New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-23
VIEWS UPON TAXATION.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
w II. WOOD. JOHN D. ELLIS AND AssEMDLYMAN
covvoIJy GIVE THEIR OPINIONS.

CONNOLLY GIVE THEIR OPINIONS.
r, h.ospc yesterday 10y the joint committee Of
tho legislature appointed TO inquire iA'o the aAauoh
ohlcn was by far The most interesting "lAc" wits
-, been held The meeting was held as usual IN
~. IT ~ the Superior Court The first witness was
1rn,,o,n u Wood Of the state Board OF AsseSsors
n.rv onnointed member, but he was able TO give
- incarnation as 10 how the valuations are appor-
ind among the various counties OF the state II
zoe heen charged that this apportlOnmen' mas oeeh
- o,Mtrary one made by the State Boaia WITHOUT
80 70 the real value Of property In the conhues'
ne wood said this was absolutely untrue. The APP
,orment OF the valuation Of each county was ar
~ 81 bv securing the full value Of each county
- the local assessors and adding the amounts To-
- producing the complete value OF the state
TN the proper proportion at which each county
no,ld be assessed found. Mr. WOOD salu' III AL
NOV 10 a question from ex-senator Dreamer, mat ne
80 that personal property in the State worth
~ 900 900 900 escaped taxation. This was NANNY
T., interest bearing and dividend paying personal prop
-. Tho witness said that way to get at this
-, ~ r~onerty was 10 assess the corporations on the
+ocks and bonds issued by them ms coWu De
dome he said, Just National banks were assessed.
rordinr the assessed valuation OF property In the
ra districts he said that the up-country counties
wore assessed at higher proporionate amount than
,o the city counties It. Lawrence County was
ossassed al about so per cent OF its iul Vauauon'
ard the average was between 20 and 10 per cent.
IN ronlv 10 questions By the attorney for the COM
r,ttne Mr. Wood said he cid not consider that the
raductlon in the population in the country districts
30. due 10 the present methods Of taxation. Twenty
,hrae counties In the State under the last census
showed a reduction. This was due mainly 10 inc
,u,Dc oY in agricultural pursuits. Bonds and mort
cos ought TO be taxed said the witness. y II Is
n{oir and never could any justice In the holder
Of the fee paying taxes and the holder OF the mortgage
escaping" .,.. {.
aWould not taxing bonds and mortgages make II
more difficult for The farmers to obtain money on
mortgages ?, asked senator McClolland
ayes. It would" was the reply.
Mr. Wood closed his testimJn by advising the re-
neal OF the law authorizing the assessors to allow al
esa. for debts. Under this provision Of the law
,bou,ants Of dollars escaped paying the share mat
ouyht 10 be paid by It toward the expenses OF the
rorn,ent Of the state and the various counties said
the witness.
Assemblyman John Connolly, who introduced ana
messed the "Local option" tax measure In the last
LEGISLATURE vas next called upon to explain the pro-
visions Of his bill. TINS bill permits the state
.tbor,t,es 10 collect taxes IN the same manner as
,hev ar, new collected. but II provides that local
authorities shall determine for themselves In what
manner the local taxes shall be collected. Under the
nrovisicns Of this bill. should the local authorities
~ his city desire to free personal property altogether
from taxation and put the entire burden upon real
estate II could be done
"Ilis,n said the ASsemDyHlaH, "O"iu uo away
with the lying and cheating that are now going on
in relation TO personal property, ard in far as
Nev-Yorl, City was concerned, should the local au-
tLorites determine take the tax Oh personal prop
ery altogether it would attract an enormous amount
OF capital TO the city yearly that now goes elsewhere
! would also call for the repeal of all OF the special
exemption laws that now on the statute boohs.'
When he was asked II the real purpose OF this bill
was TO exempt personal property from taxation. he
declared positively that such not the intention,
hut II was simply 10 allow each county to decide FOR
its .f in what manner il would raise It's taxes.
The next witness was John ID. Ellis who was for
nine years a member Of the State Board of Equaliza-
ton. Mr.. Ellis said That he would assess property
where 1t found. Ey this he meant tdat he would
make property pay taxes where II Big estab-
hshments with bran hes in various parts OF the state
ard With headquarters In an insignificant building
IN some city, paid taxes only where they had head
CHARTERS IN spite OF the fact that there would be
goods worth thousands of dollars In the branch stores
Mr. Ellis said that he in favor OF listing bin
which would compel owners OF personal property to
fin out blanks to show just what they we're worth
Such laws I'm operation in Massachusetts, Penn
sylyanla. Ohio and Connecticut. While in New'fork
State only 10 per cent of tie taxes were collected
from personal property in Massachusetts 10 per cent
wa Collected IN IcnnSS wanna IS per cent, IN ONO
81 per- cen, and in Connectlcut a. per cen;; VT
suggestion that such a measure would drlNe captu
oul of the i he'd not done 80 IL TIE slut; In
which i; had been in operation for years NJ. El1S
aid that way 20 find The true value OF proport.
would be amend the law That the true cOnsdela
ton in every real estate transfer would appear on
the transfer The Inheritance tax law was Il good
thing sold the wnA.s but he was opposed 10 paving
tie county treasurer, and Controller OF this county
fOr Collecting The taxes under it, The SurrJgats d.
the work and the County Treasures get pa? for H.
and In many cases their salaries arc doubled on this
account be aided
How about the graded direct Inheritance tax law
which Las been proposed = lie was asked. Are you
In favor OF that PAM
no. the reply 81 would leave That rs IL
Is
The witness declared that from his experience he
certain HAT ,ne day would when the collie
ton % the State and the county taxes would De done
away WIKI. lie in favor Of passing special
law regarding the collection OF taxes In this city,
but he would not be in favor Of passing general
local option law for the state.
The next meeting Of the committee will be held on
Tuesday. Then the committee will 20 70 Syracuse.