The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-14
HOME RULE CAMPAIGN PLAN.
Personal Liberty and city Taxes Are Its
Issues

Chairman Frederick w. Jansen of the
campaign committee of the Manhattan
Municipal League, 10 East Fifty ninth street
said yesterday:
wish to state emphatically that the lea g,l
VIII take no part in the municipal campaign
other than in an edu cationa way The
special mission OF the league during this
campaign will be to advocate the nominal
ton of candidates for the Legislature in the
cities OF the state who are fayorable to home
rule as to tax ation and personal liberty
regardless Of whether they are Democrats or
Republicans. The league wishes to warn
the taxpayers of the cities that the Mortgage
Tax bill. now In allegiance at Albany may be
passed by the mex Legislature in the event of
our movement not 81 cceeding in its purpose
OF electing Legislature that will make the
passage Of the Mortgage Tax bill or any
other objectionable tax bill an impOssibility
The league will hold mass meeting in the
near future, at which prominent speakers
from the different large cities Of the State
will make addresses on the different objects
OF the league At this meeting attention will
be called to the fact that the counties COM
prising Greater New York, with Albany
Erie, Monroe and Onondaga are now pay ing
about 30 per cent of the State taxes. the
cities of New York and Buffalo about so
per cent. Of the whole, and that in thirty Six
counties of the State it is a matter not OF tax
rate. but dividend rate.
The State leaders Of the two great parties
do not seem to realize that conditions have
changed up the State and that the popu
lation of the cit les of the first class has SO in
creased in the last ten years that the voting
control has shifted from the counties to the
cities, The present status of affairs Is that,
with Greater New York, Buffalo, Rochester.
Syracuse and Albany acting AS. unit, it
IA h.a N nj far inNfNs Slsl ft for
hOme-rue Legislature or Governor to be
elected. and these cities should act asaunit.
as in many respects their interests are lden-
teal
Mr.. Jansen gave out some letters sent
to James W. Gerard chairman Of the
league. Robert A. Chesebrough writes:
Franchise taxes were proposed and adopted
In the State Of New York to AFFORD the means
of relieving real estate. which was bearing
ever, that the franchise taxes are imposed
10y en nss eRns "hFs s
very large buildings involve such large
cost, as a rule. as to prevent ownership by
individuals, and have therefore become the
property Of corporations. generally. for the
purpose OF making proper division OF inter-
est. Take, for instance, the Battery, Park.
which are nearly all family property put in
corporation for the purpose of division OF
separate interests. This corporation has, no
only supports its buildings and collects its
rents.
notwithstanding this the State imposes
the full franchise tax. simply beca Use the
title to the real estate is in corporation
instead Of nm individual. thus taxing this
property twice and increasing the very
onerous burthen. which il was the very object
of the franchise tax to Tighten, As the ten
ration ownership of these large buildings it
would seem that the law should be amended
so as to exclude real estate.
Ashbel P. Fitch writes:
The action Of the city authorities in in
creasing the valuation of real estate for the
avowed purpose of increasing the debt limit
of the city Is step in the wrong direction.
They seem to consider the increase OF the
debt limit as something to be desired, II
opens the door TO all sorts of extravaganza
and ought to be- looked upon $ 4 misfortune
instead Of nm acquisition. The attack on
the Sinking Fund is certainly immoral if not
illegal, and the effect Of both these measures
is shown by the shrinkage in the value Of the
bonds Of the city.
Robert b. Roosevelt also sends letter
in which he says that he believes the present
administration is misinformed and in the
hands OF men without political wisdom
or experience. He adds:
do not expect perfection under Low or
Van Wyck. but. except for one in"SpllCible
appointment by the latter the Van Wyck
administration wns more conservative and
certainly more economical than its success
sor. 50 far as my humble judgment goes.