New-York tribune., 1899-06-14

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Il reallv don't remember as to what
,bot reso,ut,on was whether Mr. Feitner is cha'r-
man of our conmitteeio or not. He may De- oa''
find out. .,,,.,
o-uow will you fnd.out? A.-By our resolution
in the Board passed. a., -,
Dwell isn't there n better way OF hnuihs ou'
who presides at the meetings? A--That is at tne
Board he is chairman -
O-Who presides at the meetings OF your com.
mittes? A-The individual committees you mean
O-Your personal and corpora aioh coin''i.'eo
Ave very rarely meet as committees we h'lv'
10 do work. and we have no time 10 meet ny eo'''
mittees.
~ r,or,, vo, do work I'm meetings OF the COM
rnit,eeo You don't meet In committees as whole
because your work is on the corporation sue a
Now let me show you. II anything iinpoi' i'a"'
comes up before the minor committee 'hat ~ re-
ferred TO the Board. We have no special meetings
Of the minor committee -
o-Iet us see how that works. III there Is SOME
thing that comes up in your personal committee
that Is too big a nut for you to crack you reter
II 10 the whole Board2 Ayes
O-And those two real estate men interested on
the real estate side. they have TO come III anu
help you out the personal slde' A'-No ho'
that way There are cases when VIII t"he o''o
man an hour to go over thoroughly. He lays that
one aside and II any particular question comes up
whether It is a corporation or personai ma''er' II
e, raforred 10 the Board II there is any question OF
doubt there.
o-That is the way I understand It, But what
do these men on the real estate 500 Kho" aoou'
your business the corporation and personal! ihey
don't have anything to do with thatF A'-ihes uo
II they want any facts. they can get 1t from the
records
HAzY METHOD OF PROCEDURE.
o-Yes that any man can do. could 90 there
and get II from the records. But do they know any
more about the personal and corporation side 'fan
YOU know about the real estste side7 A'-ihht
don't know | know they don't handle as many
cases / do.
~ There "a nothing that has happened there that
would show you that they know anything about
your side? A-The idea Is here II every one OF
the committees Is busy and they need assistance
and the rest OF the commissioners are not DusJ'
they help another out.
o-WelI. don't II come down to this. that where
the people suppose that tho policy OF this very I'M
portant Tax Department Is shaped by five com
missoners. that after all 1t is shaped In parts by
two commissioners one one side and one on the
other? A.-Not at all. sir.
O-You haven't done anything TO shape the real
estate policy OF the Tax Department? A-Not
much but / have done lots 10 shape the other part
Q-And the real estate men have not done any
thing to shape your side OF the business! A'-No
that is true.
o-so where the people suppose they have Ave
II
commissioners laying out equal and equitable
pocy for the entire city. they really have two
committees? Allow could get along other
wise?
o.-I don't know. Al om trying TO tell you
Q-what do you think about trusts Mr.. Grei7
You have TO consider trusts as Tax Coniln,s-
sioner? A-They are very detrimental to the
country
A-Are there any trusts represented in the city
OF New-York7 A-Lots of them.
o-What are they. the principal trusts? A-fou
know as many as do sugar trusts and tobacco
trusts.
O.-But YOU as Tax Commissioner. think they
are very detrimental. and you have the power 70
get after them. Now, ask you what those trusts
oreo A-You asked me minute ago what l
thought OF them Now. l don't know. what do
vou mean by that question now. what they areF
Define your question
o.-You must have had something in your mind
when YOU answered the question? A.-No
O-You answered that trusts were detrimental?
Ayes sir.
O-Now II is the kind OF trusts that you say
arc detrimental that am talking about and have
asked you to enuJnerate-some OF thcm represented
in the city Of New-York, and you began, you said
the sugar trust and tho tobacco trust. Now, what
other? Al couldn't name every trust In New
York. That Is impossible.
TAXES ON TRUSTS.
O-I am asking for the large trusts that you as
n Tax Commissioner who have to find the property
Of people and corporatims-that you as a Tax
Commissioner ought to know something about.
Ayes: but we have them-by thousands.
O-Thousands OF trusts? A.-No, not thousands
OF trusts, but corporations.
OIL said trusts. Ayes
O-And you said trusts. A.-That is true.
O-And you have already mentioned two OF them.
Mention some more. A.-rhe record will show you
how many there are.
oL am not talking about the record. am ask
ing the question Of you Ayes
O-Do trusts have trustees? Al presume they
have
o-Don't you know? Al am not a member OF
any trust
Q-Have you tried to tax a trust? A.-Person-
allyf
O-Yes A-The Department has.
O-Taye YOU as n member CT the Department!
A-Personally 1 don't remember that have.
Q.-IIave you as a member Of the Tax Depart
ment done anything to secure the taxation OF the
personaI property in the large trusts represented
in the city Of New-York? A.-Not TO my recollec-
ton.
OIL call your attention to the fact that you have
mentioned the Sugar Trust and the Tobacco Trust
now call your attention to the Standard OIL Trust
You have heard OF that? Ayes. sir.
O-They must have trustees? Ayes. SIR
Q-And under the law. have you the authority
to tax personal property that is found In the hands
Of trustees? Ayes. sir.
Q.-Executors7 Ayes. sir.
Administrators? Ayes. sir.
Q.-Any men holding property In trust? Ayes
Q.-Any such man is liable to pay taxes for prop
erty that he holds In trust7 A.-Yes. sir
Q.-Do you know who the trustees OF the Stand
ard OIL Company are? A.-No.
Odd you ever try TO hnd out2 A.-No sir.
Q.-You never did? A.-No, sir.
Q.-You have not had to bother yourself with rea
estate? A-Yes, but have not had any time &c
bother myself with anything else. Mr. Moss
Q.-What Is the total valuation of the persona
property. OF corporate personal property, held ir
the city OF New-York? A.-For 1893?
SEEMS WEAK ON FIGURES.