The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-04-15
TO BENEFITNEW YORK CITY.
sHE GREAT ORGANIZED FORCE AT
WORk ron THIS CTr'S GOOD.

tractive, M%ealthfui and Prospsrous- A
Long List of General and Specific Pur'
poses to which They Are Devoted Some
OF tho Hest Known Organizations
Public associations TO work for the good, or the
furtherance OF special interests for tho benefit oil
Che general community. increase In numbrr and
d multiplicity Of aim in New York year by year'
II is safe to say also. that their efficiency Increases.
o. their experience gives them enlightment.
taking them out Of tho ranks OF radical and I'm
practical reiormsrs, and AZ their understanding
d the value and the limitations Of rganization
6ccome clearer and better defined. Formal al
liances for united effort have taken place between
some Of them from time to time for certain objects,
But there exists no central body In which all OF the
public or semi public associations are represented,
As yet the desirability OF such an org ANIMATION
has not presented itself 10 the men working In the
diversified interests which have led to the forma'
sion Of tho various societies.
THE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.
The Merchants Association In Its certificate
ofincorporation sets forth the objects Of the organi'
sauon a. being to foster trade and commerce and
he interests Of those having trade, business and
financial interests In common In the State o! New
York and elsewhere. to reform abuses relative
thereto or affecting the same; 10 difuse accurate
end reliable Information on matters pertaining
thereto: TO procure uniformity Of opinion and action
and co operation between It's members, and TO
procure a moro enlarged, united and friendly
Intercourse and action between business men
william +. King Is resident Of the association.
and among the directors are Frederic ". Wurster,
william +. TeIt, Meyer Jonasson and John H..
6tArin. The association has been industrious In
taking hold OF public questions as well as plans for
inducing buyers to ONE to the city since Its organi
xat,on and has taken care TO let The public know OF
what II wns doing. OF late II has been devo'ing
every energy TO the defeat OF the Ramapo water
scheme. distributing circulars in which, besides
presenting Arguments TO support lis position,
II has characterized the scheme as threatening
The State with "one OF the greatest monopolies
known In the history Of the country, and drawing
attention to what it described as the excessive
dangers now threatening the water rights OF the
cities. towns and villages Of the State" Before
going into the campaign TO defeat the scheme in
the Legislature the association induced the Board
Of Public Improvements TO suspend action on the
Ramapo contract for three months TO enable the
association to m axe an investigation OF the matter
In the fight TO get better Post Office facilities for
this city the association has sent out great nun
bers Of circular letters calling the peoples atten.
ton to the fact that the New York Post Office Is not
Q local Office, but really a national clearing house.
and asking the e cipients To address their Senators
and Representatives in Cong ress urging action
for the relief Of this city and all the interests de
pendentupon Tin postal and business affairs. The
circulars mention the fact that the facilities Of the
Office here have not been materially increased,
except for local mails, in many years, while the In
- ~ IL 49, H.
zoo per cent In nine years.
Another scheme upon which the association
has worked Is that for a permanent exposition
In this city with a view 20 furthering export
trade. The association took up the matter OF the
relief OF Puerto Rico, and that the
tariff be arranged so 1t might have an outlet for Its
products. A committee Of the association, after
an examination. made n report to President McKin-
ley upon the question Of the revision Of the customs
laws. The committee was appointed at the Presi-
dents suggestion.
Besides these subjects and the matter Of reduced
fares 10 this city. President King enumerates In
his report among the matters upon which the as
ISOLATION has been active, the new classification
OF freight rates by the railroads., the suit insti
tuted by the association TO determine the respon-
sibility for the payment Of the stamp tax on express
companies. the question Of taxation methods In
this State the improvement, Of the canals, and the
reformation Of the United States consular ser
vice. The association has two classes OF mem
bers, those Of this city and vicinity who are voting
and active Members. and those from elsewhere
who hav We no votes. but enjoy the privilege Of cheap
fares 10 New York as members Of the associa uon
attending its convention here. The association
has In circulation pamphlets setting forth the
desirability Of New York as a place to visit in
the summer, with its many near by places Of
aside resort.
REFORM IN TAXATION.
Organizations of commercial interests TO work
Tor the prosperity Of the town and Of taxpayers
TO promote the general good Of the city were
among the earlier Of these associations. Many
Of the best-known citizens DESTROYS OF eftecting
Q change Of system Of taxation have formed one
Of the solideSt Of these org anizations. This Is
the New York Tax Reform Association. Of which
not much is heard in the public prints, but which
has been among the most persistent of these organ
~ila,ions working for the public good. Organize
here and sustained chiefly by New Workers. the
association has reached out through the State
aud has secured the co operation Of workers in
the different counties, as the only way to accom-
plish its aims.
Julien r. Davies is President Of this association,
John Clafin Nice-PreSdent, and among the mem.
bers axe Cooper, Hewitt & Co., Dodd, Mead & Co.,
James NJ. Constable, Smith Fly, Jr., Steinway
& Sons, Il. o. Mills, George r.. Read, Phelps,
Dodge & Co., J. Pierpont Morgan 4 Co., Amos
F. Emo, Charles 5. Fairchild. Lord & Taylor,
Beadleston & Woerz, Rogers, Poet & Co., Brown
ing, King 4 Co., A. ID. Juilliard & Co., Henry
Holt, Seth Low the Yale aid rowne Manufacturing
Company, W. r. Grace & Co., Lawrence Turnurs
& Co., O-lrichs 4 Co, and Bradley Martin. The
support OF the association is in voluntary contri-
buttons Of from $40 to $500. \ Joint Committee
represents the Tax Reform Association. the
Brooklyn Revenue Reform Club and the Local
Taxation Committee Of the Reform Club Of Man
haitian.
In a recent letter sent out the President OF the as
ISOLATION says
THE report Of the Stranahan Committee proves
that the work OF the association in advocating
the entire abolition Of taxes on personal property is
bearing fruit. The committee says: 1t is evident
that there are many intelligent and thoughtful
persons in the State who firmly believe that the
great reform Of taxation lies in the exemption Of
personal property. And the arguments sub
mitted by them in support Of their position are
supported by able reasoning. We believe thatthe
owners Of real estate will be benefited by the entire
abolition Of the attempt TO assess personal prop.
erty, which always results in injustice and injury
to the whole community. There are many large
real estate owners among our contributors, So
that this Is not a class movement"
The platform Of the association says:
The most direct taxation is the best. because II gives