The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-03
WHAT ODELL SAYS
NEW YORK's NEW GOVERNOR TO
TEE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
CORPORATIONS DISCUSSED.
INEQUTTABLE LAWS DRIVING CAP
ITAL FROM THE STATE.

Corporations Should Pay Taxes to
the state for the Privileges They
EniOy-LOOJSs Forward to Day
when Direct Tax for State Pur-
poses VIII No Longer BE Necessary.
Extravaganza of New York city
Government Criticised.
Albany, NJ Y, Jan. Both branches of
the state Legislature convened at IL
O'Clock to-day. The features in each
branch was the reading of the message of
Gov. Odell Senator Timothy f. ELS
worth, Republican, of Niagara county,
was elected president pro tenn of the Sen
ate, and S. Fred Nixon. Republican,
speaker of the Assembly.
The Governors message is a general
recommendation for the reduction of the
expenses of the state and a plea for
more rigid economy in the different de-
partments and commissions He recon-
mends the consolidation of the board of
mediation and arbitration, the bureau of
labor statistics and the state factory in
spection department into one commission
to be known the department of labor.
He asks that the state board of charities
and the prisons commission be abolished
and that their work be done by a special
commissioner.
The governor says the burden placed
upon domestic corporations is forcing cap
ital to go to other states where more fav-
orable laws exist and as a consequence
New York is losing revenues which other
aDf ot
legislature is asked to enact amendments
which will liberalize and make more pop
ular the states corporation laws.
I'VE should exercise the same supervis-
ion over foreign corporations who seek to
do business within out state" he says, ''as
over our own, and they should be subject
to the same limitations. Many complaints
now made against large combinations of
capital are just, but owing to our lack
of jurisdiction we are unable to control,
and therefore no law can be framed which
will reach foreign corporations effective
ly"
The governor says that he looks forward
to the day when the state OF New York
will no longer find it necessary to levy a
direct tax for state purposes.
Mr. Oden says:
! IAN corpora ations receive from the state
| certain rights, this class OF capital should
pay a tribute to the creating power for
! that which they have received. This JUS
! titles the present laws taxing corporations
| for state purposes, and all future corpora
| tion tax laws should be based upon this
| principle. A fair and equitable recon-
pense from all corporations enjoying state
protection and favors should be exacted.
All corporations should pay tax based
upon their earning poweri But few of
| he In, etc
now taxed in this manner, and therefore
an unfair discrimination exists"
The Governor adds:
Every department of New York needs
corrective legislation. Especially is this
true of those departments whose adminis-
tration is confined to county lines In this
direction / desire to call your attention to
the fact that many of the public officers
in that city are receiving a larger re-
muneration for their services than that
which is given to the President of the
United States. Your attention Is called
to few instances of this character. The
sheriff of the county of New York re-
ceives an annual salary of $4,000, and one
half of the fees which are said to amount
to 10000 per year more. The claim has
been made heretofo e that the sheriff
takes great financial re possibility, and is
therefore entitled to additional compensa-
tion. This is not now true in effect be-
cause ne can at all times uefnanu DOnd
OF indemnity and thus save himself from
all harm 1t would seem to me that a sal
airy of 500 900 would be ample for this
office. The same may be said of the
county clerk and the registrar Of the
county of New York whose salaries are
excessive. In the county of Kings the
combined salaries of the sheriff, county
clerk and registrar amount to 100000 per
annum. This could be reduced by abolish
ing the fee system and substituting there
for salaries. the balance to be paid into
the treasury for the purpose of reducing
the taxes upon property"
The message recommends creation of a
bipartisan election board, exemption of
mortgages from taxation and enactment
of an employers liability law, or the cs-
tabIshment of a system of forced insur-
ance of the employees by the employer; to
place employees on the same legal footing
as individuals not employed.