New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-15
APPLICATION IN ALBANY.
INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM J. WEAVER
ONE OF THE CITY ASSESSORS.

INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM J. WEAVER
ONE OF THE CITY ASSESSORS.
Albany May "A (SpeciaD. William ]. Weaver
is one Of three city assessors Of this city and
chairman Of the Board Of Assessors Mr..
Weaver IS an expert on questions of taxation
and assessment He was first appointed an as
SCISSOR in ISL and has held the office ever since.
He thus has had an experience extending over
a great many years in enforcing the taxation
laws Of the state; beyond this he has been
student Of the tax laws and he has taken a
prominent part in the courts as witness for the
city whenever its interests were assaied.
Mr. Weaver. however. IS "a cautious as he is
well informed. and therefore he was unwilling
to-day 10 give any positive opinion as TO the
probable increase in the receipts Of taxation un-
der the Ford Franchise Tax act how much the
tax rate is likely to he reduced on account OF
the city's new income from franchises, or
whether the new revenue was likely to be ap-
piled wholly to a reduction Of the tax rate or
10 the making Of public Improvements.
Il nave not yet examined critically Senator
Ford's bill" said Mr. Weaver and until do
50 / shall not he able 10 tell definitely what diff
ference it would probably make in Albany tax
receipts But. frankly. l have another reason
for Withholding any comment on the act; name
y. Albany's past experience with taxation acts.
This county Of Albany has been forced TO ex-
pend a large sum Of money in making test cases
in matters of taxation. 10 be considered by the
courts. These cases have been carried as far
as the Supreme Court Of the United States
Albany County being the seat Of the State gov
eminent l presume is one reason why such suits
are started here against the local authorities
New-York County also has 20 fight a large num-
ber of such suits. because Of great financial con-
Germs auG men Of wealth having their offices
there Practically the counties of ALBANY and
NeW-York have 10 fight out taxation issues for
the remainder Of the counties Of the State This
being the case, the authorities of Albany ara
always SOW about taking any position ON oues
tions Of taxation. We always want 70 kro,,,
down TO bed rock If We can defend anv position
which we may take"
Nhat corporations in this city are subject 10
taxation on their franchises"
The street railway company and the gas and
the electric light company (Which is one con-
Germ The street railway companys pronertv-
us underground wires it, rails. it's trouev-wires
is now taxed in every ward OF ALBANY as real
estate. It's power-house is also taxed Then the
gas company's gas mains and gas manufactur-
'4'b ll@Nk are tdAcl. ne wires and
house Of the electric light company are also
taxed. All these are taxed as real estate But.
according 70 Senator Ford's bill. there would
remain the franchise TO be taxed. / have not
looked into the question of taxing the franchises
and cannot even guess what their value is or
what their taxation would bring into the city.
Ihe present city tax rate is 81 06 on each 500
The real estate in the city OF Albany was as
sessed as worth $50 lj9.515 in 1895 and the per
sonal property at $152j.425. That makes a
total OF $666S4.9iO. The annual tax budget OF
the CITY oI Albany. which approved on
december IA 1898. as follows:
city Budget .......... q, o,s 4,s "a
e,se ana county 3i2 7O7 sc
Am,.nt que county on account q sale
certificates s........................... 1900
We close our assessment books on September
n we began 70 assess property on the third
Iuesday IN Aprn. Our assessment books close
much later than those Of most Of the cities Of
tne State. This being the case. we should act
win great deliberatiOn on the provisions OF the
toio franchise Tax act. We have until Septem-
uer To apply the law As | have stated we
ect with especial delberatlon because whatever
e"nunned on third page.