New-York tribune., 1902-01-06
FINANCES OF THE STATE.
REPORT OF CONTROLLER FOR LAST
FISCAL YEAR-LARGEST SURPLUS
KNOWN IN GENERAL FUND.

annual report of the operations of the Controllers
department for the year 1901. This report will be
submitted to the legislature tomorrow evening
Mr.. knight in his report states that the actual
surplus of the general fund of the State Septem-
ber 60 1901, the end of the States fiscal year.
s755Z176 80, exceeding the estimate by $3.50 97 81.
the largest surplus known in the fund. The aggre-
gate appropriations of the legislature for 1901
$22 507 COS rs, decrease the previous year of
81 100000 and the lowest sum appropriated since
1896. The State debt for all purposes the close
of the fiscal year $10075 $50, and the amount of
the sinking fund to meet this obligation was 1885,
SIG o.
The principal receipts from indirect sources were
follows:
lax on corporations, exclusive of organization 49,. -
- 100 S9e 70
Liquor tax 4I97s5S 70
The system of loanihg the United States deposit
fund through loan commissioners in various
counties is briefly commented on, showing that the
net income from the s5000OO invested last year
only 2.22 per cent
The Controllers report shows that the progress
in the examination of the court and trust funds in
the various counties of the State has been salts
factory during the fiscal year. and that in addi-
tion to the regular examinations the greater work
Of supervising these funds in New-York County
has been taken up and carried nearly to compile
ton. The examination of Kings County funds has
also been begun. The Controller suggests that all
accounts of county fiscal officers should in
manner be supervised by the State the examina-
ton of the court and trust funds having demon
strated to him the advisability of such practice.
In the Corporation Tax Bureau the records show
that there has been an increase in the last decade
OF 200 cent in the number of corporations taxed
and an increase of 147 per cent in the col
lected. Over six thousand corporations have been
taxed in 1901 the receipts from which nearly
s5oooo0 and the cost of collection only six-tenths
OF per cent This bureau collects the largest
amount of money of any agency of the State gov
ernment, at the least cost OF the collections this
year S2104,l32 ~ received from savings banks
and trust companies under the new indirect tax
laws The Controllers report shows diff
Guilty in adjusting taxes with the savings banks.
and disposition the part of these institutions
to undervalue their real property. He suggests
slight change in the law that the market
value" should be taken a Of the
sessment of the property these institutions in
stead of the par value
TAXES PAID BY ESTATES
The receipts from taxable transfers s40S4 SOC g.
were the greatest since the passage of the original
act with the exception of the preceding fiscal
year. when about S250.0O0 more was collected. 1t
will be remembered, however that the year 1900
was emarkable for the payment by one estate of
nearly 100000 The number of estates paying a
tax during the last fiscal year 3059. 36S of
which were those OF nonresident decedents. whose
estates paid total tax of S59559i 06 None Of these
latter estates were OF record in the department,
ana ana were called 10 the attention of the Controller
oy various attorneys who make speciality of this
work. The cost of the collection only per
i
per cent for services in making collections OF this
tax and the Controller suggests that while this
amount is perfectly just for estates paying over
WV IN taxes It is not sufficient 10 warrant the in
would pay a tax Of less than that amount. The
Controller believes that many OF these small
tax to the State S Will Be os nesl iy he @e @ is
amended TO permit greater compensation. Atten-
ton is called TO the fact that corporations
ignore the provisions OF the Law requiring
transfers Of decedents' estates He suggests es
ti aiT1siona t aaIegnara penalty OF az least three
The changes in the statute made by the last
legislature are commented upon, and statement
made that the payment OF the tax direct from the
Richmond and the abolition of district attorneys'
assistants in the counties Of Erie and New York.
months IN q saving OF upward Of $4,000 After
70 the State Controller and saiaried appraisers viii
be appointed in said counties; In the remaining
and the Controller estimates that upon a basis OF
saving OF $50 the appraisal OF each estate a
saving Of $4,000 will be effected
clson in the Huntington case which held in sub
stance that an amendment to the transfer act
tions and other institutions OF like nature subject
cison it is said will materially increase the reVe
nue. to be derived from sxSble transfers the state
The Controller states that the frequent amend
making the sections thereof in some instances
should be redrafted.
COST OF HIGHWAY REPAIRS
steady increase in the amount OF moneys ex-
pended for the repairs of highways is shown from
the report In 1898 the first year in which the law
was in force providing for the State assisting the
locality TO the extent Of % cent of the amount
raised by such locality for the repair of it's high
ways, there was expended $346l7 49, In 1900 this
troller estimates that 500 06 vii be- NEEDED e. %
the 1901 taxes. The Controller urges the appoint
assist local authorities in the matter Of the as
sessment Of lands in those districts where the
that the State and nonresident owners are dis
Two new institutions have come 81 under fhe dISec
ton Of the Bureau OF Charitable institutions dur
Reformatory for Women at Bedford and the other
as Of The! TSpSa nst pd
tons were only in operation portion OF the fiscal
antenance etc Of the nstuohs has eos5 bee6 OF
based upon the reports Of the thirteen institutions
capita cost OF maintenance Of these institutions
is an inSrease per capita of About s. Which This
partly accounted for BY the increase in cost Of sup
The Hospital for the Treatment Of Incipient Pull
been selected will come under the charge Of fbis
bureau when in operation
Re5Tge si5Dg for Jqyene at Randas
within the provisions of the Civil Service law win
reference to It's employees 1t is suggested that this
others II is also suggested that the powers of the
OF 1899 be enlarged so that it will have power to
abolish unnecessary offices 10 classifI,
the into grades. The suggestion for the an
pontment of financial clerk by the Controller 70
act in each OF these institutions in the same man
ner as the clerks of the prisons. is renewed
COST OF PRINTING BILLS
The Controller also gives some valuable informa
ton in reference to the printing bills He calls ar
tention TO the fact that during the years from
1895 to 1889 the annual the legislative print
Ing was $50 l6 FrSm 1889 to 1901 estimated
cost was Se5 5As Il a year. The legislature for two