New-York tribune., 1903-04-03
MORTGAGE BILL DEAD.
TAX ON DEEDS PROPOSED
Opposition to Measure Too Strong
for Republican 4ssemblymen.
fsr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

E-1
Albany April 2-The Mortgage Tax bill IS
dead. At least that is the opinion of leading
Republicans Of the Assembly, and the Republi-
can Assemblymen themselves manifested a hos
tility to the measure to-day at conference
they held upon the bill that indicates that the
measure cannot pass the lower house
The Republican Senators. however, have not
yet abandoned the bill a party measure
Nevertheless, il is clear that. with the members
of the majority in one house hostile to the
measure, Il cannot pass the legislature.
The Republican Assemblymen also manifested
their belief that the Mortgage Tax act is no
longer to he considered. by taking under advise
naent until Monday evening proposition sub
mitted 10 them by James T. Rogers, the Repub-
Ecen leader that tax of 50 30 be imposed on
each deed transferring real estate worth S1opo-
The decision was reached by the Republican
leaders yesterday to have caucuses to-day oy
the Republican Senators and Assemblymen on
the Mortgage Tax bill. The Republican Assem-
blymen held their caucus IN the Assembly parlor.
Speaker Nixon said that ever since the last
caucus was held, at which the Liquor Tax act
and the mortgage tax were made caucus meas
ures. members had been coming to hin and say
ing that it was apparent from the letters they
were receiving from their constituents that the
passage Of the Mortgage Tax act was deemed
inadvisable this year.
Each Assemblynnan present was asked TO give
his opinion of the bin, and one after the otheT
ffty-seven Republicans said they thought II
would be inexpedient to pass the Mortgage TAX
act this year, and twenty Republicans said they
were of the opinion that the measure should De
passed. Then rising vote was taken on
motion TO reseind the caucus action making the
Mortgage Tax act caucus measure, and II was
adopted by vote of 81 ayes to Ia noes The
members who opposed the act said that they
had been impressed by the opposition TO IL
manifested by the benevolent associations trust
companies and savings banks
The Asserblymen come up for renomlnatlon
and reelection next fall and thus are obserVant
of any popular feeling against a bill beIore the
legislature and likely to heed 1t.
Before the conference adjourned Assembly
man Rogers submitted & proposition that a Tax
be imposed of s. 30 every S1oeo worth OF
real estate transferred. It was said that sucn
State Treasury. Those in attendance al tiie
conference took action upon Mr.. Rogers 8
proposition but resolved to hold a conference
upon il on Monday night next.
The statement has been made that the MOTT
gage Tax act was favored especially by Gov
ernor OdeIl It can be stated, however, that
the Governor in the conferences upon taXaCon
measures favored a recording tax upon mort
cages rather than the bill which was rejected by
the Republican Assemblymen to-day.
When their conference dissolved the state
meut was made that the Republican Senators
still considered the Mortgage Tax act a caucus
measure There was a disposition to think the
Asseublyrnen had acted a little hastily IN so
soon taking UP new taxation measure for con-
stderation The Republican Senators Will hold
another conference on the Mortgage Tax act
or sother taxation bills before the Legislature
Tuesday evening