Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-02-08
The NEW YORK PLAN
PoR SOLVING THE TAXATION
PROBLEM.
Report Of the Commission Appointed to In
vssilGaie the States SYstem-ImpOrlanl
Changes Recommended.

Albany Feb. Cd. Newton Fiero and
frot. &. A. Collin, counsel appointed Inv
the governor under the provisions of last
years statute to investigate ana renort
with reference TO tax law for Inc STAT,
filed their report today. with the draft
of n bill 'i'
The report discusses the different
claims with regard TO the basis of taxa.
ton as 10 renl and personal property
II Is urged that the deduction allowed
Tor debts Is the chief obstacle 20 assess
ment OF personal property The ease
of bank in New York City Is cited the
assets OF which properly taxable amount
ed 10 over SJ,0OOOO. while $1,000. 600
is deducted therefrom because the share.
holders claim they are personally iudcbt.
CD 10 that amount leaving "a little over
S5OO,OOO of the 5000 900 actually sub
iect TO taxation. While this view is
strongly urged in the report. II is not em-
bodied IN the draft Of the law submitted
70 the legislature because II Is not be-
lieved that IL would be met with general
Acceptance.
Another serious difficulty with refer.
ence 20 the assessment Of personal prop
erty has been the lack of any provision
for It's equalization, both as q state and
local tax. No power now exists to super
wise the action of local assessors, which
is irrqueuu arbitrary and unjust The
state board should have ample power for
that purpose. in order TO enforce the pro-
visions Of law as 10 the assessment of
all property at its full value. The lack
of such o central board has led 20 many
errors aud objections aud ennbled pro.
fossonul tnX-dodgcrs 10 avoid assessment
10y changing their residences from one
locality To another.
The board of tax commissioners with
an office In Albany. aud the controller as
liz oh l. AL ffI
shall have general eryision over all
matters Of taxation IN the state except
those relating To the assessment Of cor
proportions and the collection "
taxes on taxable transfers. which are re-
tanned IN the office of the controller
The controller is highly couphmcnted on
the manner in which he has enforced
these taxes.
As 10 the taxation Of savings banks. IL
recommends that the surplus only should
be taxed us against the bank. and that
no sum less thou 5000 on deposit shall
be assessed agnint any dcpositor An
corporations should Doe assessed In the
same manner as bank shares are now
dsspsscd.
pcrhans the most radical change roc
commanded Is that with reference 90 the
equalization OF tuXes I'm counties as he
tween the different towns and cities.
All the assessors and supervisors in a
county should meet and one of the
state assessors preside at the meeting,
aud after herring the discussions. in cuse
they cnnnot agree upon an equalization,
they shall determine the equalization be-
tween the different towns and cities In
the county. subject 10 an appeal 20 the
state board. All personal property
should be ouunl2rd between the different
towns and cities 40 chat the burden of
taxation may be more equally dist~b.
mcd in order that when city or town
has plaCed upon its assessment roll u
fair proportion of It's personal property,
1t may not be- obliged TO pay more than
It's fair proportion of the tax, while the
other localities, where personal property
Is not fairly assessed. may he equnlizcd
in such q way that they shall bear their
Just proportion. The state board of
equalization is made 10 consist OF the
state assessors. who have power to
euuali2c the rell and personal property
of the state This involves the increase
OF the number Of stute Ussessors from
three 10 Eve which enubps one to be-
appointed for each judicial district
The board of tax commissioners is en-
powered to tax the property of all trans
mission and transportation companies,
including railroads telegraph and tcle-
pbone lines, etc II will bc the duty Of
The board 10 fix the value of the entire
property Of such n corporation running
through different towns mud counties and
the proportion shall be- placed upon the
| tax roll in the tax district thus
relieving the local assessors from the
! burden Of fixing the value % mile Of rail
road or telegraph lines, aud placing the
| power in the hands Of central author
| ity. Corporations organized outside the
| state must hereafter pay mn organization
| tax similar to that puid 10y home cor
/ purNtOnS. beside upon the amount ol cap
/ itnl employed in this state aud the fran.
| chisc tax now provided for is extended
/ so as TO include all foreign corporations
/ doing business IN the state. No provis
/ ion Is nude for the ta--'.' " of corporate
bonds, for the reason that IL would bc a
! discrimination against corporations or
! ganizcd In this stnte in favor of those
organized outside the state. and for the
/ further reason that it would be a dis
/ elimination against persons holding
bonds Of corporations who reside In
this state in favor Of such holders
residing outside the state, who cannot
be taxed.