New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-11
SENATOR FAssETTs REPLY.
REVIEWING THE FALSE STATEMENTS 81
THE HILL MANIFESTO.
THE UNscRUPULoUs CHARACTER OF DEaee3
CRATIC ASSERTIONS CONCERNING THE RE
CENT LEGI MISUNDERSTANDING Ey:
FORTS TO DIsLODGE THE CANAL
RING-wHERE CREDIT WAS
DUE FOR LEGI Station.

FORTS TO DIsLODGE THE CANAL
RING-wHERE CREDIT WAS
DUE FOR LEGISLATION.
Elmira. Nav lO.-Senator Fassett, who has beeo
resting here from his labors since the Legislature
adjourned, was interviewed to-day In references
TO the manifesto recently issued by certain
Democratic Senators and Assemblymen. The few
days of leisure that the young Republican leader
has enjoyed had afforded him time to peruse the
remarkable document and to familiarize himself
with its contents. When asked what he thought
of the claims set forth in it, he replied as fol-
lows:
"Goveruor David b. Hill, who, at the present
time reigns as the controlling power In the Demo
cratic party In this State, hos had aosoiu'o
dominion over the Democratic minority In tho
last Senate and the Democratic majority IN tns
last Assembly. From the time ne compoiie"
them to elect him as United States Senator
down to the time when he extorted signatures
from Senator'S and Assemblymen to the documene
issued to the people of this State on the day OK
the final adjournment, his hand was never re-
moved from the Democratic representatives In tno
Legislature. This manifesto is unconsciousy
plea in the nature OF confession and avoidance.
In 1888 the Democratic party had complete con-
troll Of the State Government. The Governor was
both Democratic No manifesto was issued at tho
end of that session, nor has the record OF the
Democratic minority during all the intervening
wears been such as to call out from them any
official 'appeal to Caesar But this year the
career of the Democratic majority in the Assembly
has been SO fantastic, its movements so uncertain,
its acts SO fraught with menace and positive
danger and the behavior of the minority In the
Senate aided and abetted by that anomalous states
man Edward T. Jones, has been so bizarre as TO
frighten the controlling spirit into issuing at
once o semi-offoial declaration, in the nature OF
public apology. This is presumably the best
possible statement that can be made OF the Demo-
cratic record during the session last past and the
hest possible statement of the Democratic atti-
tude with reference to the same. Emanaung az
it does directly from the hands Of Governor Hill,
and signed as it is by Senators and Assemblymen, it
assumes an importance to which it's contents and
merits do not entite it. Generally it may be
characterized as slSilfully woven tissue Of
sophistry and Misrepresentation, of false state
ments, unwarrantabe assumptions and illogical
conclusions AS an elaborate attempt deliberately
to deceive the people, it would be just to char
scterize it as being lie. Taking it's averments
seriatim, let us examine what is claimed for ths
Democratic party.
ALLEGED ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DEMOCRACY.
They first claim great credit for the shortest
legislative session in seventeen years. or course
the Assembly could not have adjourned without
the consent of the Senate, and neither house
ought to have adjourned until the work Of both
houses was completed. Hence, there Is no
credit for the short session due to branch Of
| the Legislature more than to the other. Every
days session of the Legislature costs the people
between $4,000 and $4,000, and yet Governor
Hill held the Senate in deadlock for fourteen days
in order to prevent an investigation of the canal
ring.
The next claim is that 'we the Democrats.
have given the people the lowest tax rate since
1855. The tax rate is always predicated upon
the appropriation made by the Legislature. and
no appropriation can be made except by consent
of both houses of the Legislature. Tax rates de-
pend upon three factors: First, the amount OF
| money appropriated for expenditure; second the
amount of income TO the State treasury, independ.
ent of direct taxation third the amount Of assessed
valuation of property. both real and personal In
the entire State subject to State taxation. IL is
evident that the dlminution Of the tax rate this
wear is due largely TO the last two causes TO VII,
larger income ana increased valuation OF property.
The actual amount of money appropriated this
year is only S532, 900 short of the amount appro-
priated last year. So it is not mere diminution
Of appropriation that has reduced the tax rate.
except so far as the item of S532,00O would go.
Examination Of the journals of the two houses
will show that more appropriation bills coming
from the Assembly were smothered in the Senate
than Senate bills going TO the Assembly were
smothered there. Had the ordinary appropriation
for the Improvement of the canals, and the Worlds
Fair bill. appropriating 100000, become laws.
the actual amount of appropriation would have
l. +I; than fOr DpF n
For the increased value of the property taxed in
the State neither party can properly make any
| claim. For the increase Of revenue the State is
indebted to certain laws, and it is a matter Of
record that these laws were introduced in the
| form Of bills by Republicans, and passed by
Republican Legislatures. They are four in mum.
| her: First the so-called Wadsworth Corporation
Tax law, introduced by the Hon. James w. WadS
worth. of GeneSeo, and signed by Republican
| Governor; second the Organization Tax law,
introduced by Senator Vedder. passed by Re-
publican Legislature and allowed TO become =
law by Governor Hill; third, the Collateral In
heritance law, formulated by Senator Vedder, in-
| troduced by him, passed by Republican Legis-
| ature and allowed 10 become law by Governor
Hill; fourth, the Direct Succession Tax. intro
duced year ago by Senator Fassett, rentroduced
this year by Senator Vedder passed by ke'
publican Legislature and allowed to become q
law by Governor HILL No one of these bills was
ever alluded to in any message by any Democratic
Controller or Governor until after the general
principle embodied in them had been outlined In
bills introduced by Republican legislators There
is one other bill for increasing revenue for which
the Democrats and Governor Hill are entitled to
the credit. That is the bill taxing the privilege
Of becoming a notary public, and this bill brings
70 the State treasury annually the fixed amount
of about 81 O,oe0. The only credit that the Re.
uubicans are entitled TO in connection with this
bill is such credit any legislators are entitled
TO for voting for good measure. The other four
sources of revenue are estimated by Controller
Wemple Ia Democrat. and certainly not likely
TO be an enthusiastic critic of these Republican
measures) as being worth $4,000. 900 annually.
A. .ha Stata ;ncre5xes in wealth the revenue from