New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-11
TAXING PERSONAL PROPERTY.
DISCUSSION OVER THE keller TAXMsIlNG
BILL-ITs PROVISIONS.

DISCUSSION OVER THE keller TAX+LsIlN"
BILL-ITS PROVISIONS.
Albany. March 10 (speciaD-The bill taxing per-
sona property, otherwise known as the Establishing
BILL came up in the Assembly to-day and caused a
great amount Of discussion. At the opening of the
session several bills were introduced, each having
in mind the same end, the taxing Of personal prop
crty bends and mortgages. Among these bills was ono
which was introduced by Assemblyman Keeler. OF st.
Lawrence County. The Assembly Committee on Tax
alton and Retrenchment took all Of these bills in hand
and after giving them considerable study reported
BILL This bill provides that the town clerks OF the
towns and the city clerks Of the cities Of the state
and the Tax Commissioners Of New-York City and
Brooklyn shall forward each year to the state Con-
trolIer list Of all the taxable inhabitants of their
respective towns cities who are liable to taxation
on the receipts OF these lists the Controller
is TO furnish to the clerks blank forms that to be
distributed to each taxpayer. These forms are
to contain six questions. First, to state the
number OF acres or fractions OF acres OF land
owned and to give the location Of the land and the
name by which 1t is commonly known. The next
question is as the amount of valid debts owing the
payment of which has been made lien on the prop
erty recorded in answer to the first question; the
amount unpaid on such land and the address Of the
person to whom the money is payable. The thru
question is TO the personal property owned whether
IL be in bond mortgage promissory notes stock
'''''i '''~
been made lien on any real estate and book ac
counts. The next question asks as to the deduc-
ton Of taxation demanded account OF debts
and as to the person to whom the deots are
due. Question requires list Of property
held as guardian, executor, trustee, committee etc.,
and the last question asks the amount OF personal
property held as such. Provision is made for the
taking Of the statement of each person entitled TO pay
taxe. and a penalty is fixed for those who make out
wrong returns as to the property owned or held by
them. The taxpayer compelled to I'LL out these
lists In accordance with the questions asked and TO
take an oath that the made are correct In
the case OF corporations the principal officer must sub
scribe to the oath. while In the case Of coparnersmp
a member Of the firm can subscribe to 1t. In case Il
firm does not subscribe to the list and answer the
queston, an assessor must visit the Office Of the firm
or corporation and obtain answers to the questions on
the lists From these answers the taxes are 70 De
asseSsed but the assessors sun retain the power pu'
When the bin was reported from the committee in
this form It was recqmmL,eo 0r s6e again tf
morning. Six Of the members of the committee voted
favor of he E spG k Iasy wee e and
cnson. The members OF the committee VINO V0teu
against the report were Assemblymen Dcmarest; sua
the report had been received General Hus;ed moved
strike out the enHG1s clause Of tI Kee g Mr. @
rck and Mr.. Fish spoke In favor OF the Dill, and
Colonel Webster spoke against II. =. ..,. ,,r
Assembyman Dempsey said mat X ths OH
became a law IL would be impossible for some
men 10 do business because they were compelled I"
make statement Of their debts. II would impair their
credit Mr. Kecler challenged him TO show wherein inc
bill compelled a man to tell what he owed: General
Hustled added that to pass the bill would be unWl>e,
unfa and lnjudcouS and would got prove benent u
a single interest I'm the state. Mr.. Ryan, VINO next
smoke dec ard that in Connecticut and Massachusetts.
Where such "A law Is in operation, there are moro
abandoned farms than in any other state In the
country. .,,,, ,. NJ,
AS,cmhyman Dcyo moved 10 have the bill reprinted
and made a special order for next week General ,
tof.r ,ia
sutherland 10 rec)mmit the bill. which motion had been
lost sight Of and forgotten during the debate was not
dchotablp The speaker agreed 10 this ana the bill
wa therefore back to the committee by the vote OF
81 10 SO.