New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-15
TAXATION IN EASTERN STATES


naonlc than the question of taxation OF property
In the Western States many wild and extrava-
CANT schemes have been proposed though is
vet none have been adopted by the Legislatures
In Ohio a plan proposed by the farmers for the
taxation of manufacturing property is judged by
the manufacturers so inmcal TO their interests
that it would practically drive manufacturing
establishments out of the State. Ii is manifest
that the problem is one of great difficulty, be-
cause the differences of law in adjacent States
would determine to a great extent the location
of important establishments. Yet it is clear
that if the work could be intrusted-o experts
in matters of taxation, and could be decided
by them alone, results of great value to all the
| Eastern States could be realized.
Mr. Hewitt, formerly Mayor Of this city and
member of Congress, has made a suggestion OF
unusual value. In letter regarding the LIN
son bill, now pending at Albany which pro-
poses radical change in the taxation of prop
erty within the State of NewYcrk, he points
out the necessity of adopting some uniform SyS-
| tenn in the different Eastern States, because II
| a more favorable method were chosen in one
| State than another the great body OF corporate
and other property would at once be transferred
in technical ownership TO the State which offered
the better advantages to owners. lie therefore
proposes the creation of a commission on behalf
of the various Eastern States with view to
| formulate a uniform system Of taxation of all
property for all the Eastern States. II might
| be difficult 10 carry out this suggestion, but the
plan would be of the highest possible value TO
the people of the States Immediately concerned.
Mr. IIcwitt'S plan might well be cryStaized
by action Of the Legislature of NewlOrk.
commission could be appointed for the purpose
of meeting commissioners appointed by other
Eastern States To recommend a uniform system
of taxation Of real personal and corporate prop
erty in the different States. The methods
adopted in these Eastern States now differ
widely. Corporations by the thousand are now
organized under the laws Of the State OF New
| jersey because the statutes Of that state now
| favor such organizations. In West Virginia
also pecuar.ties Of organization and OF meth
DDS Of taxation so favor corporate organization
| that great many companies Of importance have
| been formed nOminally under the laws OF that
State, Notwithstanding the considerable incon-
ycniences which distance and nacceSslbility in
vove But no other state has so much at stake
| in this matter As Ncw-Yorll. No other State
holds 50 large body of securities and of mort
necessary for the property owners of New York,
and yet equally necessary for property owners
in other Eastern States, that modes of taxation
should be assimilatcd in all of them and so ar
ranged as to afford permanent and yet just
basis of contribution to the public welfare. Tho
only method by which this most desirable result
can be reached is that a single commission,
representing the authority of the different
states shall propose "A uniform system
Some years ago Tax Commission was created
BY the Legislature Of Newly ork when Mr.. llon-
man was Governor which made an elaborate
report. but recommended system so far thoo-
retic and antagOnlStlc 20 practical interests that
it received no public approval. 1t gathered
much information Of valuc. But there is room
for commits sion at this time, twenty years
later to collect information of much wider range
and scope. by cooperation with commissioners
from other States. 1t is possible Also that a
plan might be devised by such commission
which Legislatures of all the Eastern states
would adopt The problem is in the end com
paratlyclv simple one. If the other States would
agree to the appointment Of such commission
the Legislature Of New-lOrll could readily au-
thorize it. and upon due consideration recon-
mcndationS could be offered which might be
adopted in all the Eastern states without dissent.
This is not a question in which politics ought
| 10 interfere. II is one outside both parties ana
a great reputation might be made for the COY
ernor and for tho Legislature of Newly olk by
taking the initiative IN "A work so valuable.
There is room here for n most important reform
which the people Of the Eastern States would
heartily appreciate Governor Hill has mpor-
tant political interests To consider, hut would
nevertheless presumably be willing 10 take the
lead in such Il measure of large public benefit
# he would select men Of both political parties
with no view OF securing political advantages
for either he would assurcdy be met in the same
spirit by the Governors OF the New England
States. and of Ncw-JcrSey and Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Hewitt himself to whom the suggestion is
due, might properly be selected as one mem
her. With capable members from other States
il is reasonable TO expect that he might mature
"A plan Of ncalcuablc benefit to all the Eastern
states. II happens that at this time NcW-JerNey
has now under consideration in the Legislature
a new tax law. which has been by many con-
Scrvative men opposed rs in the last degree IN
iudciouS Nevertheless, this act tends in the
right direction in some particulars. and would
be ncompalaby safer if adopted in harmony
with action in other States. 1t is on this ac-
count especially fortunate that the suggestion OF
cX- Mayor Hewitt is made, since it gives oppor-
tunity to unity legislation in all the Eastern
States on this important subject.
GOVERNMENT RAIN
Upward of year ago The Tribune noted the
| % had of a IN IN