New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-12
BIG DEMAND FOR VETO.
pp HJrd REGARDED AS A REVENUE KILLER


THE POLITICS BEHIND 1T.
ALBANY. May II (SpeciaD.-Governor Black Is 70
ceving a large number Of briefs and letters In OPP
nos,tion TO the bill of Controller Roberts imposing
a progressive inheritance tax. which was presented
70 the Legislature by Assemblyman Dudley. OF
Niagara County. Mr.. Roberts, on his part, has
submitted a brief in support Of the measure
IT is noteworthy that The Troy Times" which
may be regarded as Mr. Blacks personal news
paper organ, is daily attacking the measure ana
giving reasons why 1t should fail to receive the
signaturs Of the Governor THE Tires" frequent
" prints four or five columns Of editorials copied
from other newspapers crticising the ROBERTS Dill
Judging from these articles, the press OF the o'a'o
is practically united against the measure" ihese
attacks are not Of a partisan nature. ihey coin0
from Republican and Democratic newspapers alike
All saen, N he Of the belief that the bill 10 not IN
the interest of the State; that, while It's avoweo
aim ia to increase the public revenue from q TAX
on inherited estates, II would on the contrary 10
crease the States present income from that source
by causing rich men to seek residence IN o'aef
States.
EFFECT ON THE TAX RATE
Any decrease Of the receipts from the inher-
lance tax at this time would increase 'he o',o
tax rate If the present scale of State expendl-
,ures sbould he maintained and II seems likely 10
he maintained owing to the assumption by the
State of the care OF the INDECENT insane and OK
large number Of charitable institutions coupled
with the adoption Of a policy OF improving inc
canals by an expenditure Of 100000 the purchase
OF H600OCO worth OF Adirondack lands, ana the
immediate completion OF the Capi'oi ~' 0 -
s, 10000
7, was well understood when the recent state
tax rate was adopted that 1t was rather forced
one 1t is 267 mills instead OF 269 Mills as IN
1885, but in consequence of the Increased Vaiua-
tons of real and personal property the lower tax
lar
this decrease of the tax was only established
bv taking s. 10000 out of a surplus In the state
Treasury The accommodations OF FORMER years
were used to conceal the extent OF the approPria-
lions Of the Legislature Of 1881. continuance OK
such policy would exhaust the surplus ana COM
pei suddenly and without apparent reaSon '"' 80
increase Of the tax rate.
ANY great decrease in the receipts from tho IN
heritance tax would surely prevent Governor
Black from materially decreasing the State tax
rate next year. an object on which he has SET MS
mind. BY making the appropriation for the pur-
chase Of Adirondack lands this year. and also that
for the completion of the Capitol Mr.. Black hopes
tn bring about marked reduction in the rate
next year
EYES ON THE GOvERNORsHIP.
One of Mr.. Blacks motives in having low tax
rate next year naturally will be to secure favor
able consideration for himself as candidate for
| denomination. Republican State Convention
for Governor in the person Of a who had great
" reduced the tax rate. There was unanimous
testimony this year from the members OF the Legis-
latre representing rural constituencies that never
were the farmers of the State feeling poor Any
lowering OF taxes therefore. would be appreciated
by them and doubt Mr.. Black IS conscious OF
the fact
1t Is believed that Controller Roberts would like
to use this Inheritance Tax bill. IN case Mr.. Black
should sign it, to promote his own candidacy for
the GcvernOrsip His line Of argument of course.
would be that he the author of the meas
ure and therefore entitled TO the support Of those
who might be favorable to 1t. Mr.. Roberts con-
trolls the organization of the Republican party in
Erie County. and thus has the nucleus OF a good
deal of strength In seeking nomination. More
over, as Controller he has n large number of APP
pointments all over the State. which may be made
influential when the time comes TO select dele
gates to the State Convention of 1898.
DISAPPOINTING TAX.
Mr.. Roberts estimates the receipts from the In
her1nnce tax for the fiscal year beginning on Octo-
| Der l. 1897 at s2O0OOOO. This seems a large esti-
| mate when considers that for the last fiscal
year the tax only brought in 81. 1916 CO. year ago
also Mr.. Roberts estimated he would receive
| So 100000. II the Roberts bill should be signed, and
| the owners of many large fortunes should move
our of the State the discrepancy between the esti-
L ntaA md fl,a "A