The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-18
AS VIEWED AT WASHINGTON.
nv q. A. EDWARDS

j believe salu 5Oinp V'i"N %
Plat and Teddy Roosevelt woulu dissolve
their political partnership before very
long Well, the time for the dissolution
has about arrived Unless Teddy shows
the wbite feather and crawls at the feet
OF Tom Plat on the Ford bill passed oy
| the New York legislature, and desigheu
az a measure to make more equitable the
payment OF taxes In that State, compelling
the big corporations to bear their Just
share OF the burdens Of taxation tnen ne
will get the frozen face from Plat.
A critical period in the political career
of Teddy has arrived and 1t will undoubt-
eddy have direct bearing on his fortunes
in the wider fields that his friends predict
he is destined to occupy. 1t was at mis-
suggestion and at his urgent solicitation
that the legislature passed the Ford Dill
which provides for the taxing of franchises
Under It's operation all franchises for the
use OF public streets, throughout the en-
tire State, will be classed and taxed as
real estate.
At present the large corporations en-
Toying these privileges are able, almost
without exception, to avoid the payment
OF charges upon their holdings by covering
them with mortgage bonds and other
/ forms Of Indebtedness, which exempt the
securities from taxation, Under the Ford
law the assessment will be recorded as
in the case of houses and lands, and the
tax can not be evaded any more than that
levied on any form Of real estate
It Is believed that in New York City
alone the execution OF the law will re-
suit In the increase OF hundreds Of mil
lions in the assessment and from ten to
fifteen millions in the amount OF taxes.
=
The bill was framed and passed in re-
spouse to a popular demand for more
equitable system OF taxation, which should
recognize that the great corporations using
the streets for steam or electric or horse
railways or for electric lighting or tele-
phone uses owe substantial sums to the
community for the rights which hereto
fore they have enjoyed practically without
cost.
It's passage was bitterly resisted in both
houses, and In the lower branch was all
most smothered by trickery, though fav-
ored by a large majority. It was only
through the governors determined eff
forts tnat the measure was placed upon
Its passage. It Is now before him for
signature, under the clause In the State
law which gives the executive thirty days
after he adjournment of the legislature in
which to sign or reject pending measures.
The commercial and political influences
which are being brought to bear upon
Governor Roosevelt to persuade him to
veto the bill are tremendous in their pow
er. 1t has been plainly minated to him
that Il he signs the bill he incurs the en-
nifty OF Senator Plat, whose business
Interests are identical with those of The
corporations affected most heavily by the
proposed law
It Is even declared that platt has said
that II Roosevelt signs the bill he will!
proclaim himself to be no less than a com
munist. The governor is said to have re-
torted that his approval Of the act would
be directly against the growth Of com
munism for Il would meet by a rational
measure an unmistakable and a reasonable
demand by the people that the great corpo-
rations bear their just share of the taxa
ton burden, and 50 would prevent radical
reactions toward socialism and commun-
ism.
Hearings are to be given at which all
the weight Of the allied corporations OF
the city OF New York representing
hundreds Of millions OF dollars and pow
erful pollticsl influence will be brought
to bear upon tho governor.
1t will be a supreme test of his quality.
He is known to have plenty Of nerve but
1t VIII require all his capacity for indie
pendent action to turn deaf ear 10
me demands of the big companies and to
listen to the voice of the citizens
He is already webbing He saws he
VIII call special session Of the legisla-
ture and have the Ford bill amended. Thai
means that Plat will pull all the teeth
out OF It that could bite the corporations.
If Teddy Is only true to himself in This
crisis he will come out OF it a bigger man
than Plat with The voters of his state.
Let us watch the game and see what viii
happen.
The society women of this city are talk
ing hand in the spoakership contest The
fashionable set is conducting an active
campaign in favor OF having the next
speaker chosen with some respect to his
social tendencies. The leaders declare
that It is one OF the necessary require
ments OF so high an official position az
that OF speaker OF the house. that the
Incumbent of that chair should take an
active part in social functions.
Considered from this point OF view
Representative Dalzen OF pennsylvania
seems the most available candidate The
paizells have handsome Washington
nome and during their residence here thew
nave been lavish entertainers.
None Of the other candidates montiorsd
nave the requisite social qualifications. so
the leaders OF this movement say. Mrs.
serene d Payne is a quiet and retiring
woman to whom social amenities arc a
bore Mrs. Dave Henderson. also cares
To- -. 4