New-York tribune., 1903-02-05
NOT4RI4L TAX OPPOSED
Strong Objections Made at Hearing
on Bill

Albany Feb 4.-Governor odeils Notar1al Tax
bill had hearing 10y The joint committees OF Tax
alton and Rosrclchment in the Senate Charpef
to-day. As result Of suggestions made by John
Y Stanchfcld Of Elmira. there viii be several
changes in the measure one change accepted oN
Senator made the act provide so as TO a'ect
realty transfers within this State. The other Sns-
.csfjon by Mir. S1anchfield. asso accepted. was III
regard to the penal provision making the tact mat
a stamp Nas not used prcsumptiVe evidence oh a
violation. instead of placing the burden OF the
proof on person accused
r f. E-adhams. OF Albany secretary OF the ~ So'ae
Bar Association. apparel in opposition 10 inc 'i''
II, its nyiroty lie said that it would block pro
,.odiarS in laNvcrs< Offices and that if the legal
fra tcrnty OF the STATE knew the real import :" 'e
measure the Capitol would not he large enough :"
ro15 those ~ ho would appear in opposI1l"ll i"'
measure he declared. was too drastic Zoo sweep
-. nd ,ronld moi only tancle coJrt proceedings
,,,t vror,6 rpset procedure and further delay ana
clog the wheels Of justice
H.. II Neal Of New-Nork. opposed the meas
,,re esvinc it would handicap enterprise an" a.
sail prosperity for It taxed men VINO "aI''e" 70
sell and buy property. and. did not ahoc' t"se II"
xir,rl- ra1sjred property He said the fact 'ha'
-he ,,anober was not crowded with lawHors did not
.rdi-ate that there no opposition TO IL
v-,uisr, Il HolIis1er. Of Troy. spoke against the
,il and said its provisions would he hurde'iS"Ine-
&c ebouad be he said. some definition OF inc
-or5 certificate. and it should he made especially
clear II The stamp must be attached 10 every am
dzvit. ,
I.aDson Purdy also argued against the measure
- .,,., in mis- opinion the condition OF the
60, bs--l,- seemed 10 Justify n resort to Such
. -evatfo;s ana troublesome method OF IaSuis
-.,,.-ue As the bill stood every instrument "A
80, IN. title 80 personal property Of any sort
-.as transferred taxed ms provision va
-, :, the Internal Revenue law Of the Uniteo
stares and WAS broad and sweeping 'hat IL
mas hard to tell what II covered IL d"up''esS al
,,ed n transfers Of the stock of corporations anu
a. 90 mas five times as heavy tax as was I'M
e5 IN, the United States. 1t would douotless
.-ax unon warehouse receipts. and such re
eirts were 50 extensively used that It seemed tna
:, v,orld he a serious obstacle TO this moue OF
transferring property ,...
>o ,,nstamped certificate or conveyance suhect
-. I'D any legal force, added Mr. Purdy, and
- sefsc+ Was incurahe. Persons, through no
1sIt Of their own. might be deprived OF 1her 1uSl
-srhs hv reason of the Carelessness or ncglecI Of
persons long dead ,.-
tn. -enal provisions Of the bill might ne heces
-, N secure its enforcement. hut they appeared
- he severe If this bill became . law people
-ou1d have 10 very careful not 10 becoihe iiap'
% fine Of 500. Imprisonment for one year. ''
both. If any man was so unfortunate as 10
Taught with ! washed stamp in his pocket the
,,,rdep Was piace.i on him nroye his innocence
or he imprisoned for five years.
cenetor Green at the close of the hearing. sald
that the committee would hold an executive seS
sion On Thursday morning to consider the tax
bills He did moi expect that there woulo oe an
rther hearing on the Notarial Tax bill.
N FAVOR OF THE GREEN BILL.
" Pi,rdy also spoke before the same commit
ere in favor Of Senator Green's bill 10 amend Sec
-io, - 81 the Tax law. which provides the meth
d for the local taxation Of the personal property
of domestic corporations He said in part;
This section in substantially its present form was
ers-fed in 1855. and since then conditions have so
r-oronlereIv changed that There Is now a serious
Ssie-|ir,ination against domestic corporations,
sres+i-- to the disadvantage of the city and State
of Nep--Y oTk. -.
II t7is auopdment is adopted there is no doubt
-r4at n least three times much capital VIII ps
i7-eereG in fcuoS91r corporations as Woulu De ~!
--ce-ed II tho law is unchanged The State VIII
can ore-rlizsz ion and franchise taxes. the large
+iee -jll gain i'm local Teal estate owners
seeking Offices and hanks will receive increased
derosifs which cannot now he deposited IN TINS
Sfatc because % taxation No revenue VIII he loSt
that is now obtained because large corporations
With property In many States have not been able
fo Incorporate here.
Frank Nhits. Of Albany and NenT-1ork. author
r+ White GA Corporations also spoke In favor
O. the Green hill Tho number of new corpora
tione annually organized in this State is now $500
L this bill became law he expected il would
rrach 5,oaa
-Cllairn4u Green OF the Senate Taxation Com
-nittee said that he had doubt that the. legis-
1ature would pass hill that effect.