New-York tribune., 1896-01-20

REVENUE-COST OF THE ASYLCMS-EDC-
cATIoNAL ADVANTAGES OF DELIN-
oUENT CHILDREN-THE STATE
FOREST PRESERVES.
rrnoMrHE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE. ]
Albany. Jan. 1e.--James A. Roberts Controller,
has completed his annual report to the Legislat-
IRE 1t is a document which will repay the at
tention Of every member Of that body, since 1t
warns them against a great danger-an increase
OF the state tax rate to a most burdensome
extent.
Mr. Roberts is seriously alarmed by the con-
stant additions Of new State institutions to the
number Of those already existing: the increase
IN the number of State officers and clerks, ana
Increases in their salaries; the authorization OF
the construction OF new armor.es-in fact. a
general advance all along the line in the way OF
increasing the States financial burdens. The
Legislature now in Albany, for instance has al
ready alarmed those having charge of the hnan-
cial interests OF the State by spreading upon its
files appropriation bills to the extent OF *2oooooo
about $500 900 of which is for new armories
In opening his report he says that the report
Of the Controllers department Is so largely made
I'D Of tabulated statements that it ordinarily
fails :, engage the attention of the taxpayer.
While study of these tables of figures would
furnish every taxpayer reasons for pride. they
would also give him material for reflection 1t
would be noticed by taxpayers that there mad
been great extension by the state OF l's sup
port Of charitable institutions. but thought wouid
also be aroused "as to whether the State has not
gone far enough in the direction OF increasing
the burden of taxation, even for very meritorious
purposes.
REASONS FOR CAUTION.
Mr.. Roberts then points out that there is addi-
tlonal reason for caution in taking money out ol
the State Treasury just at present when 'he
fact is recalled that the State has recently re-
solved TO expend $9O00000 upon its canals, has
accented the support OF the INDECENT insane Oh
all the counties in the State and must meet GER
tain additional expenditures imposed upon IL Dy
the new Constitution such as the support OF a
larger Legislature and Of a larger number oi
Supreme Court Judges.
Dealing in detail with the subject OF the state
increased expenditures. Mr.. Roberts contrasts
the total State expenditure Of s12O3.96l a IN lszV
with s2O457 0s1 SO in 1895. This vast increase
has t-aen brought about. he declares by the state
assuming such expenditures as that in 1893 o!
a 777 7a2 Fl for free schools Of s42oooOo for the
sunnort of the INDECENT insane, of s7s9 $50 So for
tho canals and like expenditures Mr. Roberts
saws that he has called attention 10 the large
exneodtures Of the State at present for TWO
reasons:
l. To show the tendency of the State In build,
ing up gigantic system that wi.i can LOT ., al,
enormcus and ever increasing annual expenditure
@ ainienance believing that the time has come
10 call a halt before this burden OF 'aAa'ioA oo'
3. To emphasize what said n year ago as So, 10
the absolute necessity OF nanr in n .he treasury
at The end Of the fiscal year Another year eN,
perence has decidedly increased my appreciation
of this necessity
He then adds, In relation TO "the tendency OF
the State" to build up a gigantic system oil
expenditures in various directions:
1t may be as well for the people to know now as ns
later that result oi ad 1s p ths State again unless
new sources OF revenue are discovered Inc cart
re o o, the school system the militia. the canal:
and the judiciary under the new , nde~ va
low tax rate impossible These items IN the iulul.
will not fall much. II any, below the loho"Ais
amounts per annum: ~,
Charity dncludins insane) e"o .oe
Militia Exclusive Of beiterrr GO Geo
Ganad It me1Irise aIaTns ........... 6Oo0OO
Total .si2 700 ooC
THESE five i,eios alone which more likely to
a tax rate OF o.9 mills on the dollar; The Stnt,
prisons anS f0st sumTs 1nS sOS but al the
Constitution goes into effect next tx M year nsr wiGn r
stitutons. there will be very large increase IN this
item. ,oo ,. .. a,, ,ha. ,he
total cost Of government for this State in 1862, IN
AMOUNT paid for charities this year.
EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE STATES IN
COME
Mr Roberts states that great efforts have
been made in the Controllers Department the
Last wear TO increase the States income from Its
indirect taxation laws, and also to reduce the
cost of supporting the States charitable insti'
tutions. He says:
The work of the Corporation Tax Department dur
s ssd HS urns Rrs the Year has resulted in thor
oush oi in9 Counties Of r. this STATE h
Examination of the records OF the Secretary o
s'as eccessf sS eort to enforce laws reatn,
10 foreign corporations doing business within oul
os taxsiion 1 borne by domestic corporations
At the close OF the year tne fefister ~ re , t
having corporations to be 405l-an increase over IN
previous year Of 2and that more ore 'han % % pS
been added during the last two years Durlhg ahSs
two years the amoaht s and the taxes col
eeed the last year aggregated s2 coo more thai
SSw Sss aprnF assy hs
having an actual value of more than a, s2oy
during the years 1894 and 1895 helped to pay pa.
the cost Of has beea pem for
January 1896 257 companies were added 10 me ,ax
paying companies was 4.3ss, or more than twice tn
number paying on January ], laH ,,, o,,o,
Chapter 2lO OF the Laws OF 1895. which competed
foreign corporations pay license fee OF one
eight OF ] per centum upon capital empioye1 ~
doing business in this State. did not become iuil, ~
operative until December 1885, but the e1ect OF th
law became noticeable before the close OF the nsca @
year in the increase of organization taxes rou u
companies which were organized under the laws
other States and were doing the major portion ION o
their business. all OF It. within this state ime ~
dately reorcanzed under our laws. and paid nto tn
State Treasury more than $4,000. TINS law ma
greatly reduced the inducement for companies oper
ating In this State 20 incorporate under the laws o
other States In order to escape taxation; ana ne
placed foreign corporations coming into tnis Statu
do business. under the same conditions regaroiht
taxation as surround domestic companies.
RECEIPTS FROM CORPORATIONS.
The receipts from the corporations for th'
nd ha,o hnn