The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-07-22
LEGISLATURE ENDS SESSION
DIRECT PRIMARIES AND RACE.
TRACK BILLS FAILED.

Direct Tax Measure Goes Through After
Receipt OF Message From Dix Gov.
ernor Also saves New York Trafic
squad. Sending Emergency Message.
ALBANY. July 2i.-The Legislature be-
fore taking a recess tonight until Sep
tember Q defeated the Blauvelt direc
primaries bill in the Senate, left the Git
tins racetrack bill dead in the Assembly,
passed the Loomis Senate bill aboishing
the State Court Of Claims. passed reso-
luton for legislative investi CATION OF the
Republican administration Of government
in the city and county of Albany and took
under consideration the resolution for
the legislative investigation OF the up
State Public Service Commission.
The Senate completed it's work shortly
before o'clock tonight. but the Assem-
bly, was unable to finish it's business until
nearly II o'clock.
This was the longest session since the
Platt- -Conkling senatorial controversy in
1881. when the Legislature adjourned on
July 49,
Gov. Dix sent to the Legislature to-
day message declaring that the in
direct revenues of the State would be
no longer sufficient TO meet the annual
fixed charges Of the State government,
including the contributions to the
highway and barge canal bonds sinking
fund Accordingly he recommended
that the state return to a direct tax, and
in his message to the Legislature he says:
AS you have been informed by pre-
vious messages. the appropriations of
last years administration amounted to
S42 2.975, 900. and IL ia estimated by the
Comptroller that the income for the year.
against which such appropriations were
made. will not greatly exceed S36, ,O0O. 600.
and that there will he a cash deficit at
the close Of the current year While
your efforts toward economy will ap-
parently result in a substantial decrease
in the expenditures and it is hoped that
the new revenue bills under consideration
by you will substantially increase the
revenue. it is not. in my judgment, safe
to face deficit in reliance upon revenue
coming from new forms of indirect taxa
tion. A conservative estimate OF the
income from indirect taxation and
miscellaneous sources in the comm z
year places the revenue at sSs, 900 900.
including proceeds from new taxes IL
they shall be adopted.
The Constitution Of this State pro-
vides that the Legislature by law 'shal,
impose and provide for the collection
Of direct annual tax to pay and sufficient
TO pay the interest on such debt as il falls
due, and also to pay and discharge the
principal Of such debt within fifty years
of the time Of the contracting thereof.
While this provision does not specifically
appear in the so-cslled highway amend
ment it is believed that it applies equally
to the debts created under that amend
ment.
The interest and sinking fund charges
for the year ending September 80. 1911,
amount to 81. .8O7 .aA3.Oa. These charges
for the wear ending September 30. 1912.
are estimated at 3t.l25.OOO. The increase
in this item Of annual expenditures will
be rapid with the additions caused to the
State debt by the issuance of bonds for
canal and highway purposes. It does
not seem that the resources OF the State
in the way of indirect taxation and mis-
cellaneous receipts will he sufficient to
hNrD pdCS Wltf ttlr VI
States activities and at the same time
provide for the certain increase in in
terest and sinking fund charges.
1t seems. therefore the part Of wisdom.
as well as your constitutional duty. to
provide by direct tax for meeting these
charges With the amount necessary
to meet these charges for the coming year
and the slight addition intended TO cover
the estimated deficit ! consider that the
revenue of the State for the year ending
September 1912, will be satisfactorily
provided for"
A bill has been introduced providing
for such action and constituting in the
aggregate direct tax Of six -tenths of a
mill and recommend its passage.
The Senate Immediately after the
receipt OF the Gov ernor's message passed
the direct tax bill and then it was passed
by the Assembly and sent to the Gov.
ernor.
Under an emergency message from
the Governor tho Assembly to-day
passed Senator Wagner's hill eliminate
ing the traffic squad in New York
city from the provisions OF the three
platoon police law passed at this session
Of the Legislature. Assembyman Muir
ray. Republican. Manhattan. was the
only one to vote against the bill The
bill passed the Senate last night and now
goes to tho Governor. who viii Immediately
approve it.
This amendment to the three platoon
police law will preserve the efficiency Of
the present traffic squad and give Com
missioner Waldo authority to add 100
men TO it as he sees fit.
The Assembly passed Senator Black 3
bill appropriating $500, 900 for repairs to
the 41th Regiment armory in Brooklyn.
The Assembly also passed Senator
Burd's bill providing for a legislative COM
mission to investigate the loan shark
industry.
A final vote was taken by the Senate
this s.afternoon on the Blauvelt Assembly
bill providing for the direct nomination
at the primary election of Senators. As
semblymen. Aldermen and Councilmen
in cities. but not providing for an official
primary ballot. The bill was defeated.
ayes. 20; noes. 23: az follows:
Ayes-Bayne. Black. Cronin. Ferris.
Fiero. Gittins. Griffin. Harden. Harte,
Long, McClelland. McManus. Murtaugh,
O'Brien. Pollock. Ramsperger Sanner,
Sullivan &C. d.. Sullivan ct. d., Wag-