New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-03
TO EQUALIZE TAXATION.
A COMPLETE REVISION OF THE PRESENl
METHODS URGED.
rrpopr OF THE COMMISSION APT oISTED TO IN

REPORT OF THE COMMISSION APT olNIED TO IN
yE:rlo ATE THl STATES sYsTEM-IM
PoRTAYT CHANCES RECOMMENDED.
Albany. Feb. al Newton Hero and Professor T.
A. Collin, counsel appointed by the Governor uh"er
m. provisions Of last years statute to investigate ana
report With reference to tax law fo the e'ac' ou
tbs,r report to day with the draft Of bill.
The report discusses the different claims with re-
card 10 the basis Of taxation as to real ana pers"a
popcrty 1t is urged that the deducuon aI'o"ea i''
debts IS the chief obstacle 10 assessment OF Perso
property. The Of bank In Newton" O''S -
cited the assets OF which properly taxable ahou"'cu
10 over SIS 600 600 while 81 100000 is deducted ere
from because the shareholders claim they are person
ol,v indebted 10 that amount, leaving niue over
AGO 900 of the 5000 900 actually subject 10 TAX
alton while this view is strongly urgeu III 'He to
mort n is not embodied In the draft OF the law SUD
mtted TO the Legislature because 1t is not boie'cu
that II would meet with general acceptance
Another serious difficulty with reference 10 INC as
sessment of personal property has been the iacN OF
ANY provision for It's equalization. both AS STATE a
local tax No power now exists 10 supervise ''e
acticn OF local assessors, which - frequently aO'n9
and unjust The state BOaT0 shouiu N'No "'"F''
power for that purpose, in order TO enforce INC
visions Of law 10 the assessment Vi d" p'OpN'ss
at It's full value. The lack OF sFh central DoaIu
mas led TO many errors and objections ana enahIeu
profession taxdOdgers to avoid assessment ny "e
ing their residences from one loeAity 10 a"o~'e''
A Board OF Tax Commissioners Win IN o'h0e !"
Albany. and the Controller as its chairman is recon-
mended which shall have general supervision over
all matters OF taxation in the state except those re-
aunr 10 the assessment OF corporations and the col
lection Of taxes on taxable transfers. which are re-
tanned In the Office Of the Controller. The Cohuoler
IA highly complimented the manner IN wnch nc
has enforced these taxes
A 10 tho taxation OF savings banks. 1t recon'-
mends that the surplus only should be taxed as
oco,nst the hank and that M sums less than $500
an deposit shall be assessed against any depostor All
CORPORATIONS should be assessed IN the same manner
as bank shares now assessor
Perhaps the most radical change recommended is
that with reerepce to the equalization "f taxes III
counties as between the different towns ana cues.
All the ASSESSORS ana supervisors In county should
meet and one Of the state ASSESSORS preside al 'he
meeting and after hearing the DISCUSSIONS, III GUS
they cannot agree upon an equalization thes s'A''
determine the equalization between the dnereht o"'
and cities In the county subject to an appear 10 ue
state Board All personal property should be equal
lied between the different tow'is and cities so 'ilht
the burden Of taxation may he more eluaiiy us
tributed In order whore city or town mas phceu
upon its assessment roll a mir proportion oil itS
personal property, 1t may not BE- obliged 10 pay no'o
than It's fair proportion of the tax, wnile 'e QUIET
localities where personal property IS not fairly
shall bear their Just proportion The State boaru u
Fnualzation is made to consist Of the state Assessos
who have power to equalize the real and personal
property Of the state This involves the increase Vi
the number Of state Assessors nom three 10 hVe,
which enables to be app'irted for each 'uolci'i
district
The provisions relative to tax sales have been so
modified that the Controller shall sell lands for non
payment Of nonresident taxes in the forest preserve
only In the other counties Of the state the safes
are TO be made BY the County Treasurer NO PcIso'
should be allowed TO apply for a cancellation Vi inv
tax or redemption from the sale unless he had an IN
terest In the property at the time If the sale. inns
Is for the purpose of preventing speculation IN aha
titles at the expense OF the Sta,e by the purchase OF
such titles after sale for taxes have been made ana
the State has been tho purchaser
The Goard Of Tan Commissioners IS empowered to
tax the property of all transmission and transportation
companies Including railroads. telegraph and telephone
lines, etc. 1t will be the duty of the Board 10 TX
the value of the entire propertyiof such corporation
running through different towns and counties ana Tue
proportion shall be placed upon the tax Toll III "e
tax district thus relieving the local assessors from
the burden Of izing the value mile OF railroad or
telegraph lines, and placing the power In the hahus
of central authority Corporations organized outside
the State must hereafter Fay an oreanHauoh uN
similar to that paid by home corporations based upon
the amount of capital employed III this state, ana
the franchise tax provided Tor Is eX'ehu" 80
as to include all foreign corporations DONG pusess Ill
this State. Provision is made for the computation
of such tax OIL gross amount of such corporation
Tn this State no provision is made for the taHauoh
Of corporate bonds, for the reason that IL "ouu ue
discrimination against corporations organized IN 'his
State In favor those organized outside the state
and for the further reason hst %oud Se ar ulr.
ations who reside in this SUITE IN laNor vi SuSh
holders residing outside the State who cannot Dc
taxed. . o.u - .. -
The recommendations Of the Controller as 10 a
statute which will reach fonign banks who have
avoided the provisions Of the statute Tor number
OF years are substantially followed. oilgnt chanses
have been made In the Law relating 70 GAsnle
transfers. Corporations exempted by law from
taxation arc placed urOn the Same basis as chnute
of the parent from whom the property oescenus' anu
are no longer entirely exempt
The report concludes: Counsel have cOhnhei
themselves attempting TO rem edy the eNS cchceui
TO exist by such actmoAts AZ wouIo De most kiS
10 accomplish that purpose. They have ehdeiNoieu
10 oyoid innovation and experiment. believing ul.
system OF taxation Is unfair, and that either az
personal property should be reached anu suD!eot 10
assessment or IL should be entirely exempt III any
eyent there should be provided "A sIong cehtraIheu
force the laws relating to taxation and assessment
II thev are to be successfully administered anu oh
forced ., ,,, as .,h
The bill accompanying the report which was suo
,nitted by the commission presents complete re,
vision of the tax laws OF the state ana enbVoleS an
the suggestions and RECOMMENDATIONS ie4eiie" " Ia
the abstract Of the report
STATE CARE OF EPlLEPTlCS.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF a COLONY URGED BY