New-York tribune., 1891-05-23
TAX LEVY BILL SIGNED.
GOVERNOR HILL APPENDs TO IT a VALE
DICToRY MEMORANDUM.
GIVING NOTICE THAT HE WILL NOT RUN AGAIN
FOR GovERNoR-wHY THE TAX RATE is
Low-rHE BOARD OF ELECTRICAL con-
TRoL-THE HARVEY BILL VETOED
ALL THE THIRTY-DAY
BILLS DISPOSED Of
7sY TELEGRAPH TO THE TnIBuNEj


so far as his Republican felowctizens concerned
they will shed no tears. and 1t Is TO bs doubted II
many Cleveland Democrats will mourn. II may be
added that good many Hill Democrats would con-
fess to wishing that David b. Hill had signed the act
for the taking of a state census In 1885, instead Oh
vet9ng ID and thus deprving the Democratic party OF
the benefits OF larger representation In the Legis
ature Nor did the Governor sign the act for the
holding Of Constitutional convention. although one
was solemny called by the people, in 1885. The
last law which Governor Hill signed was the state
tax levy of 1891, the lowest in thirty-six years.
As has been shown by The Tribune, this state tax
rate brought about by the large amount OF money
poured into the State Treasury by the Repubhcah
taxation laws passed since 1870. The state Corpora
ton tax law, the Vedder Collateral Inheritance TAX
law the vedder Direct Succession tax law. and the
yedder law taxing corporations for the benefit OF
organization. A year ago the Legislature OF 1890
had to impose taxes amounting to So,6i974o H. lhls
year the State rate will bcng In only Sol0lo'o H.
! Here is reduction in taxation Of So .42S,oIo Tue
appropriations of the Legislature of 1870 amounted 10
s1o OG4 4so and those Of 1891 to S12 2432,02O reduc
on In appropratons S53o AGO. 1t Is obvious, there
fore that the reduction In State taxation Of 20 4Soo
was not due to any action OF the Democratic Assembly
! or the Democratic Governor. Deductng the S5324oo
OF legislative appropriations from the S342so7o there
remains reduction OF taxes amounting to $2,eDo2lo
Controller Wemple in letter TO the legislature
stated that this reduction of So s962lb was due 10 the
taxation laws mentioned, which were Republican meas
ures But Governor Hill has the audacity, as might
be expected to claim this reduction as having been
made by the Democratic patty. He says, In men,
| orandum attached to the State Tax-Rate Oil:
The enactment Of this bill completes the legislation for
raising necessary TO meet the expenses anu
obligations Of the during the next fiscal year.
U also forms chapter OF the Session Laws OF Ieo
and feel no small OF pride and satisfaction tbot the
last legislative act which shall have the pleasure
alxing my official signature is measure OF sueh "s"
interest TO the taxpayers. 80 signincant OF hs prosperity
NJ the State and credtable the legislators ana sate
officers with whom people have inrused public auar'
This bill makes the rate for the next fiscal year the
lowest since 1855 The rate is nearly bali a. much A.
that fixed by preceding Legislature IL Is amos'
third OF that Of 1889 1t includes tax whatever Tor
pryng the general EXPENSE Of government ample pro-
vision for these being made by the methods oil mdec'
taxation recently adopted The only direct TAX u ior
school and canal purposes For the former tne ae 10
one mill each dollar OF valuation Tor canal purposes
including the canal debt 1t is only thirseVen and Dali
OF mi-neary half much as last yeaE
The total tax rate the year will be L3s mills on each
| dollar Of valuation. 49,,
The people OF the State congratulated this
low rate OF taxation immediate result It is to large
extent OF emphatic popular protest at the polls sse
autumn against public extravaganza and legislation inmca
10 the States prosperity For years the axDurdeneu
farmer has appealed in vain for relief to the Legislature
and az last he has received it in the substantial form OF
the lowest tax for hirtysix years. The event is
certainly one congatuatOn, and foreshadows the e
in future when, by an economical aahnsua~on
Of the Government, direct taxes WnateVer Will oe fe
| qulred for State purposes. -
II Is 10 be regretted that toward the accomplish
| ment Of this end not done at the re-
| cent session OF the Legislature, owing TO the
failure OF the Senate to pass certain equiaoie
mea sures OF indirect taxation which had passed tie
| Assembly What has been done, however, remains as
the sui sana fact and stands forth conspicuous as the
browning Of the shortest legislative session IN seven
teen years Professions for economy in public admins
tration are easily made but prompt performance Is moro
dnlcult 1t is gratifying feature OF this accomplish
ment that is the quick and faithful response OF the
peoples representatives the demands and expectations
Of the public manifested in the popular Vefoe' o aS'
| autumn.
| The Governor also signed the act extending the
terms of Office Of Theodore Moss, Democrat, and Jacob
Hess Republican, members of the Board OF Eectrl-
cal Control This bill was pressed to passage by
senators Ives and Brown, OF Tammany Han, upon le
final day OF tie session of the Legislature hF' hH
disingenuOusly attempts to deceive the people nto
belief that this measure in which Republicans
were especially interested and, after denouncng them
| for voting for 1t, has the cheeA I" Dis" ~ ''N'
lie says: 49,,
There seems to have been considerable hostility TO ths
measure Part of tho criticism which has made II NOTORIOUS
has arisen inclined to think from the circumstances
of it's passaae IL is that it passed the Senate on
the last day Of the session. Notwithstanding the convenient
deadlock which body had declared should continue
until the final adjournment 1t is true also that IL was
taken up out order and in preference to humL er OF
other Of general Importance ana necessity "he
had passed tbs Assembly, and which the people eApee"o
IN nass the Senate also to be true that this
particular bill made exception for tho mere reason
that IL retained in office genial politician oi inc same
political faith the majority of the Senate Inc senate
passed this measure although N refused 10 pass u'o
Worlds Fair BILL which then upon the table awaiting
| its consideration. The one measure aided pohtcal
friend other patriotic measure, demanded OILY
| by the people. The "honor" of the Senate per-
mted 1t to pass the one but not the other although
10 was we'll known that the defeat Of the latter meant
humiliation the State sad embarrassment to great
National enterprise.
But Notwithstanding peculiar and extraordinary favor
tsm shown this bill the last day OF the session. ue
circumstances Of It's passage should prejudice the bs
rate inclined think that the measure itelf Is OF
somewhat questionable propr!ety 1t Is grave question
whether IL Is unwisc policy TO be annually eNhug
the o Of the Board OF Electrical Control and may well
be claimed that best interests OF the city o. NewiorK
would be subserved by placing the electrical system at
the control of some regularly cons'uteo cai
authorities rather than continuing II IN the hlos Oh
special Board But, Legislature having ad!oufned ana
as there serious differences Of opinion IN REGARD 70 TINS
matter among those who have studied the subject more ah
have had opportunity do, have concluded with some
reluctance to waive my objections. and permit ne
| measure 70 become a law with my formal approval
The Governor vetoed the bill OF Charies t.
| Harvey, 10 give him share Oh the
elevated railway percentage fund now amounting
10 5000 OoO in consideration Of his great services 10
New-York in inventing the elevated railway system.
The Governor SAYS In his memorandum vetoine this
bill:
This bill is popuariy known ~ the Harvey DILL" In
the year 1885 the Legislature passed and approved,
measure which was likewise known US tho Harvey DILL"
but which OF Appeals on the application OF the
local authorities Of New.Yok City, subsequently declared
to be unconstitutional That bill was approved by me on
two grounds First because It provided what then re-
garded as reasonable method by which Mr. Harvey with
out injustice the public Interests hngn receive some
measure Of for previous services in aiding
NewYork City in obtaining its present means of transit
and second because provided for further experiments
to be made by him In effort secure new and 'ddi-
tonal facilities for rapid transit The prospect OF de'
vopng further plans for practical rapid transt under the
provisions that bill the principal argument which