New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-31
FILJNGREPORTSAT ALBANY
THIS PRIVILEGE UNDER The FORD LAW
ENDS TO-DAY.
CORPORATIONS SLOW ~ PRESENTING
THEIR STATEMENTS. LESS THAN ONE
TENTH OF THOSE SUBJECT TO THE

THEIR STATEMENTS. LESS THAN ONE
TENTH OF THOSE SUBJECT TO THE
TAX HAVING DONE SO
Albany oct 80 (Specan Several representa-
tives Of large corporations were here To-Day ~
file with the State Tax Commissioners 'ie
norris Of their concerns. In compliance WIZ" -"
commands Of the Franchise Tax law
81 an, confident that the majority Of the cor
,,oratlons If the state affected ny the Franch'se
Tax net Will report either to-day or tomorrow
said J. Newton F'ero counsel Of the state l"N
Commissioners. this afternoon. Il am confident
they will do so" he continued. because they VIII
secure the right Of having the appraiser oil '"e',
prouerty reviewed If they make report anu
will not unless they do So That is right 'h'y
viii not care to lose. 1t has been SAID mat 'n''
would subject themselves to a fine OF Slo Jay
II they do not submit their reports 90 "o'
think the big corporations would care anything
about su,h a fine but. as l have said they
would dislike to lose their right to Wit ol
oertorari."
Mr. Devo the secretary Of the Tax Commis-
Sion said he would not give out any statement
concerning the number Of reports when nave
been received from the corporations I'LL the
Tax Commissioners arrived here. lie thousHI
the Tax Commissioners will meet here some
time this week Tomorrow is the last DAY ID"
which the corporations can file their reports
/. is supposed that fifteen hundred corporations
are affected by the Franchise Tax law ana up
70 Saturday night not one-tenth or them hau
made any report
When the Tax Commissioners meet here MI
Fiero will make a report upon the result Of the
dropping out Of the original Ford FRANCHISE
Tax bill OF the word across" The dropping
it fc ed
roads from franchise taxation when they cross
highways The Franchise Tax act as intro
duced by Senator Ford was as follows:
Section f. Subdivision Of Section OF the Tax
Law is hereby amended 10 rqad as n rca prop
erty" as used in this chapter include ihc leiil
itself Bnove and under water, all buildings ana
other articles ana siIHctuieS' or or hove or
affixed TO the same all whar'rs ana pic
age, cranage or docking thereon all bridges, al
telegraph lines, Wire-. poles ana appAll 'ItN''. "l
supports and Enclosures for electrical condn ,9.s
ground. AN surface. underground or ecNattu Irli-
roads. including the value Of all tiancn*es Ilsl.s
or permission 10 construct, maintain OF opera,@
streets. highways or public places, an r@;IIg gs
structures. substructures and supcrsirucl ulesi
tracks and iron thereon branches sWl't mes ,'i,i
iaid or placed in upon above or under any public
or private road street OF grounaS' an Ann i'' or under
and Tanks laid or placed ln upHI1 ~" ~ ,,ltine
any public private street or pace lpi .,7
substance or product capanle oil uallssi i,, t9
conveyance therein or that is protected It. .u. -
Guiding the Nalnr OF ' @r. ,nfnf5ir or o., r.
ate in under. above. upon. across or through any
pinoe tanks conduirs or wires with their aPpur- /
tcuanccs for conducting water steam Att.. 49,
Geographic, telephone OF ONT P5' - n ,,incs
and underwood growing upon lana a1o ~" i,.'' t,e
same. except mines belonging 20 the SlSie.
Sec o This act shall take effect Immediately.
The word across" was taken cut before the /
lii was finally passed hy the Senate.
Counsel for the Metropolitan Traction Company /
and the Third Avenue Railroad announced yester- /
dav that they had no intention. for the present al
least OF rying TO combat evade the provisions /
OF the Ford Franchise law. which requires III" |
statement of the financial condition OF the corpora
tons to 20 fled with the proper a"'hoil'''a at
ALBANY before November T. The large corporations /
in Manhattan subject 10 taxation under the new /
act have taken the limit Of tme hnt they Tor +
v.arded their reports 20 Albany yesterday, II was /
said The fling Of IN. reports does not necessarily
mean that they are going to pay the tax levied by
the state That is subject which Wil Doe con-
sidered apart from the mere fling OF the reports
The State authorities have the execution OF me
law IN their hands with considerable discretionary
latitude. = the tax IS what the corporations CON
sldo1 reasonable one no doubt IL Will be paIf
promptly but II f. IS more than they have figured
they should pay there is little doubt, judging from
what could nc gathered Yesterday. That the cor
porations Will make the hardest kind ~ a fight
Mr. Roo. Of the counsel for the metropolitan
Traction Company when seen az his Office IN the
Gable Building in Broadway yesterday said.
We have sent on our report, and It, now rests
with the State authorities to say what our taxes
will be under the provisions Of the law. We are
unable 10 state at the present time what course
the company VIII take I'm case the tax imposed Is
unsatisfactory 20 us. That is a matter which VIII
lie acted on when the right tine comes.
At the Office Of Hoady. Lauterbach & Johnson
counsel for the Third Avenue Railroad Company,
the managing clerk In the absence Of Edward
Lauterbach said that the company expected TO
comply with the provisions of the Jaw.
President Rossitcr OF the Brooklyn RAPID Transit
Company sOrqe time go said that he saw no reason
why the corporations should object 10 paying "A
tax on their franchises provided II was justly I'M
posed.