New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-17
THE CONTROLLERS REPORT.
MIR. ROBERTS FAvoRs THE ABOLITION
OF ALL DIRECT TAXEs BY THE STATE.

HE WOULD HAVE THE STATE GOVERNMENT SUP
PORTED FROM INDIRECT soURCEs-rAX LAWS
WOULD BE sIMpLIFINp. HE SAYS. AND
GREATER EFFICIENCY SECURED.
Albany. Ian. 1o (speciaD.-James A. Roberts. the
State Controller IN his annual report. wnich VIII
be submitted TO The Legislature tomorrow ngh''
uakas sor,e interesting suggestions regarding the
taxation laws OF the State. He would nave inc
State government supported by taxes .Ton ino'Iec'
sources. such the Inheritance tax. the nai"cs
llquor tax and the corporation tax ana wou'u re-
lieve all the counties o: any direct taxation oy 'nc
State Every dollar raised under the liquor tax
Is SIG OF which now goes into the various county
treasures would be taken by the State under MS
plan. Another important feature Of his plan OF
modifying The system Of taxation would be the
abolition OF personal taxation
INDIRECT TAXATION ADVOCATED.
While Mr. Roberts fully realizes that the PROPOSE
ZION to secure the necessary revenues to support the
government from indirect sources may at first sight
appear 10 be radical yet he is satisfied II can
be easily ACCOMPLISHED and decided benefits result.
He thinks his contention resolves Itself good deal
into a question OF bookkeeping. with the balance OF
benefit resulting from the change 10 Indirect taxa
ton going TO the localities.
The State government. says the Controller. should
be maintained by taxes from indirec; sources. leav-
ing the direct property tax 10 the several counties
from which 10 satisfy their local needs. This plan
would greatly simplify the tax laws. and, II con-
sistently followed would remove most OF the imper-
fections now complained of and secure greater
efficiency and greater economy In the collection OF
the taxes. Last year there was received from IN
direct taxes IS. 70s.52 The sources from which
this sum was derived follows: Insurance.
1877 organization tax. N52646 corporation tax,
64s inheritance tax. 81. S29s4l excise tax, "a
oo2 s3s: various other sources s26354 total sslOSo4
He says:
The product OF the 269 mills State tax upon
real and personal property last year was sl..5lS37.
This. then. is the amount that would have TO be
raised annually addition, If the direct State tax
were abolished but this could be materially de-
creased by greater economy in the direction OF
charities and other ways While it is not my pur-
pose 10 lay out any plan by which the State gov
eminent could be maintained from indirect sources.
4, may be said that the same principle which allows
e-third Of the excise tax 10 be turned into the
State treasury would permit OF two-thirds or the
whole being turned into the State treasury for
State purposes
ITO illustrate my idea I submit the following
statement showing the taxes collected last year
under the State tax rate of 269 mills on the real
and personal property in the five great counties OF
the State viz: New-York. Kings. Erie. Monroe and
Onondaga and also the amount which went into the
treasury in each OF those counties as the county 8
share of the Ranes Liquor Tax revenues:
from