New-York tribune., 1901-01-28
LISTING BILL OPPOSED.
MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION WARNS THE
PUBLIC AGAINST THE MEASURE

Keen and strong opposition is developing against
what is known the Tax Listing bill. intro
duced in the Assembly by Assemblyman 5. W.
Smith. OF Columbia County. This bill. II It be-
comes law. will require every TO make list
in detail OF all his personal property. state the
value OF each item oath and to file the list with
the assessors. The effect will be to expose much
of ones private business affairs the public Under
It's provisions must state how much money he
has on hand and in bank who owes the deponent
and how much; what merchandise one has and its
value and what promssory notes. stocks, bonds
or mortgages one holds. The banker OF the de-
ponent must state how much he has deposit:
the amount of outstanding notes for loans made
TO him. with tire rate Of interest. and amount of
interest due; the collateral securities pledged by
him. and all similar details. Merchants from whom
one buys must state ones debts to them Com
mission merchants must list all consigned
chandse. value il oath. declare the names OF
its owners and their places of residence.
The Merchants Association of this city is op-
posing its passage tooth and nail In circular
letter regarding the bill the association says among
other things;
visions of this bin They impose punishment great
punish a mere omission on YOUR part as Enough II
were an active offence II permits assessors to
yalulng TO any extent property which they merely
imagine that you may have. and adding 80 per cent
or their arbitrary valuation. nor appeal to the
would De a disgrace to the very name of law and
equity To expose private business affairs in the
manner set forth would be destructive TO all credit
Not satisfied with this alone the Merchants As
sociation is mailing 1900 copies of the circular
all merchants in the city, calling attention to the
dangers Of the bill The association is also mail
ing 5ocoO copies Of the circular all merchants
manufacturers and business men generally through
out the entire State OF New-York. calling their
tention 70 this BILL and requesting them TO
against II through the AssembIymen and Sen
ators from their respective districts The day
which the newspapers announced that this bill had
been introduced. the Merchants Association wrote
TO Albany for copy Of it, AS the latter
was received it ordered $1,000 copies printed for dis
tribution with it's circulars throughout the State
and sent to all merchants in the city. Here "a
another quotation from the circular:
The effect of a bill Of this kind will be to drive
capital out OF the State There enough vicious
laws the statue books which react upon the
commercial interests and which have already
driven hundreds OF millions Of capital into other
States where the taxes paid by that capital.
but upon which taxes ought TO be paid in this
state and which would be paid here II attacks OF
impossible TO calculate the indirect effect OF the
vicious legislation which has been aimed at oust-
interests in times past to estimate even in
a moderate degree the effect that bill OF this
character would have should IL become law.
As this work will entail large outlay, those who
purpose by sending check at once TO Charles II.
Webb. treasurer. the Merchants Association or
New-York. New-York Life Building. Broadway and
Leonard-st-