New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-20

the date Of adjournment is soon to be expected
and in fact made last year. there is still little
progress in its work For two months both bodies
have marked time, while the Senate struggled with
the gas problem. Now that this has been elm
mated for the moment, it will be in order to settle
the great question of raising money No important
legislation receive the Governors signature
until there is money to pay expenses At present
there is But this week will settle the fate
of the three tax bills, ready for vote. stock
tax mortgage tax and insurance
Stock tax will meet with the hardest opposition
and its opposition will come from two directions
that of the legislators who oppose this theory of
taxation as unsound. and there are not few men
like Assemblynan Wainwright whose opposition is
determined, and from whose legislative career
has afforded them opportunity to turn over
margins in Wall Street and make friends there
whose kindly feelings they did not wish to disap-
point The two distinct elements can and will mus
ter a considerable showing, but the Republicans
Of the Senate already pledged TO this. and
nothing but revolt Of the Assembly, hitherto
foreseen will defeat the bill
The prophecy may be made of mortgage
tax, but the elements here are more numerous
Mortgage tax annual and a fat rate, is OPP
posed by representatives of counties which depend
on local mortgage tax for home taxation purposes
and by the adherepts of the record tax. who in
theory. oppose all mortgage taxation. The Assem-
bly, has always been hostile to this form Of taxa
ton. and may yet defeat 1t. No one seriously op-
poses the insurance tax, which already exists
though in its present form pronounced unconsti-
tutional by the Court of Appeals.
There are on the Senate calendar ready for
a vote. host of important measures First of all
Importance is the drawn by Senator
Raines and the representatives of the City Club
amending the Raines law in such a fashion as to
eliminate the infamous Raines law hotel This
bill will UP for a on Tuesday and will
at that time be opposed by the Tammany Hall
representatives who have given notice of their
intention to attack II. The bill meets with the
support Of independent and civic organizations in
New-York City and has been fully explained in
detail in these dispatches.
The E1sberg rapid transit measure. the pet
measure Of the Citizens Union advocated by ex-
Senator John Ford and John De Witt Warner, and
opposed by the Rapid Transit Commission and
ex-Mayor Low, also reaches roll call this week. The
is true of the Elsberg bill abolishing the
Ccroners, which passed last year only TO vetoed
by Mayor Mcclellan. This year the Kings County
Republican organization seems to he arrayed
against it. Some measures affecting the investi-
cation OF the New-York telephone situation prob
ably increasing the powers of the present Gas In
vestigation Commission. may be expected. 1t is
generally believed that the clause letting this body
take up the conduit situation is broad enough for
this purpose. But in order to take chance the
sentiment favors additional power, for. in the
phrase of member of the committee. the general
notion seems to be:
pipes and electric light conduits and it would be
shame 10 tear them up again later for telephone.
The Tully bill. increa sing the number of MEM
bers Of the Senate Board of Railroad Commission
ers from three to seven will also be voted on il
the Senate Tuesday This bill contemplates
giving Newly ork City two of the commission
ers. George W. Aldridge, of Rochester, is to be
the third and the fourth is yet decided on
There is serious difference of opinion about the
bill in the minds of Republican Senators. and its
defeat would surprise A similar bill adj
vocated by the Merchants Association was de-
feated in the Assembly Rules Committee last
sion.
The date of adjournment will depend in large
measure the progress made this week. A delay
in the Gas Commissions work in the Hooker
trial which reopens Tuesday, before the AS
sembly Judiciary Committee. would inevitably
throw the date Of adjournment into May.