New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-29
FRANCHISES TAXED.

Governor Roosevelt is entitled to great credit
for forcing the Ford Franchise Tax bill through
the Assembly in the closing hours Of the ses-
Sion If he had not come to the rescue it is
perfectly evident that the policy Of killing by
procrastinaton would have prevailed. The
plan was carefully laid and followed with de-
termination, and only abandoned when the Gov
crnor had forced the obstructionists where they
had TO permit and even assist the passage OF
the bill, or else openly confess themselves cham
pions of the corporations which enjoy the pos
session Of valuable property as a gift from the
public, while paying no taxes on this asset,
which is the chief element of their earning
capacity.
The Tribune has special reason to rejoice
that this measure of relief for private taxpayers
has been successfully pushed through both
houses of the Legislature Before there seemed
to be the slightest prospect Of the actual realiza
ton Of any such reform 1t set forth the justice
of franchise tax, and urged that one be
levied Last January it declared: THE taxa
"tjon of franchises has been sadly neglected
"ln this State, and the proposition to make
"them contribute to the revenue is one that
should be embodied In any scheme of tax
reform. Permission TO use streets and other
"a corporations assets It's cars and rails play
''the smallest part in giving 1t an income. If a
company is sold its franchise Is what people
pay for, and that value should be taxed AT
that time tax franchise bill seemed quixotic
scheme of reform. which was to be advocated
more with view TO educating people to de-
mand its adoption at some perhaps distant day
than in the expectation of securing Immediate
~.~1. t,~I
the last three months shows how reforms which
at the start seem far off can be carried by
persistent work The Tribune is glad to feel
that it bore a share in that work, and glad to
compliment some Of its neighbors particularly
THE World" and THE Herald" upon their eff
forts in the same direction. The Tribune kept
urging that the Ford bill be passed at this ses-
sion. protesting that there be no delay on the
pretence of general tax reform, and no substi-
tuition of other franchise-tnx schemes. which
could tie the question up by disagreement as
to method. We urged the Governor to use his
influence to secure the bills passage, and when
all hope of accomplishing anything seemed al
most gone we asked Mr.. Roosevelt to throw
himself into the breach and try the effect Of an
emergency message. The Governor did this i'm
medlately, and the plan succeeded, happily for
us. for we should not have cared to feel the
responsibility of perhaps having induced the
Governor to take a step which resulted in any
embarrassment TO him, though when advising
1t we were convinced that in the end even an
unsuccessful effort 10 secure immediate fran
chise taxation would rebound TO his credit and
popularity.
The passage OF this bill Is great victory for
popular rights against special privileges 1t
means a more equal distribution Of the burden
of taxation 1t means recovery for the people
of some share of the immensely valuable pub
lie properties that through carelessness have
in years past with almost nconcevable waste
fulness been diverted to private use without
due compensation.