New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-22
TIE TAJ on PROSPERITY VETOED.

If Governor Black does some things badly he
does other things extremely well The contrast
which IL is not easy 10 account Tor. mas peeh
s,rikinclv showii in his treatment OF two I'M
Variant measures left In his hands when the
LEGISLATURE adjourned Last week he accom-
panied the signature of his own unwise Dill az
factinc the Civil Service with memorandum
which did dscredit to both his Judgment ana
his TEMPER Yesterday. in disappearing Con
trol,nr Robertss inequtabe and mischevous
Graded Inheritance tax bill. he made state
ra,t of his reasons for so doing which is con-
elusive IN substance and excellent in FORM
Among all the arguments with which aDie men
have assaed measure penalizing industry
thrift and prosperity we have seen none NJ once
SO cocent and so compact
The Governors memorandum on this tax Dill
Is especially commendable for the candor ana
eynlicitness with which il exposes and condemns
rho false principles on which the bill is based
II is true that n large amount Of personal prop
erty escapes taxation. though not dishonesty 10
any such extent as has been represented but
large amount does not escape, and yet as Gov
ernor Black observes this bin lin order to reach
.those who have evaded would punish those
"who have already paid" and this State ought
"not 70 confess that ii is powerless TO enforce
"its laws except by grouping the innocent and
"puIlty together and Furnishing the whole In
tbat sentence, the Governor clearly shows how
uniust as well as irrational Is the purpose which
the bill avows.
Morally speaking this subsection OF innocent
and guilty to the same penalty is perhaps the
strongest objection TO the bill Legally. the dis
elimination il. rates Of taxation which it would
establish may be still more obnoxious. IF this
Is constitutional" as Governor Black remarks.
"it ouch, not TO be-" There is no reason why
zone mans dollar should pay more than another
"man's." or why 1.-The last million dollars of
"man's property should pay more than the first
"mi,l,on." ANY theory Of taxation which does
not include equality, the basis Of all our institu-
tons. lis not only unjust. but dangerous. II
..sucb tax as this could be imposed. any other
"migh, be-" II is not true. moreover In any
general sense-which is the only sense in which
the fallacy is propounded-that the rich are
growing richer and the poor poorer. and the
claim would have no bearing here IL ii were.
Those incon,rovertlble propositions go to the root
NJ the matter. and Governor Black deserves
great credit and gratitude for the outrage with
which he has asserted them. in time Of weak
res,stance 10 sophistica reasonings AMI reckless
rO-ODprati0n
There are other valid arguments against the
hill which arc derived from a consideration OF
practical conditions. In an emergency ':itizens
IN every walk Of life would cheerfully bear
heavy burdens. without inquiring too closely
into The manner IN which they were laid. Bu,
the State is not in need either Of large add
,iona revenues from any source or OF having
n low tax rate tor State purposes reduced by
extraordinary means it does desire. however.
for the common benefit, a continued Influx of
substantial citizens and such an abundance OF
employment and prosperity as money in use
produces. The Governor boldly says thnt IL the
bin were Just he should without hesitation con
front the prospect Of its driving wealthy men
from the State Being what II Ia. II demanded
for the sake Of right the veto which from every
poipt of view is advantageous 10 the State We
de not question the good faith OF the author or
OF many advocates Of the bill, and we hope that
.::cy will recognize before long their "~n obll-