New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-23
A BLOW AT STATE REVENUES.
CONTROLLER ROBERTS SOUNDS A NOTE
OF WARNING.
THE PASSAGE OF SENATOR HILLS FEDERAL IN
HERITANCE TAX LAW MIGHT CAUSE
NEw-YoRK LOSS OF SEVERAL


YROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE rgIBCNR.l
Albany Jan. 22.-James A. Roberts. the Re
publican State Controller tonight transmitted to
the Legislature of the most important
municaOns addressed to that body in recent years
He calls attention to the bill which Senator Hill
has introduced in the United States Senate taxing
legacies. and expresses the fear that If it becomes
a law the State Inheritance Tax law will be super
seded and the State will thus lose some 100000
of revenue annually. Mr.. Roberts, upon assuming
office as Controller, noticed the struggles of the
Democratic National Administration TO meet the
deficiency in revenue caused by its financial blum
ders, and also observed Senator Hs benevolent
scheme TO aid President Cleveland by obtaining
from the taxation OF nheritances some 100000
Mr.. Roberts then had computation made OF the
sum Senator Hills bill would produce in this State
If it taxed the estates which paid the tax of
100000 last year. He found that such a Federal
inheritance tax would have produced from 100000
to 100000. This. in addition to the State tax of
100000. would. in his opinion. be such a burden
that there would be danger that it would be evaded
and that the State tax itself would be repealed
since Federal laws always take precedence of State
statutes
Impressed with this view of the danger in which
the state Inheritance law has been put by Senator
HiIis bill. Controller Roberts deemed 1t his duty
TO inform the Legislature of the perlous position
sentatives Of New-York in Congress be requested
9y ieslsiatlve resolution to DO Their utmost TO
munication is in part follows:
There is good ground for believing that the pas
sage of a burdensome Federal inheritance tax law
would result in great decrease in the receipts
from the inheritance tax law In this state and to
the ultimate repeal Of the State law. a loss Of
over 100000 from this source would necessitate a
corresponding increase in the general property tax
Keenly approaching the gravity OF the situation,
have ventured to call the special attention OF the
Legislature to the subject, with the view OF re-
specially suggesting the propriey OF action IN the
direction Of asking rhe representatives OF this State
in Congress to oppose this proposed law whieh so
seriously threatens the fiscal AFFAIRS or TINS state
The propriety of such action can hardly be ques.
STONED in view Of the fact that from the nature OF
the case this Federal tax would be sectional one,
falling most heavily upon the state OF New YORK
and other prosperous Northern states. The great
depression in trade OF all knds mas caus of al
descriptions The effect Of this Is almost certain 10
be seen in decrease in the receipts from the TAX
upon corporations, which fact renders 1t all the
more important that the tax upon inheritances and
legacies should be guarded with jealous care 49,
Mr. Roberts's letter naturally was listened 10 with
profound attention ana interest Dy the HelpeTS VI
When the letter OF Controller Roberts had been
read to the Assembly resolution was offered by
Assemblyman Ainsworth, the chairman OF the AS
sembly Committee on Ways and Means, declaring
that the pending bill is an attempted INVASION by
the Federal Government OF a held Tor taxation now
fully occupied by the State and that the nited
States Senators from this State and the Repre-
sentatives in Congress be requested 10 use '"eir
best endeavors TO defeat 1t.
William Sulzer, the Democratic leader IN the AS
sembly, seemed greatly annoyed by the resolution.
concluded: MIR. Speaker, / rise TO debate thiS
resolution since 1t treats of many complicated mat
iNlr Sulzer Directing" said Speaker Malby. the
resolution goes over under the rules to another
Mr Sulzer had the right. under the rules Of the
Assembly thus to object 10 the immediate consd-
Grafton of the resolution but nevertheeSs ms ac-
ton is a confession that Controller Roberls mas
made a forcibe objection to Senator liilIs biH;
The resolution probably now will not be debated
until next Monday night, since other business VIII