New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-28
OPINIONS on TIE STATES TAX LAWS.
WITNESSES BEFORE THE JOINT COMMITTEE OF
TIE LEGISLATURE.

WITNESSES BEFORE THE JOINT COMMITTEE of
TIE LEGISLATURE.
Tho to,n, Assembly and Senate Committee, winch
v,s annoinad TO examine into the important qnesuo''
of taxation had IFS last meeting In the city De"'e
the meeting OF the Legislature in Part OF the superior
Court Yesterday. Senator Charles r. NoOeiahu p'o
sided Tho fist witness called was Alexander r. of''
VIII, was called upon 10 testify IN regard 70 HIS 'oi
motion with various companies.
Mr. Orr said that h. entirely opposed 70 taN
unoD personal property for the reasons previously
cven bv other witnesses that such tax would drlNe
capltal out Of the city TO other States where 'herc
wa, not personal property tax. AS u was many
people and corporations were driven ont OF th's s'ae
into New.Jersev When he asked 10 specify
single organization that had been sent from the s'ae
on account OF tie tax laws. lie could not name one
rt he said tina. many corporations were organized III
New Jersey 10 escape the tax laws. MI UT s''u
that lie was opposed 10 IA tax On mortgages ms
lie said was a double tax. Any rate o. taSa'loh
that might be fixed upon mortgages would add 10 the
burdens Of real estate.
Al This point senator Dreamer. The attorney for
,he committee entered into a long argument with Mr..
Orr on the question Of mortgage taxation being double
taxation Mr.. Dreamer has held all along That such
was not the case. and lie 50 argued win Mr. orr'
That did not change Mr.. Orr's opinions. however, ana
he enid that he had practical experience on The SUD
iect and was talking from that Willie tie attorney
he was In favor OF keeping the Collateral Inheritance
Tax law upon The statute books.
The next witness was John A. Mason, a member OF
the state Board Of Equalization. He thought that
II would be an excellent thing for the State II the axes
ON personal property were removed altoSe'her. All
capital employed In manufacturing should be re
ueved SO far as possible from taxation. He was III
favor OF compelling those companies that receive
special fav0rs from the STATE 10 pay large share OIL
thc cost OF running the state Government. lie was
I'm favor of making the telegraph companies pay
tax on their earnings. and the express companies pay
a tax on the amount OF business done BY them ehcii
wear lie also thought that it wOad b. an excellent
thlag 10 relieve fire. marine and life Insurance com
nauies altogether from taxation.
Mr. Creamor here pointed ont TO the chairman oil
the committee the fact that several nelchboilne
states had laws oxcmpIng from taxation corporations
ENGAGED in manufacturing. and he thought that the
tax laws Of his State should do the same WIN
tGis Mr. Mason agreed and he made a special recon
incubation thai the committee report III faVOr o tLe
unssaCe OF such law at the coming session 81 INC
legislature Mr.. Ma"On also favored both thc ORE,
and inc Collaierl Inheritance Tax laws. Inc olrec'
inheritance taX he thought ought 20 be not less INN
D ID pcr cent At present IL /, per cent AflrI
tho close of Mr. Masons testimony the committee ad
ioIrnod 10 meet IN Syracu-" tomorrow. me com
nittee will SIT there both tomorrow ana Friday