New-York tribune., 1891-05-18


1s had increased as follows between 1890 and le9l
is90 a'o1oo
............... s202O,544
These figures give the secret Of the decrease In tc
state tax and not the petty reduction OF So324 mao"
IN appropriations by the legislature ContoIer "ein'
nle stated frankly 10 senator Sloan. the chairman Oi
the Senate Finance Committee, and TO Assemolym man
McCleIand the chairman Of the Assembly Committee
an Wavs and Means that he based the State tax rata
solely upon the increased receipts from the Corporation
and other Republican taxation laws. He stated that
his increased estimates of income upon nVe Items '
compared with 1890 aggregated S2'elo'So4 % Ho
Republican taxation laws had put surplus IN one oa'
sa.,rv amounting to 81 9s9,976 o5, and ne proposal
TO use every penny Of it in reducing the state tax rae
This was quite change Of attitude upon his part nom
that he took year ago. Then he estimated thst nc
had a surplus OF 81. 1.754,5s2 40, and he put asid,
81 600 900 as a necessary surplus THIS year u WIZ
"a nerceved that owing 10 the Republican taxation
laws his surplus has increased from Sl,1o4,oo@ ~
Al oso go 95; or an increase OF S2353s4 DO IIio'
rho Controller also stated that he estimated that the
Cornoration Tax law would bring into the state Treas
rrr the sum OF 81 200 OOO while last year he esfl
mated that this law would bring In only SSOOooo
Thore was an increase Of 100000. year ago Coh
troller Wemple estimated that the Collateral lhhen
tance Tax law would prodnce 100000. Ihls year 10
estimated that It would produce 81 0ooOOO am increase
Of
poratlons year ago. the Controller estimated "ouo
nroduce s175Ooo This year he estimated that 1t VIII
hiring I'm $3.50 600, an increase Of $4,000 AND no
estimates that Senator Veiders direct succHssoh h"'
the final Republican tax law. will produce 92oVoooo'
II will be perceived that the Controllers estimates as L"
the increased amounts the State viii receive from t'
Renublican taxation laws nearly cover the amount
oaod m nut the State tax-ratc at its present low
figure. l., 49,
If shouM be added that another small factor N the
reduction in the state rate was the increased Vau
atlon Of property over last year. namely 49, o"-o
o3s this year, as against S3'6s36o3'oo2 IN I7oo'
rrbt. ,,creqsed valuation produced over S125OOO 50
49, 4htrc ms into account the reader viii perceive
- 40 ono 600 Of the reduction I'm state taxes ac'
,.od for without considering the appropriations o.
tho eislature at all As TO appropriations ell news
ronar readers know that between SoOO'OOO ahE
500 900 OF appropriation bills passed oy the Demo
oo+,c Assembly were killed by the Republican senate
There can be legtmately added to this lst OF noneN
soved To the people the bill passed by the senate io
So ,a NJ the states property Wards Island which
20 riued bv the Democrats Of the Assembly II thl'
bi1l had become a law, the land couIu nave Do0i ''
for 90 600 900 and that amount would nave come n.'
the state Treasury for the reduction Oh eUae A"S '
year . ~, . ,,a,od
. rocant financial history Of the State by the Re
,I,con taxation laws Doubtless brief history OF
-, ,on and the manner in which they have worked
rould he Of general interest There are lour oi uo
laws Tbev are: The steele Corp0fhuoh AaA NV
nassed in 1880 the vedder Collateral Inheritance IaA
law uassed in 1886 the Nedder Direct sucooeSlou Al
horitance law, passed in lesl the Neuuef IA" :" ~
the ORGANIZATION of Corporations passed in 1856 Up
10 the present year these laws i"'0
lowing amounts: ,oe,
steele Cornoration Tax law-1s5O. s1411 o3' 1851
ooo -o5 1892 81 $50 6s4 27 1888, 81 1,e3o,l79 81
Tss4 sI.eo3.8fo IS: 1855 sl,673,s7o 90; 1856
a 37s Oe1 "A 1887 81 230 s64 16; 1855 S093'o' S0
1850. s1172,5o0 70; 1850 sl,15s.975 Al.
vedder Organization Law-1os6, $4,000 Iee''
soo1 Goa 90 1ses. s1s1 ,s8s 27; 1889, sloe,es@ "a
1880. s22O.710 81. -.
Vedder Collateral Inheritance Tax LAw-1eeo' 9o4
12s 90: 1857 1851 ,716 o. 1883, s796'oS4 80 lo0'
81. .O75, ,eeo 20: 1890, s1,l17. .e37 20.
vedder Direct Succession Tax Law-1ss1"92-lhssi
mated) 100000. .s
The history of these measures is somewhat involved
but it can be briefly told In tile Legislature ol TO-"
there was large number Of bills introduced reforming
tbe taxation laws one Of the members who espechII!
Interested himself In these bills was James W. "aos-
worth then an Assemblyman from Livingston County
He finally sent 10 Pennsylvania and obtained copy
Of the taxation laws Of that State when had Dec"
drawn with the design Of making corporations pay
all the state taxes. Mr.. Wadsworth brought these
bills 10 the attention OF the Assembly Committee Oh
Ways and Means. Of lich George 3. Sloan was theh
chairman The Committee Mt Mr.. Wadsworths sug
ceston reported one Of the P>nnsylvania measures
which was intended 10 give the state Controller COM
plets list Of the corporations OF the state IL "sS
Intended thus to obtain foundation Tor taxing 'he
corn9ratons Mr. wadsw0rth also valnly called the
attention Of his fellow members other Pennsylvania
measures But the Legislature Of 1879 adjourned
without passlng aay refOrmatory taxation Dill Iha
ssu Mfr Vadswcrrn was elected Controller on the he
uublican ticket Republican Governor AlonHo b.
Cornell. was also elected. In his message to the
LEGISLATURE upon assuming Office In 1850, Mr.. Cornell
said .,,
s. Among the questions which public sentiment will
press upon your attention Il revision Of the laws
for the assessment OF property basis OF taxation
The laws now IN force imperfect and unequai ID
their operation. BY unjust Determinations enormous
values OF property which should contribute iaT
uropor1on 10 the public allowed TO escape
taxation thus imposing onerOns burdens upon portion
of our citizens. Perhaps no subject demands more
careful consideration and wiser exercise OF sounu
Judgment The important and complex questions
involved require close, constant and longconunueA
examination ana II is doubted whether the necessary
attention be devoted 10 them during al oFdhaI'
legislative session. II is therefore, suggested t 'e
subiect be placed in the hands Of commission fairly
-epresenting the AGRICULTURAL commercial and other
material interests OF the State TO perfect plan Tor
The consideration OF the next Legislature II Is believed
,.. snch course would give the best promise Of an
sarlv and final determination Of this important
question .,.o-,,,,,, ,h. snno,r,,rs,,
O, tax commission tire Legislature under the leader
ship Of William II. steele Republican member Of
the Assembly from the I'D District OF Oswego County
passed resolution, introduced by nm, fer the ap
polntmeDt Of Joint COMMITTEES TO consider the lax
alton Laws, and 10 introduce tAzausn bills bota