The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-13
WILL MAKE VOTES, SAYSODHLL
GOVERNORS VIEW OF THE PRO-
POSED LIQCOR-TAXI INCREASE.

Thinks II WIN Win Public support BY d.
mintshing Crime--Senater Plat Said
to Acquiesce In the Proposed Increase
Rural Opposition to Mortgsge Tax.
ALBANY, March i2.-Gov. Odell expects
to go to Newburgh tomorrow and he may
be In New York on Saturday. He may
meet Senator Plat there. II Ii said that
senator Piatt heretofore has been opposed
To any Increase in the liquor tax. Certain
Il Is that Gov Udell made such a public
declaration within the past two weeks.
Senator Platt's friends in the Legislature.
however. think he Is not opposed to the
proposed increase
The originator Of the idea to secure ad-
ditional revenue by increasing the liquor
tax was State Excise Commissioner Guilt
nan. When Frank Platt was here last
week he had long talk with the legislative
Republican leaders. The mortgage and
liquor tax plans were explained to him
then. He saw no objection 10 the two
propositions Gov. Odell Ia hopeful that
both bills will pass the Legislature and
says that the mortgage tax is needed, as
well as the increase in the liquor tax. in
order to provide enough revenue TO enable
the State to spend 81 ,5oo.O this year for
new luhVLie IbulluHlSs dhu w taHo oo'e VI
the States share Of the expense for good
roads.
'The Republican party said Gov. 0dell
to-day. will make votes and win public
support by increasing the liquor tax There
is no doubt the Ranes law has lifted public
morals, reduced the prison population.
diminished crime and driven many brothels
out Of business There Is no reason for the
~ aa-callad Rainas In hotels III
the local police authorities enforce the
q. present laws The number OF commitments
for drunkenness has fallen from $500 In
1897 to IS, 202 in 1901 The Raines law was
passed in 1890. The commitments to State
prisons for assaults, robberies and burg
. laries have decreased from 3,72o | n 1905. to
2,ti2. Under the old law there was steady
increase in these crimes. State prison
convicts numbered 3.50s in 1890. increasing
to s,72l in 1895, but gradually decreasing
since then to 1878 in 1900. To my mind
this decrease is due to the reduction In the
number Of drinking places and a strict
State supervision over them.
- speaker Nixon and Majority Leader
Rogers were busy to-day in going among
the Republican Assemblymen who did not
attend last nights caucus to ascertain how
they stand on the proposition OF increasing
the excise license one-half and the Mort
gage Tax bill. They have only seventy
two members pledged TO the support OF the
measures, while seventy-six votes are re-
quired, and there are acknowledgements
Assemblymen. The only member absent at
the caucus to announce publicly that he
would abide by the caucus decision was
Assemblyman Nys OF Schuyler.
say they have seventy-six votes TO pass the
g, Mortgage Tax bill, and apparently there
II no doubt that the Excise bill will be
passed. Others do not share this view and
bill Is problematical.
II developed to-day that the caucus and
conference last night was q very exciting
affair. For the first time an Assemblyman
dared to confront Gov. Odell and tell him
Governor sat and listened to the merciless
faying of his taxation schemes. Assem-
blyman Bostwick did this. Mr. Bostwick
was very vehement In denouncing the
bills. This was during the conference.
Il demand a free and unrestr icted dis
cushion Of this matter" he said.
Gov. 0dell told him that was what he
wanted and that he came 70 learn - well
as 10 advise. Mr. Bostwick then con-
tinued and said the Governor knew nothing
about taxation.
why he declared. 'the most noted
tax experts Of the country fail To under
stand what you mean by these plans Tho
measures. measures are unscientifc: You .. cannot
voting years Of study to IL, and here we arc
expected to take up a bill TO which no Sc
ious thought has been given, and which
men who have studied the question for
years do no. rs vet comprehend
Mr.. Bostwick asserted that the burden
OF the measures would fall heavily on New
/. York city. which. he said. already bore w
per cent. OF the taxation OF the State.
- The Governor interrupted to say that
New York citys share of the State taxation
was only RB DER cent
Mr. Bostwick retorted that that was too
much and that the burden was to be made
heavier.
- II Il now believed among the New York
p menbers that they were made the victim
of joke and their adherence 10 the tar
. plans secured in that manner. Mr.. Bost-
WICK wanted the caucus to take up the
Thousand-ton-ba barge Canal Improvement
, blu ana make that party measure as well
A. the tar schemes. Speaker Nixon declared
that that could not he done now. but "
party caucus could he secured on the canal
I'LL. while he was opposed 10 any further
Expenditures for canal Improvement. he
, you'd enter that caucus and abide by its
decision. To a certain extent the Speakers
announcement caused the Manhattan mem
befs a. remain IN the caucus; To-day they
i.arasd ,as, Of the eSs'y-nins Republican a.
, canal impro yement on any line.
, The rural msinlI.rs 81 the I.egtsla,u re.
who we're bound by the caucus decislon
W support the Mortgage IAr Dill, ere nov
.guakirg for fear 81 the storm that viii ooms
from their constituents Ia tho majority
~ che obIntis,s wherever a mortgage. u
. secorded n L. taxed 81 the rate of per
eent, 80 p.rsohAl prol"uy, N the local
W suhsrs loss by tia n.~ soheins ~ tahA-
ti0n the tnenbsis dsclaIs, they oanao,
cofnr back 10 tho l.g lslai uIs, aud that tho
kep1ilioan party ~iil suffer
To-day senator ltAiIss aud Assembly
faan hisssas Introduces the bll Increasing
ths uquuf ths 10 lsf o-li A h.srlnS 70
~ D. gwen an tho biil nest Wednesday
Aftsfan.n issiufs tho hsnats 1akstlon AID
AAss.nllly tAs.as rsinn,ii ts-s
0gsOsIs ~ 0-sItfOOA stsfkN.
tlss sssaais.l.s.s sisssls es.s.sss A