New-York tribune., 1897-01-25
PRICE THREE CENTS!
THE STATES EXPENSES.
CONTROLLER RoBERTss REPORT "a
A SERMON ON ECONOMY.

PLANS FOR A GRADED TAX on rSHERrrANcEs-
THE COST OF cHARrrIEs-DASoER OF
RAISING THE TAX RATE.
[rRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrBuNn1
Albany. Jan. H-James A. Roberts the State
Controller. ever since he was installed in ofhce
three years has been hammering away at the
Legislature TO impress II with the necessity OK
greater economy. This year. In his annual re-
port, TO be presented TO tho Legislature tomorrow
night he returns to this theme and presents an
impressive array OF figures showing the States
large expenditures In various directions in re-
cent years. In 1896 he says that they reached tho
OF ses SO 425 -. For the grounds. buildings
and permanent improvements OF seventeen State
charitable institutions twelve hospitals for the
insane. forty-fve arsenals and armories, twelve
normal schools. three State prisons. five State
canals and public calamity" called tho
Capitol" there has been expended the enor.
OF SllSs7s,ls6 &c. The annual "hxec
charges" against the State for the support OF
these institutions the schools. the canals the Ma
tional Guard. the insane. the Legislature and
other branches of the State Government amount
now 10 sl5 q, ,3ls 05. The Legislature Of 1896 ap-
propriated $2O020o22 AZ. the largest amount since
the great expenditures OF the State. In 1881
the Legislature appropriated 80 ss2i4 So In 1895 the
of s2O.O2o 022 A.. The contrast suggestive.
This is enormous amount Of money tc
troller Roberts "and what is the indications
are II will steadily Increase let the Legislature do
the best II In view OF this. and the additional
fact that this department has Information TO the
effect that your honorable body s to be asked for
appropriations for more institutions. respect
fully suggest that it is time TO call halt on new.
unusual and extraordinary expenditures. for a
time at least. and enter upon the practice OF rigid
economy"
TAXATION OF INHERITANCES.
Mr. Roberts does not limit his report TO a display
OF State expenditures. He makes a recommenda-
tion which he argues. II adopted would greatly
Increase the States revenues. He suggests that
a graded Inheritance he levied 1T occurs TO
ne" he SAYS that II would be well for the Leg's
ature to give very serious consideration TO the
question as 10 whether the collateral Inheritance
or transfer laws should not be materially
amended so as to provide a graded scale that vii!
make large estates yield very much more tax than
they now do" He points TO the Inheritance tax
systems of Great Britain, France. Germany ana
other countries as examples OF graded tax systems.
| and he suggests tax OF per cent on estates OK
100000 and less than & 100000 OF 10 per cent on
estates OF 81 100000 and less than S,Mo"" and OF
Is per cent on estates Of g 000co) and over. Such
a graded tax system. II 1t had been In operation
In this State during the last four years. he says
would have put the OF s27,1li.5so In the State
! Treasury whereas. under the present system only
sS6s4l 90 was paid in The report continues:
In my last report to the Legislature | called
wS be Tsd ohass a1 ss this had
and took occasion to give prominence TO the lact
cred low tax rate could never again be enjoyed
by this State very fruitful source OF income %as
m ,Se reasnry in yns ss% But With this
dton to the States resources comp comnparnauvey ,n e
essary funds the g ne, exP'endi, 'a
The tax rate last year was ms o IL ,hs s heh On
est rate levied the last ten years. notwithstand
Tg TSere ne is danger therefore that unless deter
mined effort T. made to keep down unusual Lana ana
from the Excise law may ince desire for ap:
preparations. and thus raise the tax rate instead OF
lowering IT,
VAST PERMANENT INVESTMENTS
The policy which has obtained IN the State for
years OF caring for the unfortunates OF every
class has resulted in the establishment OF a great
number OF extensive and expensive institutions
Put the State has been liberal investor In other
directions than In these institutions and for the
purpose OF showing how vast Is the amount OF
public money permanently Invested by the state
7 have caused the following statement TO be pre-
ror.d which 7 believe is the fullest of the kind
ever compiled in this State 1t shows the moneys
that have gone OF the State Treasury Tor the
purposes named.
For grounds. buildings and permanent improve
ments
For what expended:
State hospitals ,i2 include. i ot oes 90
Arsenas and arnores Sss 30 "a
Normal schools n2 2........,.'.,''''.' sa sao ~ ~ p @
State canals %, Gs3t7. 600 o,
Total SIS iss as
II Is proper to state In this connection that tho
buildings and grounds for the insane OF New
York and Kings counties. winch accommodate
nearly one-half OF the dependent insane OF the
State were turned to the State without ex-
alth hey ha
counties many millions of dollars
This Is large amount OF money. but II does
not cover all of the property ownel by the state;
only that requiring attention at ;he hands OF the
Legislature annually. In the way Of a large ap-
propriation for care and maintenance WAS in
cluded. My object In compiling the above figures
was not 10 show the magnitude Of the States in-
vestments only. but also 20 snow the magnitude
OF the annual outlay called for by them and kim
dred matters Of government. These expenses,
which might properly be regarded fixed
charges have reached gigantic proportions. as
will be seen by the following statement OF pay
ments from the Treasury during the last fiscal
year for the purposes named
Charitable institutions ...........si s6l. 500 ~
state hospitals. ................. so2s. .594 ~
National Guard Gncludins arsenas and
..sa1, sr%or..., .s..,, sss ssse;s 9;s 1; /;
canals. Ssas p'aH mainisnancs LOS ac % q
,aS:.s :ss;.. and court 81; {: {:
| LEGISLATURE
Legislative printing and adveriis
, 'rts '5p ".
fist s.s q
Total Si52t'3i II
AN ALARMING INCREASE
As already stated. the above expenditures are In
TO sense temporary: they are permanent. and must
, he provided for regularly the Legislature
meets and the most serious. | might with pro.
prcty say the most alarming feature connected
with them Is that they rapidly increasing How
true this IL regarding the great charities OF the
State Is illustrated by the following statement
l showing the payments from the State Treasury In
aid or support o, charitable purposes ,or period
OF ten years from 1881 to 1896 inclusive