New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-18
REAL ESTATE BROKERS DINE.
ASSISTANT CORPORATION COUNSEL
DREAMER ATTACKS THE STATE
RAILROAD COMMISSION.
ASSISTANT


RAILROAD COMMISSION.
An abundance of good cheer marked the fourth
annual dinner OF the Real Estate Board of Brokers
at the Hotel Manhattan last night. 1t furnished
opportunity for the real estate men TO meet on
pleasant social ground and for the evening az
least their lot was that OF common enjoyment
But the dinner OF the Real Estate Board OF Brokers
is always something more than Publication II
was at the last annual affair OF this organization
that the discussion started that has been pro-
ducttve OF at least more intelligent attempt at
proper legislation lines which interest all owners
Of real property. Last evening the discussion was
principally devoted 10 the Stranahar bill. which
proposes tax OF five mills mortgages.
About one hundred and fifty brokers were present.
and among them we're many of the best known
real estate men in the city, John F. Doyle, the
president in the chair, and at the guest table
with him were Thomas J. CIeamert John P Leo,
Lawson Purdy Charles E. sprague. Leslie suther-
land James L Wells. Clarence II. Kelsey and Pro
lessor Edwin r. A. SeIignan.
Neapolftan orchestra furnished music while
the dining IN progress and the guests fire.
Guently burst into choruses OF the popular airs
that played. When Mr. Doyle arose three
cheers were proposed for him. and they were
Justify given. IN his opening remarks Mr. Doyle
said in part:
It is, Of course proper that should refer 10 our
dinner year ago when the enormous increase n
the tax levy brought the question OF taxation
surest way TO get relief was by pedtioning the
What We wanted vas bfli fbat would do away
with the obsolete laws entirely. and provide an
denning this bill. Let US rather see that another
Is s subsqfed for it or falling that SO 9end III
united so that they may take up every subject
real estate men should be compact body. stand
ing a bulwark between the owners of real
ruption and extravagance in government the
true causes Of unjust taxation.
Mr.. Doyle then introduced Thomas J. Dreamer.
Assistant Corporation Counsel who was the next
speaker. In the course Of his remarks while
ing the history Of taxation Mr.. Dreamer made
attack upon the State Railway Commission. saying.
1T is to-day only creature Of the corporations
it was expected 10 control" Mr. Creamers other
remarks dealt principally with the stranahan bill
He said in part:
One day asked the president Of railroad com
Pany when was n The Tax Department wnsTe
animation showed that many corporations pleaded
in New-fork pleaded that they paid taxes in Al
bany. Investigation proved they paid in neither
place. That statement, published in a morning
paper, started a movement that resulted in the
State Railroad Commission
He then made the remark quoted, and, continu-
ing. said:
property in this state The tax laws to-day are
those framed twenty years ago remember being
nIan-but wondered how his theories would
BT6oklyn said ' the only thing taxed there is real
estate II You could put corner IA o{ bo IA sal, safe
wouldn't be anything 10 tax al all II the question
twenty years ago II ought to be OF vital interest 20
every good citizen to-day The Stranahan Dill IS
it in your power to change the tax laws II IS not
Tbi I'm - M a ,naGasTift TIE untaxed are the
controlling power in the State Of New-York. but
about a reform in the line Of just tax laws.
Charles f. sprague, the next speaker, said in
part:
In the nineteenth century nor5gase IS SIMPLY s
each other. The theory OF the Jaw that We are
discussing tonight is that morJgass Is something
erIy outside Of real estate The tax on mortgages
IS gross laJu E 70 ~ rhe s777iecT The
bin IS absurdity, Our present law has some
justice / do not see how the stranahan bill can
be favored from any point OF view
John P Leo spoke in favor OF the measure He
said that a mortgages would bring out those
who swore of their taxes and relieve many Of the
necessity s Of o committing s B93 uT real aH e5ss to BAY
taxes ii was certainly fair for the men who own 20
per cent OF the property 10 pay something. MI
Leo could reason why deposit and savings
banks should escape taxation, and expressed ms
belief that really good CITIZENS 90 not or sh0uId
Chasing homes for themselves and their families
T Lawson Purdy said in part
The committee which evolved the Stranahan bill
eduization OF the assessed valuations OF prop
erty between the several counties, This is good
uphold il but let count the cost. Together with
present hxed sources OF State revenues the Dill
will produce over SOS coo. 600 This means surplus
OF 5000 coo. and surplus means extravaganza OF
the worst kind
IN the minds OF some there seems 70 be doubt q5t
gage X. The committee IN its report says
that the OF taxation now raises the rate OF
interest a least half Of I per cent and II mort
cages are taxed one-half OF per cent there VII
be no change In the interest rate The committee
thus admits that the entire burden OF the tax viii
fall upon the borrower.
A conservative estimate indicates that the own
ers OF ortgaged real estate in the city or New
York will be obliged TO pay over SSo"0"1 annu-
ally
Among the guests were:
Walter staber. Charles Griffith Moses. John c r
Jefferson Dr. H Valentine WidUlan- 5 de al
tearss Edward Devoe. Frank r Houghton. PAU
p Town P s Treacy- s. Stanwood Menken J.
clarence Davies Franklin A Wilcox, J ; de Seld-
ing Herman de SeIdiug Frederick d HALEY, De
Rerdan Wflmot Bryan l. Kennedy J. Hamilton
L{Ifnt John P Kirwan James j. Phelan- clarence
True John n Dye. Judsou Lawson, T. {; smith
wfiIian1 M Ryan. V A. Ryan Henry A B. Kelly.
2 ] Schnugg Francis E Ward Charles Z Sshqy-
Iar Edward c Oppenheim- W. h POISON, II ".
FOLSOM w Willis Reese. A Wright Post W h
whiting Elisha Sniin and ErnestGs Quick
PESTGNS FROM SINGLE TAX CLUB.