New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-26
SPECIAL SESSION ENDED.
NEW FRANCHISE TAX ACT PASSED BY
BOTH HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE.
RECEIVED THE VOTE OF EVERY REPUB-
LICAN sENATOR-ONLY TWO DESERT
ERS IN THE ASSEMBLY - THE
GOVERNOR PLEASED
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rnIBuxE.I


fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuSEI
Albany, May 25.-The new Franchise Tax act
received the approval OF both houses OF the
Legislature to day and is now in Governor
Roosevelts hands. The Legislature then. after
passing four other measures of minor impor-
tance. adjourned without day
Not unnaturaly." said Governor Roosevelt
this evening. IT am exceedingly we'll pleased
with the results of the special session OF the
Legislature. It has amended the Ford bill in
the ways recommended in my message. The
amendments made to the bill by the Senate yes
terday. think. greatly improved the amenda-
tory act. II the people of the State consider the
action of the Legislature at the special session
and at the regular session together on this sub
ject Of the taxation of franchises. I think they
will declare that their representatives at Albany
have done we'll
Il hope to see my way clear" the Governor
continued, ito signing the Franchise Tax act
tomorrow. l am we'll acquainted with It's pro-
visions for ] have noted every amendment
made to 1t and studied it's effect. or course.
II I should discover any serious defect in II.
would not sign Il. but sign Senator Ford's
first bill. which is still in my hands. But am
confident the new act is in satisfactory form.
l am not going to state now the basis OF assess
ment OF the franchises, and I take It for
granted the State Tax Commissioners will not
make any definite statement about this impor-
fapf tba, ba-a Cd tha
State Controller and the chief local assessors
throughout the State No definite conclusion
to the method Of valung a franchise should bs
reached by the State authorities until after q
most careful Investigation"
THE DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION
The Democrats In the Legislature resisted
with vigor the passage Of the franchise
act; and they made plain the fact that their
opposition not a sham one. Senator Brown.
of Watertown Republican. in the course OF the
debate on the bill sneeringly said that the
Democrats were only making a formal oppo-
siton" to the measure This remark was hotly
resented by Senator Grady, and he declared
that the Democrats considered the substitu-
tion Of TIE Republican State Tax Commission
for the Democratic local assessors in New
York a of political robbery John whalen,
present. also deeply deplored apparently this
loss of power by Tammany's assessors Sem
ator stranahan. Republican. then excited great
Indignation in the Tammany ranks by pointing
out that 1t was the Tammany Senators only
wio were predicting that II the State Tax Com
mi. sioners were intrusted with the duty of as
sessing franc ises they would abuse the power
for the sake of political purposes. No Repub-
lican was making that sort of attack upon
Tammanys local assessors.
After listening to a three-hours denunciation
of the bill by Senator Grady. the Senate at
last, early in the afternoon reached a vote
on the bill. and passed 1t by vote Of 80 to Is.
Three Democrats, La Roche of the borough Of
Brooklyn. and Mackey and Transporter, OF Buff
falo voted for the bill. Senator Mackey frankly
said that he had regarded the original Ford
bill as too crude and unjust to he converted into
a statute and had therefore voted against II.
The amendments made TO il al this session OF
the Legislature had made 1t n BILL in his belief.
in the interests Of the people, and he voted for H.
Senator Maby. Republican. said that when
he came to Albany he thought the original Ford
bill should be preserved excellent meas
ure and no amendments made to IT, He had
been apprehensive that the deductions made for
certain payments by corporations would work
to the bill yesterday at the suggestion OF sena-
tor Brown had improved the act in this
spect He respected Governor Roosevelt judg-
ment in the matter. and therefore had decided
to vote for the bill Each one OF the twenty
seven Republicans present, or all the Republic
cans In the Senate. voted for the bill
THE PROCEEDINGS IN THE ASSEMBLY
In the Assembly the bill attacked by
Assembyman Palmer, the Democratic leader.
and Assemblymen Green and Tranor The chief
burden Of their attack the authority given
to the State Tax Commissioners TO appraise the
tax semblyman HILL Republican, OF Buff
falo defended the bill from legal point Of view.
and Assemblyman Aids the Republican leader.
closed the debate by a strong speech In favor
of the bill The bill passed the Assembly by q
vote OF 81 to 80. There were two Republican,
Brewster and Russell. OF Rensselaer, County,
who may be considered the representatives Of
ex- x-Governor Frank S. Black In the Assembly
who voted against the bill. Mr.. Russell said
that he did so because he considered the original
Ford bill the better measure of the two. It may
be remarked that The Troy Times" which is
ex Governor Blacks newspaper organ, has also
opposed any amendment Of the Ford act. Two
Democrats-Barrett OF Erie County, and Gross
man, Of New York-voted for the bill. There
were thus eighty five Republicans and two DEM
ocrats who voted for the bill, and sixty Demo-
Gratis and two Republicans who voted against It.
SEVERAL APPROPRIATIONS PASSED.
Four other measures were also passed by the
Legislature to day. making total OF FIVE passed
at this special session. one appropriates SIoOO0
to celebrate the Homecoming, in July OF Admiral
Dewey A second bill appropriates $4,000 addi-
tional for the State Tax Commissioners TO pay
their new expenses in consequence OF the passage
OF the Franchise Tax act third bill relieves the
Prison Department from the commands OF a new
and excellent law. passed at the suggestion OF
Senator Higgins. requiring each State depart
ment to turn into the State Treasury Immediate
l., n,, ronev n receives from sales OF articles or