The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-09
FRtNCHI Use TAX HEARINGS.
More Corporations Protest Against tho
Valuations OF the Tax COMMISSIONER.


ALBANY, March S.-Tho State Board OF Tax
Commissioners heard protests TODAY against
the valuations IL had laid on the special fran
chIses OF Ithaca. jamestown and Gloycrsville
corporations.
The Johnstown. Gloversville and klngsboro
Railroad asked a reduction In valuation from
s27.O 900 to SIS. 73O. aud the Cayadutt0 Electric
Railroad Company from $4,000 to $500.
The Ithaca Street hallway Company's fran
chIse was valued at $4,000. Attorney Van
Vlcet, arguing for q reduction, said tibet II the
board we're to apply the Franchise Tax act in
thism manner to the corporations In little cities
and villages, Il meant their ruination.
The jamestown Water Supply Company.
taxed on s27O.0OO. represented that the city OF
jamestown contemplated establishing II NUM-
clpal water plant. which would drive the COM
pany out OF business.
Attorney Louis T.. Carr said that the James
tOwn Gas Company directors had voted TO go
out Of business, The company's plant has
burned down. Its franchise il valued at s3s,.:
600. The Pennsylvania Gas Company Of
jamestown asked a reduction from the valua-
ton Of S23i,OOO placed upon II, The com pany
Nr. Carr then spoke for Buffalo corporations
which he represented. The Buffalo and Rock
CITY Pipe Line Company franchise was valued
az S23B.OOO. II went out OF existence in lSS3
and IT. property IN Buffalo was taken by the
New York Transit Company. which, he under
stood. had been declared tx /" no4;iax Ht6.S
Company, 'Mr Carr said, was unGer, contract
with Buffalo to furnish gas Tor municipal pur;
poses at 10 ner cent i E NM the Price chargsd
the tax which Buffalo charged the com pany
lor the right 70 operate itS franchise IN that
the board had Put on q franchise valuation of
Sl.344.OOO.
Judge william n. Cohen OF New York. asked
that q reduction b. made in the valuation
placed on the fraGchl Sc in Ithaca and lanes
town OF the New York and PENNSYLVANIA Telr-
phone COMPANY; The valuations were S1,il1
In Ithaca and So 900 in jamestown.
The Western lnion Telegraph Company and
other companies associated with i in Buffalo,
Rochester, Ithaca jamestown and ,Gl4ynrayills
were represented hv Attorney Wells Of Wells 4
Brown, New York city. lie said thai rs cap,t,i
stock Is ! lOO.OOUO} and It, bonded ntrltad.
ness .S3O,OOO.OOu He held that Sl,OUO,uOO
would reprcsent the amount ~ the capital
stock employed ~ the company IN New YORK
state. takinc az a basis the total miles Of wires
operated In the state in their PROPORTION to the
whole lumber OF niles Of wiroS operated BY the
company.
Commissioner Stearns said that agents of
the board had found TINT the company oper-
ates suhways in Buffalo which Were nor In
Guided In the report by the company Of its
properly in that city,
Mr., Wells said he was unable to state as to
whether any suGways were used by the COM
Dany in that city.
Commissioned Stearns-Well. how do YOU ex-
pect lis 10 leal intelligently with your company
when does not furnish us with the rroIer IN
formations You are not prepared TO discuss
this case ii you DO not know what property you
have there. You cannot attack our valuation
you do not possess, full Information regard
ing your property holdings.
NJ Wells promised TO furnish the board with
The iuLl report Gt'he property of the company
in Buffalo within a few days.
Mr.. Stearns-That Is what we have been try.
ms 10 get from your CON panv for some months.
v e want AL the facts, and You 10 not furnish
them to US you cannot critic Sc the valuations
we place on your franchises.
The company's franchise IN Buffalo has been
900. From what Mr.. Wells saws It /. evident
that the Western Union Company intends TO
contest in the courts the right OF the State TO
place a tax ON its franchises.
The board took a recess until next Tuesday,