New-York tribune., 1901-11-22
GOV. ODELT1S MESSAGE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON ABOLISHING
DIRECT TAXES, INCREASING REYE
NUE. AND REDUCING EXPENSES.
IBx TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1puxn.l


Albany Nov. 21.-There was evidence all about
the Capitol to-day that Governor Odell was COL
lecting facts from every department of the State
government for his message the legislature
of 1902. Moreover, the Governor had a consul
tation with Senator Higgins, the chairman of
the Senate Finance Committee: Senator Raines
Speaker Nixon and Assemblyman Aids the
chairman Of the Assembly Committee Ways
and Means
1t is believed that tie Governor hopes to make
recommendations in his message which, if adopt
ed by the legislature will substantially abolish
direct State taxation. and that his conference
with the prominent Republican members of the
legislature mentioned was in relation to this
plan. There Is surplus of $S,300,000 in the
State Treasury, and with economy by the legis-
lature in the making Of appropriations. and the
collection of the usual amounts from the indi-
rect taxation laws, accompanied perhaps by
some indirect taxation laws. direct taxa
tion with the exception of the imposition of a
small canal tax of thirteen one-hundredths of
mill to pay the canal debt. can be abolished for
the coming year.
The only question in the minds of the prom
inent RepubliCans who considering the poll
Icy Of aboshing direct State taxation next year
is whether this policy can be maintained in sue
ceeding years for 1t is obvious that the existing
surplus Of -. 300. GOO must be in large measure
employed to abolish the direct tax the coming
year. II Is said TO he thought possible, however.
by reducing the State appropriations, cutting off
some commissions. consolidating some bureaus
and increasing the receipts from the indirect
taxes. convince the members OF the legisa ture
that IT will be prudent to abolish direct taxation
anu that this policy be maintained.
A slight increase in the liquor tax would add
considerable 20 the revenue Of the State. Orig
nay Senator Raines desired to impose tax of
$500 on each rural liquor dealer. but resistance
was made TO this proposition and he compro-
missed on tax of S1Oo. Senator Raines has
estimated that an increase Of the rural liquor
tax TO $500 would increase the States annual
income to the extent OF S2OO.OOO or SHb.bD- 1t
has also been suggested that the $500 tax in
New York and Buffalo might well be increased
10 81 900. The $500 rate decreased the number
Of saloons largely, although the revenue OF each
local government was enormously increased by
the raising of the rate. This statement is made
without any design of intimating that the Re
publican leaders think of increasing the liquor
taxes There is evidence yet that they have
such purpose. -
One Of the propositions which is under constd-
alton TO give the State n better admintstra-
ton of irs affairs is the consolidation of the
bureaus of the State Controller and Of the state
Commission In I.unacy, which have charge OF the
supervfsfon OF the expenditures of State char
liable institutions and the State hospitals for
the insane. The maintenance of these institu-
tion5 costs the State about S4.Hb.OOO- Not a
mound of -four or meat, a yard of clothing.
can be purchased by their managers until esti-
mates have first been made by them as to the
cost of these articles and the estimates nave
been approved by the Controller and the state
Commission in Lunacy.