New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-29
Sunday EDITION.
JAN. 20, 1898.
AIR. MYERS ON TAXATION.
-, rESTIFIES BEFORE THE COMMITTEE
AND LOCAL TAXES HE SAYS, SHOULD BE

~ AND LOCAL TAXES HE SAYS, SHOULD BE
ENTIRELY SEPARATED.
.o,cal witness before the Joint Legislative
IN. ~. apponted 10 inquire into the subject OF
oo' ,on which met in Part ii OF the superior Court
" Aa morning, was Controller Myers. senator
y',,"nd the chairman of the committee, presided
No.,,or MYERS proposed complete separation VI
Cohu0 ,oca, TAXATION lie said the chief az
Ns" =, This would be simpler methods OF colec
vahes ,ho abolition of the clumsy and frequently
uo' .no,bods of the state Board OF FquaiiGu 'n.
.hai the amount of taxes assessed against inc
he 81 eonntes Of the State had been steadily de-
S. ,c in recent years. This, he s;hd' iiau oeeh
er" IN. increased amounts received Directly by the
ou ,or the corporation and succession taxes. SPEAK
s~ hs succession tax he said the rate OF tax shoum
=. the same rs tha' 10" III io''' ' W.
.huld be ah,lisheu' IT. -, -
-, a,d thc Controller d" ii provided for TAX
rse cent on lecaces to colatera, heirs and
Under such a sy stem there might be some
.''. for exemptng religious and charitable insu
Is from taxes, and preierring them 10 strangers
'4a Now the tax has been extended TO direct
,L,.,ccs Not only Is il most incongruous ana
-, that colleges, charities and churches shoui" he
--s,erred BY law to decedent's own sous anu uauS"
So, such a provision greatly increases the com
xttv
Collection hes'ueS '"'''"e "''
% the State. =, .os,,oroa = tox uno,
=. Int rs a deduction which the state makes
w. tho entire estate of the deceden before allow
-, q IN he distributed Foreign corporations ooihE
"e In - state should be compelled to file Ger
.s5.,ss of Incorporation Each county should he
nd 10 raise It's tax for local purposes In the man
- Ne own citizens prefer. The state TAX having
-, nrovded for no county could feel that IL was
vn,us,Iy treated by the methods of taxation In
another county. .
~arbe overwhelming demand in New-fork County
A.. ho,,,,on Of the general personal property tax
- IA accom- rliscd without friction or criticism Az
800, yew.York County is assessed at three-sevenths
Az, total real estate valuation OF the state anu out
ns sixteenth OF the total personal property Vaiuauo'
fact which l. absurd on It's lace 'ha' IL Snou'"
.onvioce the rural communities that no tax can DC
enforced by laws however stringent, whlch 40 ho'
moot with In, approval Of the subjects Oh 'aAauo"'
MANY tlus funds now held for the Den'it Oh WILLOWS
IA ornbons do not bring in an income of more than
4 nor cent a year. At our present rates. the gen
80, nsrsona property tax would, If enforced. deprive
- horos,iories Of almost half Of their means OF
s,s,orco This amounts to cOntscation and Is re-
,ro,, n tho moral sense of the community. Such
Law can never be enforced and its present existence
AN the statute books results merely In more OF less
encacious sitting OF the political conscience OF "e
people. r,or,trr,,
TN, laws Of taxation applicable to agricultural
communities are absolutely an'agonls'lc 10 n'oSe
LII, "a c,,oe and when once the complete sep
srton Of State from county taxation is made eash ,
Comfy win be free TO adopt such a system AS VIII
when Questioned by the attorney Of the committee,
ex.Judce Hamilton Of Albany, Mr.. Myers said that
in his opinion the tax on personal property was go
failure. Under the present law. he said II was pos
sbe for people except those of the poorer Class,
to evade taxation. Park Commissioner A. r. anppIn
ss,d that the personal property tax conld nor w
properly collected F. j. Levy. Of the Controllers
Once. cave to the committee information aoout pc
Quests Bolton Hail. representing the New-iorK Tax
Reform Association, said that the tax on personal
property should be repealed and the State should raise
money hy taxing real estate and the corporations
r. W. Romaine Of the Real Estate Exchange gave
testimony on real estate values. go -,
The next meeting Of the committee VIII De 'neio
next Wednesday evening In Albany.