New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-18
EXTRA SESSION CALLED.
TO CONSIDER PROPOSED FRANCHISE
TAX AMENDMENTS.
GOVERNOR UNDECIDED REGARDING RAPID
TRANSIT - OPPOSITION OF KINGS
COUNTY SENATORS-OUTLlNE

OF THE NEW BILL.

OF THE NEW DILL
Albany. May II (SpeciaD.-Governor Rooseve"
this morning issued his expected proclamation
calling an extraordinary session OF the Legs
Iature The time he sets for the con'eh'hs Vi
the Legislature is Monday evening next. May
90. at o'clock
Thus far the Governor stated this afternoon.
the only subject he had decided to present 10
the Legislature for It's consideration was the
rronosad amendment OF the Ford Franchise
Tax bill now In his hands In regard to any
legislation concerning rapid transit in New-Yor
the Governor said he was undecided, since the
situation was a complicated one. The fact that
the Senators from Kings County. both Repup-
lcans and Democrats were opposed 10 the
massage OF n rapid-transit bill made the ques-
ton more complex.
Senator Grady the Tammany Hall leader III
the Senate was here to-day in company wiz"
Senator Martin and Thomas j. Creamer' 'he
legal representative OF New-York mere wheh
the Legislature is in session. Senator draoy
stated that part OF his mission was 10 ieaih
whether the Governor would suggest raplo-uah-
sit legislation He also acknowledged that the
situation was complicated" and II can be sus-
pected that the chief complication Is the nos
tile attitude Of the Kings County Senators tow
ard any rapid-transit BILL
THE Kings County Senator's said senator
Grady, think they have a rapid-transit meas
ure in the Marshall Tunnel act They are mis-
taken. You cannot build a rapid-transt road
under that act. Moreover the tunnel route was
carefully selected so 1t would not interfere with
any rapid-transit route. OF course. the chiet
thought of the Kings County people. In OPP
nos,no any construction OF a rapld-transit road
in the Borough Of Manhattan. Is TO prevent any
growth OF the city northward beyond the Har-
lem River They want It to go eastward, over
Long Island 1t seems to me that great mis-
take was made by the authors OF the charter
in including Brooklyn in the greater CITY, ior
its population has always been antagohis,ic 10
tho dwelers upon Manhattan Island ana now
thew oppose our building rapid-transit roau
northward. All the advantages OF consolidation
have thus far been theirs. and yet they 90 NOT
seem dIsposed to make any concessions 10 the
other communities within the greater New-1orH
territory" ,,,....
II ia thus apparent, from senator urauS
talk that he Is respondent about rapiu IRAN
| sit and evidently fears that no rapid-rahsit
| bill can be passed at this session OF the Les's-
ature.
| GOVERNORS AMENDMENTS NOT FINAL.
Governor Roosevelt stated to-day that MS
amendments to the Franchise Tax Dill printed
| in to-day's newspapers must not be cohs'uereu
| az final. They were a mere sketch, prepared oy
| the Statutory Revision Commission. OF what ne
| desired to have done. Before the amenda'ory
| act was passed there would propaoiy De oo]eh
| drofts ~ Il prepared and made public. But In
the end the bill. which was a mere outline OF
what the Governor wished to have done wouio
contain II II was TO receive his assent, the prin-
| c,n,e that a State Board should learn and de-
| clare the assessable valuation Of franchise,
| and secondly that such corporations as now
nav what is the equivalent Of a State tax should
| have credit in the making of their assessment
| for whatever amounts have been paid
Several Senator's the Governor added, nave
| suggested amendments to the proposed bill
which he regards as reasonable and proper
The Ford Franchise Tax bill. in his Judgment,
was not a perfect measure, as some people
seemed TO think, and II 1t could be amended so
/ as to improve 1t he did not see why this should
! not be done II there any failure In this re-
spect he could fall back upon tie Ford bill and
| sign It, He had been amused to-day by cor
| poration attorney telling him that the suggested
| amendments to the Ford Franchise Tax Dill
were worse from his point OF view than the
| present act now In the Governors hands-since
| in his opinion they would tax the corporations
twice The Governor was also amused at the Idea
|
| danger. II the Legislature should meet. that the
| Ford Franchise Tax act would be taken out or
| his hands by a resolution being passed recalling
| a He declared that 1t was only courtesy TO
| any LEGISLATURE that a bill was ever returned
| 70 II on request; secondly, that he never would
return the Ford bill. and. thirdly. II there was
| any attempt made to pass such resolution Of
recall and he should fear that the Legislature
! really had the right to recall 1t, he would sign
| tho hin before the resolution could officially
reach him.
THE AMENDMENTS OUTLINED.
The outline" Of the Statutory Revision Com
mission of the Governors amendments. declare
that local franchise is right or privilege law
| fully granted by the local authorities OF coun-
| ty. city town or village to a person, copartner-
| ship association or corporation. or possessed
by such person, copartnership association or
| corporation under a general or special law. to
use. occupy or enjoy public streets, highways or
other public places. or public waters. or any
part thereof. or any interest therein and,
| whether on. above or below the surface thereof,
| a local franchise is deemed real estate for the
| purpose OF taxation.
| The act then goes to say that the State
, Roard Of Tax commissioners shall fix and de-
| ternIne the valuation Of the local franchises,
| subject to assessment in each city, town or VII
| lage and shall within thirty days next proceed
ing the date when an annual assessment Is W
| be made in any such city. town or village hle
| with the clerk OF such city. town or village a
| written statement of the valuation of each local
| franchise therein as fixed and determined by
! such board and the valuation so fixed shau be
the valuation on which all taxes. based on such
local franchise in such city. town or village for
| State municipal school or highway purposes.
| shall be levied during the next ensuing year
The assessor. or other taxing officer. or other
fiscal officer in any city, town village, or any
state or county officer, shall. on demand fur
nish TO the State Board of Tax Commissioners
| any information required by such board for the
| nurpose of determining the value of local fran
| rhIse city, town or village clerk shall, with
| IN Ave DAYS after the receipt by him OF a state
! nent of assessment Of a local franchise by the
state Board OF Tax Commissioners, deliver a