New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-07

The to be derived from licenses should not be
paid To the state, but should belong TO the local
| treasures OF the particular localities under whose
authority the licenses are granted. 10 be applied IN
| reduction Of local taxation
1t Is believed that the people are opposed to opprsS
e n Shod M 10 9 Sdrd ' ne fIn jndydna ccn
the largest liberty consistent with good order ana The
Inc moral sense Of the community but seeking to
mitigate and suppress the conceded evils OF lhtcnl
| Few Localities. The amounts now charged for license
throughout the state do not exceed one-thrd Of the
may be accepted evidence Of local sentiment
in doermninr thc nroprlety or NECESSITY Of increasing
! the maximum and minimum sums when should he
ANY further expression Of nv views as to the gen
which should he embraced In the needed excise csSla
0a are ,o eEaed as @ at t t W Too Se
communications npOn this subject Transmitted by me
10 previous Legislatures during the last tive years. 10
which the present Legislature Is respectfully fcicrru'
THE PROHIBITION AMENDMENT.
Two Legislatures having passed the Prohibition
amendment il must now be submitted to the people
agTeeably 10 the provisions Of the Constitution IL IS
the clear duty OF the Legislature provide for its sub
mission. II is mmatcrial whether the amendment
Itself wisely or nnwscly passed by previous Leg
| islaures. whether II would meet the approval oi
the present Legislature, If the question was presented
to IT on its original merits. The good fah or pro
pTcty of its passage in other years cannot be properly
considered now. The feet that IL has heretofore been
passed by a majority who really do not believe In pro
hbition. and who supported It in the Legislature Il,
matter of political cApcdlcncy ratcr than upon prn.
ciplc, and who do not themselves intend ~ support u
at the polls is Irrelevant matter which on! ahectS
the sincerity OF its support and does not relieve tIe
conceived 10 be is sacred constitutional obligation 20
duly provide for the amendments submission. ,
lature not itself providing by statute for the sub
mission Of the amendment TO The people elmer AZ ne
! last the next annual election. ana paruchllrN III
| declaring by concurrent resolution tina, the amend.
ca 1Q ND gs nP% ., at Of 1891 no"t
passing any law providing for the means or pcsGrip8
mission has somewhat complicated the situation and
rendered your dui delicate and embarrassing one,
special election 10y a Joint resolution ana hot 10y
statute and Whether such an eeCTh va" are Es sToT
questions which ought not To surround 80 important
II may be safely asserted that the people Of ne state
| did not and do not want this Amendment submitted at
any special election. but prefer that Should take me
N Go"' T s u dcsabc,% tie rt pIacr
he second TUESDAY Of Aprl Is an inoPpoT d g
place because the interest, Of economy w9HN hc pro,
%oied efFr !pcca c SI %G%d cost e me ,azpayc
Of this state under our present election a. 10. su'Im
Of 1923. goo. which enormous expense "ltit CcrtdnN
IN he avoided If possible nothing Of the ino"n
/ vcuicnce and ANNOYANCE 10 IN" electors themselves
c,estio, of law and pr,pety involved 10 which your
attention t. invited it will be- apparent th4t addiliG9
and that the mo-. feasibe and wsc course to BE- pnr
sued is he speedy enactment Of prrcr law contain
he amendment at The ueNt annual election.
! THE JUDICI NEY AMENDMENT
Two Legislatures having duly passed am amendment
n the judiciary article of The Constitution pNvioins
for the election Of additional Justices 81 The supreme
1urt II will Ice the duy Of tho present Legislature 70
provide bv suitable legislation for f. submission to the
! people
The Iast Legislature passed Az act for that purpoS"
INT II proved defective and failed 70 receive Executive
approval. after the final adjournment ~ the Leg,
laro and hence another act becomes necessary at this
| time. ,,
II. for any reason no matter what. constitutional
obligation has omitted or has not been fuIy per
formed by one LEGISLATURE it becomes the bounden duty
of the next legislature 10 perform IT NJ the first OPP
Por(ubh Hcb If NAV bc doubted whether tho interests
If m" STAT, really require this amendment At ms
| time and also whether 1t will b" approved ny uhe
people a the polls. yrt i having dHI; p'sNed ~"
ph brD aes 1i, undo The Constitution except 70 duly
provide for it, submission and permit the P'oPif 10
determine the matter for thcIns"lvc-
REFoRN ~ METHODS or TAXATION
The subject Of taxation. always an interesting ana
important question. Is demanding your earnest AZ
| tention. especially at this time.
| The condition Of the agricultural interests OF tn"
state which are closely allied with 7 general pros
p.ri,y and largely Affected by ans -yecm Of taxation.
NAV appropriately Dc taken into consideration 70 dc
termin.as what change 100 present method- an most
desirable.
II .eons 10 be conceded that farming Lands during
recent years have largely decreased ~ vl'c ana iha'
! The occupation u farming D., sadlrtN becoming -,
| proftahld than formerly that ID" pr.cc, for farm
! products have been greatly ana "HH'i,N ''"n' -.
that wider and better market. iIh'nta nI, , &
are rot forthcoming, tha taN"- ar" nuu' r"u- ava "p
prc~-ve - vel a. Hn"li'lF d-'i.l!''u hn" 'i ~,
/ general depression -t7'ms lo priNa'' h'ii" 'N'N
! agricultural iuiclc-;.
t. allryil or remedy these unfortunat" 'oud ton l.
! On. ,erior, problem WITH which thc people. NpN~'ul'
! live, EVERYWHERE are confronted. ana Oh" solution 81
which require the exhibition ot the highest -iai'-n"
/ ship While you me- bee po"'Tl'~- &" al"Id In"'h
/ assistance 10 mitigating many Of thee. complaint ~
and materially aid the cause Of acrirur" I'm The ~
ductou and equalization ~ the burden, Of COVE hhrh'
- far state taxation j. concerned BY ne "I'ip"
Of some wise ana practical legl-1t which viii ."
| l"Vc farming bands and real estate g'h"iaIN IF'l
longer bcariug undue proportion 90 taxes. ana "'"'
VIII compel PERSONAL P"pe'N !" sum. ' JG'' u'""
! reasonable >huc. Ihe j. nol 4A CIV a.; 'u.,
| not in.urmOuutaile Too mach -loud not 0r ai-
tempted cI.e the risk encountered OF accomplishing
taxation may. aPp"Ul'+N De- mace ~ '"' u,. ~ ~
! then await the practical r~Ul, Of such innovations
Thoughtful Observers Who have made tue -ubec'-
| Of taxation and value, their careful ,iHdy FOR mas
Of STATE nearly equals the value IF it, real ci'e
| Th, view j. largely confirmed by tlc repeated ,ilr
r,, ny , Ueii ~ kim cc,-ilc i.f,gIa
| ton. II. however, This c-ltWtt" -dll seem 10 be ~
Value Of personal proIrri, >cccd- 20 per q the
vaine Of real stale. and that ,uch fact would be
amply established under proper - ~tm 81 liNh"H.
! laws make very different exhibit According ~ th"
! present assessment the equalization Of which va,
| fixed in october last. tie pc r,Ona property 90 th"
state j, valued AT only F:-5.}20 13t. Will" 10" real
estate Is valued at 81 -i2343l, the personal prop
! cry thu, being assessed at only about onc"iglh q,
| much the real estate.
II B., evident mat such a showing - an Incorrect
| ore and be- accounted for I'm part b"cau-" If
| lax admin, ration ~ existing tax law, bat mainly
| because -ucl. laws are imperfect in themselVc>.
The manner In which a,s"-sm"nte are 10 b" mad" b.
fixed by the Revised Statutes. which provide that the
! taxable personal property owned by person shall
! be taxed At it, fu vaue after dcductiuc the Just
! debts owing by him
| Til, latter provision has existed without change
amendment ever since IT. hr-t enactment IN l'2-,
Though iis utility hi, often been seriously qu"~
toned. Every effort AT modification ha~ been -t0utly
| AMI >uccr>- fully resisted. Notwithstanding IL Ia
been repeatedly proved that il cNi-trUc" fuTlSh'-'
! the avenue through which persona! property sub
-t4ntallV escapes all taxation.
The facility with which taxation - cN AIDED under the
opportuntc, afforded by , clause furnishes strong