New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-07
OBSTACLES TO TAX REFORM.

! FLOWERS AVERSION TO ACTING on ANY BILLS
How HE WOULD SHIFT RESPONSIBILITY.
Albany, March 6 (SpeciaD-One of the reasons why
David b. Hin insisted year ago that the deadlock
in the Senate should be continued was because he did
not want TO act upon tax bill Of any sort. 1t was
pretty we'll understood that he absolutely opposed
TO all OF the tax bills which introduced by the
representatives from the country districts, and he
did not want 10 act upon that would please
the cities, because that would hurt him with the
farmers Roswell p. Flower to-day is in about the
same fix. lie may succeed in keeping from him
this year any one and all OF the tax bills that have
been introduced but it is altogether probable that be
fore he leaves the Executive Chamber he will be com
PEELED to act upon tax bill. Up to this time the
members Of the Assembly who certain that there
must be tax reform Of some kind before long, have
met with success in getting tax bills through.
The Assembly Committee Taxation and Retrench-
mcnt, of which Assembyman Ryan, Of Wcstchcster
County, is chairman, succeeded in killing with the
help OF the Democratic majority, two tax measures
that the farmers at least, were anxious to have
passed. one OF these bills drawn last year by
Controller Wemple, who declared that under the
scheme provided in It at lenst 100000 would
annually be raised TO apply against tho expenses OF
the State Last year this bill passed in the
Assembly by Democratic and Republican votes but
Mr. RYAN was frank enough the Other day when
the bills being discussed, to confess that The
Democrats voted for this bill then out Of puro bun
combe lie said they knew that the deadlock In the
Senate would not be broken, and that was why
they voted for IT, David b. IIlll not honest
when he stumping the State last fall lie tod
the farmers who wanted this measure put upon the
statute books that Democrats In favor OF the
bl but that the Republican Senator'S insisted upon
keeping up the deadlock and therefore the bill could
not be gotten through. In fact he pledged his woru
thu; II there Democratic Legislature this year
1 r~,,niSa ltler m Y
| others that he made, has been broken. The bill,
which the Democratic majority IN the committee and
the Democratic Assembly billed, required the taxation
OF the bonds and stock Of !ointsOck corporations III
Is a class OF property which today escapes taxation
almost entirely.
The other bill which the Assembly killed was that
which allows reduction from the assessed vannuoh
OF real estate the amount OF any lien or mortgage
that there may be upon it. Under the present sys-
tenn farmer or a property owner upon whose real
estate there is mortgage, not only pays interest on
the mortgage but taxes upon the assessed Vaua'Ioh
Of his property. This bill was designed to aid the
farmers and introduced In the Assembly, as was
the other tax bill that the Assembly killed, by MI
Keller Of St Lawrence County, who is "A Republican.
so far only Democrat has tried to keep the pledge
made during the last campaign by HILL This man Is
lAssemblyman George II. Bush, OF Ulster County. lie
Is the alleged leader OF the Democrats In the Assem-
bly, but far he has failed 20 lead. Mr. Bush mas
before his committee bill introduced by himself some
time ago which is an almost perfect acsimc OF AS
sembyman Keelers bill taxing the bonds OF corpora
tons even TO the and periods. Mr.. Bush has
not vet made up his mind whether not he VIII re-
mort his bill and then suffer the ndignlty OF beng
beaten by the very majority which he is supposed 10
lead or let the bill where II Is. in committee
Governor Flower. II is well known. is as ANXIOUS
now 10 escape action upon bills was his pTtde-
cessor In his u the Legislature he suggested
the appointmen Of COMMITTEES. consisting Of members
Of both the senate The Assembly, 10 travel about
the state during the session and take testimony on the
taxation. and then 10 report TO the Legislature by Dill
This committee OF course, would have q Dcmoc ratio
majority and work therefore would he drawn out
until IL was either too late to act upon its recommends
lions or the Of the session would como with the
investigations sun incomplete. The Governor expected
that something would have been done some time agt,
and now he is said be much put out because this
has not been done IL Is probable that he VIII again
call the attention OF the Legislature TO the recommended
tons in his message, and ask specifically that com
mlttcc be appointed examine into the question and
droft bill for presentation to the next legislature on
the vcxalOus taxation problem.
There is now a bill before the Assembly which may
On n long way toward solving this question. IL seeks
70 remove the difficulties which now stand in the way
Of drafting tax bill that viii be satisfactory 10 evcry
county in The state ms measure Wn of' Ta VIZ ~
and was Introduced in the Assembly by Mr CohheiIy
1t provides first, that the assessors siaii ihhG r.
10 The local authorities Of each county to determie
whether not real estate or personal pr1pcrN Sh;
some OF the more progressive menbcrs Oh tne AS,,,
bly, look upon This measure with favor n, InGSo h
bin was reported from the Committee on laAnuo a,i
Retrcnchm for the consideration OF me House oi
iast week. and il Is likely TO come up FOR discussion
On second reading some time this week It's supporter
refer 1t Local option taxation inr.'ni mn
comfy the right to say what kind OF property they
will pay their taxes