New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-27
IMPORTANT, BUT NEGLEC7ED.
THE LEGISLATURE MAKES NO >MoNE
TOWARD TAX REFORM.

THE LEGISLATURE MAKES NO MOVE
TOWARD TAX REFORM.
COMMITTEES APPARENTLY SELECTED TO PRO
rrcT CORPORATIONS PROTECTION
OF ELECTROMAGNETIC OF
NETWORKS COMMERCE.
Albany. Feb. % (specaD-It cannot be said
that the Legislature yet shows the slightest
conception Of the necessity Of reform or the
taxation laws If the State. The owners OF real
estate in the Borough Of Manhattan can nave
no hope of relief from the great burden or addi-
tional taxes which has descended upon theni
tbrougb the extrayagance Of the Tammany Hall
oovorrn,ent and as the result OF the consOlida-
ton OF the cities Of Brooklyn and New-fork
II had been hoped apparently, by some real
estate owners that notifications Of the taxation
laws would be made which would lessen the
taxation Of real estate In the future. In general
the notifications suggested were In the direc-
ton Of obtaining a larger revenue morn CUT
porations: for instance. by taxing their iran
chses Senator Fords bill for this purpose
however is still held by the Senate Committee
on Taxation and Retrenchment, ard there does
not seem 10 be any immediate chance OF us
being released by that committee.
INTEREST
1,hore was such a large array Of corporation
LAWYERS present az the last hearing on this
measure that It was clearly apparent that they
believe il would greatly dep.ete the Corporations
enormous revenues II IL should be passed ana
therefore that they must resist us passage 10
tho deoth Rut il unfortunately appeared also
M the hearing that thus far the taxpayers III
tho other cities Of the State are not aware OF
tLa
nassed on their own tax rate. Newly orkerS
or,v sboved any interest in the measure and
,.ot ar the fall election Of 1897 when Mayors
,rera elected in most of the cities of the state
rho chief question debated on the hastings was
rho nroner condensation which should be mace
nv street railway telegraph. gas and telephone
cornnanies for the use Of the streets they oc-
cupv At the fall election this yeal. when the
city officers will once more be elected the ques-
,ior of increasing the taxation OF the corpora
tions using city property also promises I" VIC
prominent Possibly before the present Legs
laturo adiourns the taxpayers IN other c"eS
In ooo,e IN Albany to aid the taxpayers OF
Nov-yorl in the effort they are making to pass
Senator Ford's bill
Tho committees Of the Legislature were largely
collected it would appear, with an eye 20 'he
rrotection of corporation interests ana tHele-
fore the taxpayer or other ci'Zeu WIZ
nofore them finds himself at once in hostile
atmosphere.
PROTECTION FOR AMSTERDAM-ANE'
VIII Senator Ford's bill be passed prohibiting
rho operation of trolley-cars on four 'racAS III
,r,sterdam-ave. New-York? the answer "
this question cannot yet be given put inns i'o'
con he stated. namely. that 1t Is CROWNS i'o''
and more difficult for the Senate kaltoau ,ho
r,ittee 70 hold on to that bill III the Ia -. va,
,,onuiar excitement in New-1ork ABOUT me ma
ti Trbe members of the Senate Railroad com
roittee are Senators Raines. Parsons, "' az T.
yVucox Brackett, COggeshall doodscli' ~ r.
Davis Featherson, Coffey and DouEla, D 0
.,'a - those men FeathersOn, lives IN the DIT
ouch of Manhattan. and he does not i've ]" ''e
Amsterdam-ave. district ,-e.. ,ha,
r. vould appear at first sight, therefore; that
,bn committee could act in disinterested way
On the bill. And It would also seem that a
measure having such humane potNe "oul
he approved Of unanimously py the li'e''lo 80 ,
tho railroad Committee; but thus gar senator
t'ord has been unable to bulge 1t. II the COM
mittee does not make report upon II soon ne
suspicion can reasonably be expressed tha' Is
members are hostile TO il. Why?
NETWORKS COMMERCE.
The LEGISLATURE also has not passed the Dill
extending the time of the Commission which
hos been investigating the cause or the declihe
nj New-Yorks commerce. That COMMISSION
certainly has an excellent mission ana no one
here has presented any good reasons why us
lie should not be prolonged. Since the COM
yrcrce Conrission'e bill has not been faNorabiy
reported by the Senate Committee having IL III
charge there Is reason to fear some hostility 10
Il So far the only thing sold against the COM
,narca Commission has been that to prolong its
existence would be to take more money out OF
the state Treasury. But surely some other ap-
preparations could be cut and THIS one granted
ANY one surveying the operations O.: the Legs
lature perce!vcs scores OF opportunities COR re-
ducing certain State appropriations not half so
worthy in character as that proposed Tor TINS
commission The states commerce Is declining.
and ms Investigation promised To throw some
light upon the reason why ii Is declining. Such
Information would certainly be of Taue to the
state.