New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-22
SPECIAL SESSION PLANS.
ATTENTION OF THE LEGISLATURE WILL
BE CONCENTRATED ON FORD BILL.
THREE AMENDMENTS DESIRED RY THE
GOVERNOR - LITTLE LIKELIHOOD OF
OTHER MATTERS BEING TAKEN
UP-NATURE OF OPPOSITION
TO AMENDMENTS


lBY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUNE.l
Albany, May 21.-The members Of the Legis-
iature who will assemble here tomorrow to hold
special session will possess at least the advan-
tase OF having no distracting matters to attend
TO beyond the Ford Franchise Tax ~; and pos
sibly bill regarding the Bureau Elections
or New-York. The Rapid Transit bill seems to
have been abandoned and there is strong
probability also that no bill will be presented
with regard to the Bureau OF Elections. since
Its passage would doubtless require the reas-
sembling Of the Legislature again TO pass it
over Mayor Van Wyck's veto. as he vetoed It
before.
IL looks as II the Legislature would be able
10 concentrate its entire attention upon the
amendments which will be proposed to the Ford
FRANCHISE Tax bill. There have been rumors
'hat caucus would be called upon the pro-
posed amendments by the Republic5 leaders
! on tuesday morning to bring to (, support
as large number OF Republican 3 possible
but it is probable that such a Gus will be
avoided II possible, in order to stamp the
amendments with a partlsa character. and
make them unacceptable to L hocrats If pushed
| by Republicans
| WHERE OPPOSITION WILL APPEAR
There may be opposition to any amendments
lis and Wilcox, all Republicans but on the
/ other hand, there is no certainty that the Demo-
cratic opposition to the amendments already
announced will be unanimous Senator Doug
las, Of Albany. for instance. will probably sup
port the suggested amendments giving the
State Board OF Tax Commissioners authority to
appraise the value of the franchises affected by
the bill Senator Grady also when here was
entirely non-commttal with regard to the pro-
posed amendments, and it was said that, after
the Tammany Hall Senator'S have made dem
onstration against the amendments they will
probably vote for them.
Democratic opposition to the bill is chiefly
the score that the local boards of assessors in
the cities. who chiefly Democrats should
control the apprasement Of the value OF the
franchises. and that this duty should not be
conferred upon a Republican State Board of Tax
Commissioners. But possibly the Democrats
will console themselves with the thought that
II the Ford Franchise Tax bill should become
a law the revenues Of the cities will be largely
increased and therefore the tax rate in the
Democratic cities can be reduced or at least,
there will be more funds at the disposal OF Dam
ocratic machine managers for partisan our
poses.
WHAT THE GOVERNOR WILL URGE.
Governor Roosevelt is at the Adirondack
camp Of Robert II. Pruyn OF this city north of
North Creek and he does not expect to be in
Albany until 10 morrow afternoon. He
nounced last week that tomorrow night upon
the assembling of the Legislature. he would ad-
dress to 1t g. message in the course of which he
would point out the mperfectons OF the Ford
Franchise Tax bill, now in his hands. and sug-
gest broadly amendments TO 1t which, in his
n nttld la hot QfQ
The Governor declares, however. that the good
features OF the bill exceed in number its de-
merits, and therefore he will sign II II 1t Is not
amended as he desires to have 1t amended.
The three amendments which he desires to
have made are. first to deprive the local Boards
Of Assessors OF the authority to assess the value
Of franchises, and to confer sthe authority on
the State Tax Commissioners second, that the
law shall go into effect January |. 1900 in
stead OF immediately and, third that the as
in assessing a franchise shall take into
account and make proper deductions for any
sums now paid as franchise tax.
WHEN LOCAL ASSESSMENTS MAY BE UN
FAIR.
The Governor is said to have been much i'm
pressed by the argument that local assessors
might do an injustice in such that OF
the Albany Street Railway Company. whose
tracks run through the five cities OF Albany.
Rensselaer,. watervet Cohoes and Troy, as
well as several villages
The officials OF this railroad In a brief they
have filed with the Governor. argue that the
several parts Of their system would be assessed
by the assessors in a different manner in each
city and village. and great injustice might be
done to them. Unquestionably they would pre-
fer 10 have the State Board Of Tax Commits
sioners estimate the value Of the entire fran
chise and thus secure a uniform tax
Governor Roosevelt Is evidently going to be on
his guard this week against being deceived az
to the nature OF the amendments which will be |
suggested to him to the Ford bill. He has been |
In correspondence. IL is reported. with Professor
Seligman. Of Columbia University. and Wheeler !
II. Peckham, the subject OF taxation, and |
doubtless he will submit the proposed amend |
ments 10 the Ford bill to their criticism. The |
most difficult amendment TO the Ford bill to |
frame Il is recognized. will be that which |
will declare that all franchise taxes now paid |
by corporations In various forms shall be cred |
tied TO them.
A letter was received from Speaker Nixon to- |
day stating that ne expected to arrive here at |
80 A. m tomorrow He said that his health |
Is entirely restored.
Senator Platt yesterday declined to discuss the
chances OF the Ford Franchise Tax bill Lieu
tenant Governor Woodruff said the whole question
had simmered down to whether twenty-six SEN
ators can be induced 10 vote for Governor Roose-
vets proposed amendments not.
Senator Timothy ID. Sullivan says the Tammany
Solons might consent to amendment that the
assessors In assessing a franchise shall take into
account and make proper deductions for any
now paid 3 franchise tax. but will never consent
TO deprive the local boards OF assessors OF the
authority TO the value of franchises and
confer the authority on the State Tax Commis-
soners
. 1t is asserted that request will be made to the
Legislature to appropriate sum OF money to be
expended on a proper represent alton OF the State
in the coming reception for Admiral Dewey
CALLS 1T vIRILE LEGISLATION
Al meeting Of the Social Reform Club at No. IS
University Place last night Edward King spoke
about the Ford Franchise Tax bill. which he de-
clared was the best and most virile legislation