New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-22
POINTS FOR TAXPAYERS.
THE FARMERS LEAGUE TO WATCH CHANGES
IN TAXATION LAWS.

MEETING OF LEADERS TO PUT IN SHAPE
SOME DEMANDS UPON THE LEGIsLAT.
URE-wHERE ECONOMY IS MOST
OBVIOUSLY NEEDED
'uRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF rprsrvJ
Albany. Dec l6.-A conference held at rns
Globe Hotel IN this city on Wednesday by some Of the
leaders OF the Farmers League This is the POLITICAL
organization which was formed by farmers interested
in the reduction Of taxes and the passage of laws the
interest OF agriculture at Syracuse last fall. The
president Of the organization, Henry F.. Abell Of this
county, IN, made good many speeches in support of
such candidate, for collection TO the Assembly a. had
voted against eXtravagant appropriations by the Lesis
lature and favor Of bills reform the taxation Law,
of the state so as to diminish the taxation burdens Of
the farmers. Mr.. Abel had been in Albany every DAY
while the Legislature in session and had observed
keenIy the actions Of the Senators and As>embIymcn
He thus able to give the farmer voters highly
Trustworthy evidence regarding the fidelity or unfaIth
funcss Of their legislative representatives
The present winter the Farmers League will have 4
committee in Albany at frequent intervals to learn
what the members Of the Legislature are doing in ,hs
direction Of reforming the taxation laws. what an.
preparation bill are under debate. what appsren,Iv
Will be the rate of State taxation next year. what
appropriations have been proposed and Ia
fact to learn everything that the Legislature Is con.
sidcring that bears upon the welfare of farmers. Nor
will the Farmers League confpe itself merely 10 tho
act If observation. It, members Will appear before
committees and oppose such bill, deems inmcal
70 the interests Of the farmer taxpayers or indeed Of
any other tgXp1ver> II Is safe prediction to make
that the Farmers Lcacrc Will oppose with all its
strength the suggested bill appropriltng Sloooo.ooo
to the improvement Of state roads The farmers are
strongly in favor Of improving the roads, but they are
opposed making such gigantic appropriations at thu
beginning Of such enterprise. In fact, they think
such q scheme should b. looked over Thoroughly. and
careful plu- should be made for II before dollar
Is expended upon it, The Farmers League also viii
present to the legislature a conservatively drawn
bin reforming the taxation lavs o. the state
There I, general impression among the lead
or, % the farmers that they have failed
TO pass some such bill in ,te years which would In
crease the taxation Of personal property, because
these measures have been TOO radical In character.
All these matter, will he debated Al the meeting NJ
the leaders Of the Farmers League here on Wednesday
There will probably be some effort to formulate ths
demands II th, farmers on that occasion.
vi men Of a'r,tic motive, in the Legislature aN
agreed that the main cause Of excessive and eNrava
giant appropriations when they arc made Is that Inc
legislature in The dark from day 10 day As n no
total amount Of il, appropriations NaronS commit
tee, iutrrucc appropriation bills and ask the Legs
laturr 10 pass them without consulting each other
II j, tho common belief that all the bills appopnati1s
money ar, sent 10 the Finance Committee Of the
senate and t. the Committee on Ways and Means ~
the Assembly. This is not true Many u the largest
appropriation hill, are sent b the Canal committees
f the two houses. other committees I'm some way
get possession 81 other appropriation bills or bills
creating commissions The consequence Of this in
dependent acon by The committees is that no member
Of the Legislature readily tell from dav TO day
how much money has been APPROPRIATED. and the Legs
lature drift, along r. darkness Throughout lis session,
making appropriations without being aware of tho
total Ia TACT. Dembcr Of the legislature Has any
,crurotr convention # the total amount If money thai
Ia, "en Appropriated until the last DAY Of the session.
when a roagh calculation is made and tie tax rata
- ,don,od Any business man who should conduct
hi, cuisines. 100 that manner. without balancing MS
loI-o- from d,y a. day. would soon 20 iafo bank
,uptcv TIC loading members - the legislature are
agreed that the committee, most inconsderae tn the
matter Of reporting Appropriation bills avoraoH are
tc Canal Committees Of the senate and the Assembly.
The bad practice has prevailed in The appoint
ment of members Of these committees ~
naming men soely from the canal counties.
The result II this practice Is that too often
there i no resisting force in the committees Thy re-
port all canal appropriation bill, with favor ndscrmi-
naicly 1ha bill, fayoraby reported because SONS
member. from a canal county has introduced them IN
TOO many case, these bill, intended {" increase
the value Of private property at some place on inc
line Of the canal, Tie ultimate result II the acton
81 the Canal Committees Is 10 swell the volume "
canal appropriations 20 such an extent mat the
Lc.,,laturc becomes alarmed and heSus 20 cut DOWN
Ties, bills luspariuclv: aid IN :hi' process many
worthy canal Appropriation bills safer damaging
reduction.
y ,youM seem ra, N, farmers might well busy
themselves tho comm: winter in efforts looking 10
the reform Il some " the methods Of doing business
I'm The legislature. ard that There NAV he more proht
T., them Z The, accomplish this object even thin
Their, would De 10 them in discovering lew way ~ tan
INK rcop,r Pcrar, also they might be- able 70 rrdn'
thc srca; appropriations made II late years FOR inc
canals and Set have moro money for legitimate canal
VOL, thar j. uoV granted Perhaps. also, thcS WI
discover % wa t. rlu,oldat" some ~ Tie H'd'e
drn3rfIucn:S and thus save money and pnt sop
+, The creation Of r"w lut unnecessary state de
n,~,ulent, n the end ;heS NAV learn that thev
1su have money - Use iu improving the states
roads without Increasing safe taNailon "A penny