New-York tribune., 1901-04-20
MORTGAGE TAX BILL FAILS
GOVERNOR REFUSED TO MAKE IT A
PARTY MEASURE

Albany, April 10 (SpeciaD.-The Stranahan
Mortgage Tax bill is dead. Public opinion killed
it. Governor Odell recognized that it not
sustained by sufficient number of voters to
warrant him in his giving consent to the making
Of the bill a party measure of the Republican
party in the Assembly. and therefore withheld
this consent when the supporters OF the measure
sought to obtain it, The Governors action de-
stroyed the bill, for it had been obvious at the
caucus of the Republican Assemblymen the pre-
vious night that a majority of them were op-
posed to the measure, and could only be induced
to vote for it by party pressure.
The Republican Assemblymen representing
New-York City and Rochester had a great in
fuence in swaying those in attendance at the
caucus into an attitude of opposition to the BILL
Speeches In opposition to the bill are said to
have been made by Assemblyman Seymour Of
New York; Assembyman Morgan Of Kings
County, and Assemblyman Rodenbeck of Mon
County. The greater New-York members
were especially insistent in making the argu-
ment that the measure was so generally opposed
in that city that if it should be passed it might
have a great effect on the election for Mayor
this fall.
Governor Ode heard early this morning that
forty of the seventy-eight Republican Assem-
blymen in attendance at last nights caucus had
expressed opposition to the bill, and it was
known that most of the Erie County Republi-
cans who had remained away from the caucus
also opposed to it. This news indicated
that the bill would probably be defeated in the
Assembly, and the Governor therefore asked
Speaker Nixon, Senator Stranahan, Senator
Ellsworth Senator Marshall, Senator Goodsell
Assemblyman Aids and Assemblyman Kelsey
to come to the executive chamber for the pur-
pose of having a consultation with him about
the measure.
CONFERENCE WITH THE GOVERNOR.
When these members of the legislature had
assembled. the Governor asked the Assembly
men what had taken place at their caucus the
night before. when the Mortgage Tax bill
was under consideration. Speaker Nixon
and the other Assemblymen frankly stated
that in their Judgment the Mortgage Tax
bill could not be passed in the Assembly unless
caucus held upon it and through "or-
ganization pressure a majority In the caucus
be obtained for 1t. Senator Marshall of Kings
County. is then reported to have said to the
Governor: Would it not he bad party policy to
make party measure of this act when such an
earnest opposition is being made to II by thou
sands of the voters of the State. and especially
by those in the counties of New-York. City.
where there Will be an important election in
November. the only one of Importance in the
State? The opposition TO this asure is clearly
shown in the legislature. for with thirty-one
Republicans in attendance at a caucus of the
Republican Senators. only seventeen Senators
voted in favor of the bill. while fourteen Sena-
tors opposed IT. With the Republicans so nearly
divided upon this measure. is II wise TO press
it? 1t must be remembered. also. that this
measure suddenly made the subject Of a
caucus in the Senate. and Republican Senators
were forced to take a position upon II without
having an opportunity carefully 10 examine It
1t is said in defence OF the bill that 1t will not
go into effect until January /. 1902. But its evil
effects VIII be discounted Every Tammany
Hall orator on the stump will point out that
the mortgage of the widow is taxed while that
of the title guarantee company is exempt"
AN. UNWISE PARTY MEASURE
Governor Odell then said that he could not
think 1t wise in view OF the strong opposition
made to the bill by such a large number OF
Republican Assemblymen. to make IT a party
measure in the Assembly.
The decision of the Governor that the bill
must die quickly became known to the members
of the Legislature, and there was distinct air
of relief upon the faces of a good many Repuh-
lican Senators and Assemblymen who in caucus
had voted for the measure under the impression
that they must. but who had recognized that
there would be great peril to the Republican
party if it should be passed
Senator Stranahan afterward said 10 The
Tribune correspondents
The Assembly Republicans held n caucus last
night at which the Mortgage Tax bill was in
formally discussed, but no caucus action was
taken upon it, The opposition to the measure
principally on the part of the representatives
OF the counties Of New York and Kings was
such that 1t is believed to be impossible 10 pass
IT IN that body. After a conference among Re
publican leaders of both houses with Governor
cdeH 1t was decided that nothing was TO be
gained by passing the bill in the Senate In view
or this situation, although the votes are ready
IN the Senate TO pass the measure. In my judg-
nent, 1t Will be "A long time before a measure
so nearly eXempting mortgages will be favor
ably considered by the Legislature
A friend Of Senator Stranahan afterward said: |
1t should be said that the Mortgage Tax
biil was the work of the Taxation COMMITTEES OF
last year. of which Senator Stranahan was
chairman, and can say that the bill was not
revived by MIN upon his own motion, but at the
request or republican party leaders, they he
llevng that the bill would relieve the wretched
conditions growing out of the present attemnt
to tax mortgages. and result in large revenue
to the State e
Wnen the Dill was reached on the order of
third reading to-day Senator Stranahan moved
mat 1t be set aside. and thus the bill died
-----s--
VOTE ON SUNDAY LIQUOR SELLING
Albany. April Ex-senator Dowup, e. A.. ,.