The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-03
COMMITTEE HEARINGS.
Arguments For and Against Ford's Bill to
Tax Franchises as Real Estate.

Tax Franchises as Real Estate.
ALBANY. March Ex-senator Ford's bill. which
aims to tax as real estate the franchises OF
street railroads, gas and transportation
corporations, had another hearing this after
noon before the Senate on Taxa
ton and Retrenchment. Those who appeared
in favor Of the measure were Prof. Henry Clark
johnson OF New York. representing the
knights OF Labor: DR.. William ]. O'Sullivan.
the legal adviser OF the Central Federated
Union OF New York city. and John G. Agar.
John De Witt Warner and Henry De Forest
Baldwin, representing the Reform Club OF New
York city. In opposition TO the measure there
appeared Charles A. Collin and Col. Timothy 8.
Williams. representing the BROOKLYN Rapid
Transit Company: David Mcclure, who ap-
peared for the Consolidated Gas Company: W.
R. Bronx. for the Mutual Gas Company OF New
York city. and Judge Charles F. Brown. who
appeared on behalf OF the Metropolitan Street
Railway Company. Representatives OF street
railroads OF other cities were also on hand.
Mr.. Collin argued that the corporations af-
fected by the bill have always paid their full
quota OF taxes, not only on the full value Of
their franchises. but on other property. He
declared that the Ford bill. in taxing the per-
sonal property OF corporations ms real estate.
ductions for Indebtedness could be made from
the assessed value thereof as il the case in the
He asserted that the bill, il enacted, would re-
duce the assessment of the personal property
OF each corporation as much as 1t would in;
crease the assessment of real property, and
therefore its effect would be a nullity. He
urged that the bill was detectively drnfted and
that it was Just such legislation as this which
IL driving capital out of the State. A final
hearing on the bill will be given next Thurs
The Assembly Committee on Labor and In
dd@Instries todlday ytd heard maTnEiGTY@neesnt t En- Assem- eat
which nrDyideS that the Use by an emplOypr
OF defective machinery shall be p~resumptive
evidence Of ne Gtaedfpg on tbt me ,sd Fart I6s OF me ne EN- en-
ployee continues working with knowledge Of
the unsafe condition Of the machinery. Ham
the New Yolk Central and Delaware aud Hud-
son ailr9ad comp9nies. respectively. Cd
thai the present laws Of negligence gave the
employee all the rights which should be legally
gence OF the master. and that to place upon
the latter the added burden which the kedi4G-
ton BIZ imposes 4abr would Hnd,. be a gross lnitract ion
Federation Of Labor: and Asse m blyman Red
ington advocated a favorable report upon tie
"l Asse en- MShsr's b;il, to limit the ror,
Ice OF the policemen Of New York. city 20
assembly Cities Committee to-day. Mr.. ,Maher
presented a committees from The ;patT9lmen,s
sistine OF William Bremen. John Ritter.
George Akerly and william + + Malcolm, Who:
They told the COMMITTEES that the bill contem-
plated for Now York city a step in advance
this country. including Chicago. Boston and
Cincinnati. in all OF which elghtThour days
had been adopted for the police Those who
once with Gov. Roosevelt;
The Assembly, Committee on Electricity.
sa@b Hya wa 9sflu SuP Haybu us1snS's fGea9 ior 70 a f "a:
vorable report upcn his I'LL for 80 cent gas in
New York city: and To- W, i Bronx, represent;
Henry Thompson Of the Standard Gas Com
many Of New York, The latter said that the
Legislatare; il i enacted G,St LEGISLATION ks on this
out OF the plan adopted 10y tho gas COMPANIES
of New Y2rx Of cutting the price OF gas an
nually until 81 gas was reached.
THE Senate Committee on Miscellaneous
Corporations this afternoon gave a hearing on
Senator Marshall's bill regulating teleph one
prising the Acknowledgement, stare, Comp
troller and state Treasurer as a omTissi9n TO
sureryiss the zane; ms isr measure ae a y mas p Sast
and many OF those who favor It have also been
In Albany during previous sessions endeayor-
pSared in favor O! the hill to-day were Frank
e. Gardner. Silas NJ. Glddings. q. Waldo smith.
D. q, Osgood and L J. Callahan. representing
portation; DR.; George W. Brush OF Brookly9,
city Dr1Rfl ssre Snq Pd u N; Ma WiiIi;a hnF r Rus 8.
sell aud Amasa Lyon. who appeared on behalf
Of the MerchantS and Manprhcturer oB9ard
the present telephone rates could almost he
cut In two and still leave q sutflclent margin
Of profit. They, urged that the heopie OF the
rates. The. other. telephone rate reduction
bills were also incidentally discussed
Filling Vacancies In State Board of Charities.
ALBANY. March 2.-Gov, Roosevelt to-day
sent in 10 the Senate the names OF former At
$1,000 --z-. Cl.AA w nAaanAala ~ Albany