New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-02
THE WESTERN UNIONS CLAIM.
DIR. GREENS ARGUMENT BEFORE TIKI LEGISLATIVE



CoMMrrrrrs.
ALB,SY. March DIR Norvin Green president OF
the Western Union Telegraph Company. appeared DE-
fore the Joint meeting OF the senate Judiciary COM
mttce and Assembly Committee on Gains this AFTER
noon In favor Of the bills TO repay 10 the western
Union Telegraph Company the tax levied upon It's
WHO'D capital IN 1881, the State Legislature having
since passed q law declaring that the company Is
only TO be taxed on portion OF It's property used 10
this state Bills for return Of tho excessive tax
been introduced By Senator PIERCE ahd Assei"-
blyman John l. Plat These gentlemen were present
at tho committee meeting to support their measures
DR. Green was present In bchaif OF tho western
Union Telegraph Company and Of ths Cold ana stoeh
Telegraph Company. He demonstrated 10 INC "o"
ittecs that his companies taxed ON their prop
crty, taxed for the privilege OF using IT, anu LAC" u"
the product Of such lie gave complcte history
CT the Western Union Telegraph Company, oisaouse"
the minds of the committeeman OF the idea tLat eic
giaph companies do not cost anything anu 'la' !.
doesn't cost anything do telegraph service ana
shaved that fur the littlo space occnpied by New
York the coupany's property Throughout the Unted
sIalos taxed sad Dr. Green; we hA'o pun
ry6OOO,OO0 mo tho plant ana VIZ law
l-suOd s3o.OOOUOO addIt.O1aI siock onS 81
~o havo sqLs.1ed $l1,Oyo,VoO rght Out Oh
that has Lever capEanei But tnai spo'oohooo
,.ua have cos. al, v,ner party lror coat more
.-n IL coss us. ie'Ist -0,~Vo p1opio
tu.vrcsLei our CO. LoiasiOh . ...,.,
"A
which 40 sum ASSESSED and iad-IiAAIloa On Va,
pruperty Taxation tno rgit 10 Use H. anu iAae
on ,he pro. uoo uss-iL addl'Ioh 10 Al ui~Se W
a construction Of the law OF lool "o "c4o 49,
ann ,ucd foe a tho entiro caai'A ssotA y. INC
cO,l,an, and about plo2, 900 Win al ei'St anu 0"'
uas wr.sted rom BY tho decision vi ulo
Court of Appeals, which IN reh-crns Unjust
Eow Ia there any element OF Justice or iar ueaiIms
that can sustain the taxation OF or propcrty ~ "a
eight States and nine territories, "n VI" ns Iorrnrv
had assumed 10 tax US rs this STAT assn AMI shovo
TAX ~, our entire taxation u0Iih haVe Dcou soVr
81 600. 900, equal TO one haii on our cnsu H. nj
that wear and nearly double our entire pa oucSi IL,
vet there Is a clamOr for cheap telegraph 10 'H'
the road that leads TO IL 49,, .,,o. ,an oo We
had d@termined to take that cae up TO the supreme
Court OF Tho United states, and so noinca tnc ~
tcrnev General We were then told that IL we woui
waive the appeal OF that case 10 t7 olriai reron-
that tho Controller would mahs an o1hciai 10 30
nendation OF a law that should connne nc ,"h -
cantaI cmuloyed within the state ana ShoIlu uaso
,etyoSnsctlVr action a9d wipe OUT he laA i"l
80 Ind ieaA " hch had already been assessor anu
became duo and payable. Now, II IL was WRONG 70
TAX our entire capital stock and the Lrsi'iate nsto
fSsi n il was wrong 10 collect that tax on
our cntirr capital stock IN loo1' -, ,,
which had aireaay becoue due ana payao,es
was lust as wrong 10 collect IL for 1857.
M man can iu,igy the collection OF that tax IN
1907 an orr entire property In tho civilized worm,
and II YOU can't Justify its collection, how can YOU
Justify its aui horityl 1t is money wrongly "reS"u
But it ba, been alleged that we have paid 10 ana
that should stop us from questioning rs equity
rut the question TO You on tho Snplc pn,' s,ad
er,,n ,is II Is nothing short ot legal robbery anu
we arc entitled to II back again mink IL Is
paln simple proposition. that We ough, never 10 u ,
iaen maze 10 pay hat tax, and | think IL Is l'st
~ nlan To every right III nklng man that 1t opgh 10
IL returned to ns NJ least much OF u as as on
capital employed without the state OF Ne"'forN