New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-12
THE FJyIyCES or ms STATE

The letter which the State Controller lately
wrote 10 Governor Flower. announcing that
New. ork was practically ont of debt mas OF
cour>e. been read with great satisfaction by the
tayra,crs such n state at things attc>t> 'nd'
the Commonu Ii pro>pcnng ana mere
fore i 4 good place 10 live in. debt -loaded
state naturally has tendency 10 handicap prl-
vato enterprise. II rcpcs investors, II as
couaccs labor. il fails to attract those IN search
NJ homes. The Controller reports that the only
obligations of New York now outstanding are
the balance of the canal debt and of the Nj
agaa Reservation debt. The first amounts to
$50 900 the last to 5000. 600. and there arc
funds IN rho Treasury more than snihclent 10
me-, them both This is gratifying.
But THE Albany Argus IN rs comments
upon the Controllers letter. endcavols TO turn
IT, into a Democratic campaign document II
fam would produce the impression that II Is
Democratic administration which i 10 ne
credited with the liquidation of the state debt
II ha, the cffrontcry 10 speak OF the Democratic
marty - "alva,S the party of low taxes and
moderate appropriations Now the books kept
hy the Controller. showing the condition oil
tho state, finances from year 10 year demon
.trato that what Tho Argus claims l. I'M
tr,c-con,plcuou,ly untrue. Here arc a few
facts to which We invite the attention q the
taxpayers
/ The Legislature Of 1891 was composed OF
, Ec,ublican senate and a Democratic Assem-
Div the legislature of 1892 was Democratic
IN beth Of its branches But the Legislature
of 1891 gave the people lower tax rate than
the Legislature Of 1872 The taX-rate in sol
WAS l3s mill, on a dollar; this year IT Is .?s
mills. The total amount OF The tax levy for
1891 was -. 1876. $50 iO the total amount for
mi, wear is S7.1s4.slS la Democratic in
crease of S25Ss1sl 80, although the Legs
latnrc of this year had tho benefit Of the nlted
states Tax Refund to keep down the taxes
New York Citys share of the taxes last year
WAS S2.3Sj 9s? - ; this year It has advanced
+, S3.Ji1 $50 l0-DCmccratlc increase, 81
155.976 20 Does this look like the Dcmoc'
racy being always the party of low taxes ana
moderate appropriations
= Taxes in this State have been highest
when the Democratic party was IN full control
at Albany. not only of the Legislature, but OF
the executive Offices. IL was under Democratic
admini>ration-to take "A single cXamplc->o
the Controllers reports cStabsh-that In four
year, the appropriations exceeded the revenues
by over -. 100000. Does this look like the
Democracy always being the party of low
taxes and moderate appropriations
3. The fact that Newly FORK is ont of debt is
propcrly 10 be regarded as Republican
achievement. For the result is due IN very
large measure 20 Il series OF tax laws-the tax
en- corporations. the inheritance tax and the
likc-vhich originated with Republican law
makers and were Endorsed and passed by Re
publican Legislatures. Any one who is familiar
with the course of events at Albany realizes
that this is 50. Ii is also to be borne in mind
that As a rule wisdom and economy have char
ac.crizod the action of the committees OF Re
mIblican Legislatures which have had TO do
with making appropriations. Such men as
George B. Sloan. so long the chairman of the
Senate Finance Committee, have proved YER
table watchdogs of the Treasury.
In the circumstances. 1.-The Argus must not
try to make capital out of the Controllers let
ter The attempt to prove that the Democracy
has always, or usually. or lately been Z" the
rarty of low taxes and moderate appropria-
tons is bound to fail. The figures in the
Controllers reports dispose OF it. They show
that the party of low taxes and moderate ap-
prorr ations is the Republican party.