New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-22

some time in 1902 All three Of the present
Commissioners are Republicans. They receive
under present laws 81 500 and their actual x
penses II the additional work Of estimating
the value Of the franchises Of corporations is
imposed on them II can be supposed their sala-
ries will be increased. Under present taxation
laws they have a great deal of work to do The
taxation law says they must officially visit
every county in the State at least once in two
years. inquire into the methods of assessment
and taxation furnish local assessors with in
struction, information and forms. hear evidence
with reference TO any matter within the line OF
their official duty, hear and determine appeals
from local eQualizations within the several coun-
ties. and prepare an annual report TO the Legis-
lature with such recommendations as they may
deem advisable about the taxation laws
The members Of the State Board OF Tax Com
nnissioners with the Commissioners OF the Land
ONCE Meutenant-Governor Woodruff, Speaker
Nixon, Secretary OF State McDonough Control
Ter Morgan. State Treasurer Jaeckel, Attorney
General Davies and State Engineer Bond. con-
stitute TIE State Board of Equalization. whose
duty ii is TO equalise assessments among the
several counties OF the state and fix the aggre-
gate for each county upon which the State tax
Is levied
AN ENORMOUS INCREASE OF DUTIES.
II tn. Board Of State Tax Commissioners is
charged with the duty Of learning and stating
the value Of the franchises OF the corporations
affected by the bill for the purposes of taxation.
their duties and the responsibility Of their work
will be enormously increased The bill affects the
1lS street railway companies OF the State. the
telegraph and telephone companies. which now
number ninety-one; all the stearn-heatlns COM
panies. all the gas companies. all the water sup
ply companies, all the electric light companies.
and all the steam railroads which. occupying
city streets. do not pay any franchise tax. The
Ford Franchise Tax act applies TO all surface.
underground or elevated railroads.
A DEFINITION OF REAL ESTATE.
The term real estate" in the taxation laws
IL TO include the value Of all franchises. rights
or permissions TO construct maintain or operate
surface underground or elevated railroads
under above through streets highways and
public places" The term real estate also in
the taxation system OF the State is made TO in
clude "the value Of all franchises. rights. au-
thOrity or permission 10 construct. maintain or
operate in under. above, upon or through any
streets, highways or public places any mains.
pipes, tanks conduits or wires. with their ap-
purtenances. for conducting water steam. heat
light, power, gas oil or other substance. or cleo
tricty for Geographic telephone or other pur-
poses"
The number of waterworks gas electric or
steam-heatng lighting and power companies
These concerns would become subject to a local
tax their franchises # the Ford Franchise
Tax act should become a law
GREAT ENLARGEMENT NECESSARY
II Is thought that the little State Department
OF the State Tax Commissioners. which now
consists Of one clerk and a stenogra pher would
have 10 be greatly enlarged If they are TO value
the franchises Of the large number of corpora
tons mentioned The State Tax Commissioners
deputies in order TO do their work with thor
oughness.