusion had been caused IN OF the bills
lv taking out 4 clause defining manufacturing cor
Ioratlons. sir. Hamilton, OF New-G0rk, then offered
he following resolution:
Res9'rtd, That IA The opinion OF this Committee and
'pumls,iun. the tax laws shUult be amended that |
Ir.oual property my hereafter bear las fair proportion
II taxation
Mr. II lmilton then said 8" II has been proposed TO
make real estate bear all the burdens of taxation.
ND exempt per-Onnl property from taxation. |
raven, much doubt how tho Committee stand on
he subject"
his body VINO - IA favor OF thus eXCmpting per-
ona property from taxation wish he would cx-
,res, his opinion. | should like to hear such
hrOrv argued. ] never have seen such man.
Mr.. Foster" There ~ certainly argument on
hat side of the question. In some countries they
lon't tax personal property. but doubt whether
uch proposition would be received at all favor
bly BY the Legislature"
Mr. steele then sad " have never read such an
Iguuent OF cxemptlng personal property but that
vas founded on illlacyD
omrtIrle5 to theOrZe 10 IL p6lpablo that the pres
mt laws regarding personal property are farce. II
Gems to me the only way Of reaching personal
u Operty would be 10 forbid the Oiisetting OF debts
u taxing IT.
Senator Sessions then said Lot us take an in
ormI vote whether or not |e favor taxing personal
rOpeftY."
senator Winslow-"I think we had better not take 4
vote to-day. Some Of our members arc absent"
There was general agreement not to take
otc. Mr.. Strole was then requested u draw up two
is-one defining lands" aud the other regarding
for debt. Nj Geddes said Bills, II
curse ought TO be drawn up tor taxing all property,
iid perhaps some property twice" lLaughter
The Commission and Committee then adjourned ,
III tomorrow.
THREE CHURCH WEDDINGS.