New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-28
CHARGES JUGGLING
IN PRINTING REPORTS
Allan Robinson. at Hearing on
Real Estate Taxation Bill.
Mentions Names.
BILL WOULD BRING CALAMITY
Real Estate Alliance Head Op-
poses Measure-Report Of
Congestion Committee
Changed, He Says.
rBv Telegraph - The Tribune J

Albany. June 21-At a hearing to-
night before the Senate Cities Commit
tee on the Sullivan bill for excess taxa
tion Of unimproved real estate and
lighter taxation on improved property
Allan Robinson. president Of the Allied
Real Estate Interests charged that the
report Of the Mayors commission on
congestion and bills prepared by II had
been iuggled in printing He indicator
his belief that this had been done ny
Reniarin c. Marsh. the secretary who
has been lobbying for the bill and some
companion measures az a representative
~ the unofficial committee on conges-
ton.
Mr. Robinson referred 10 a "r1isrepre-
sertatior" Of the congestion commission.
of which he was a member. in pamph-
LET issued by the committee on conges-
ton. This said that the congestion COM
mission found that the present taxation
system was an important cause Of con-
gsstion Of population. Mr.. Robinson SAID
tha, rh,s statement vas the exact op-
posite Of the truth.
Mr. Robinson said he had found a much
more serious instance. In the report OF
The commissions committee on taxation
arpeared as having been adopted rec
or,,r74ndation for bill providing for an
animal increment tax Of say \ per cent.
~ build transit lines. He said he had
in his possession the copy of the secre-
tsrv's minutes Of the committee meet
,rg a. which that resolution had been
dafaa+ed and the recommendation was
,,a-l<sd "T os," in the secretary's hand
writing IN the drafting NJ bihs pre-
rared bv the commission appeared even
a more fazrant case Of this Juggling
one bill provided that the tenement
1I,,u.a DAnartment might order tene-
wants N he vacated under certain con-
ditiors such as Want of repair. or dH-
r.ct. in the drainage. plumbing, lighting
...,Ys,ion or construction OF the same.
etc"
A. pobi,sor said he was chairman or
,re committee on legislation OF the COM
mission. and as such pointed out the IN
advisa blity Of stipulating lighting as one
81 The grounds for vacating tenement
ue n-enared a final draft Of the Dill
r;,hou, the word lighting" In the re-
port of these bills printed in The Clty
Pacord' he said the word lighting was
restored.
..U-ho made the restoration. and by
! ka
wish Of the commission in this respect!
he asked
Mr. Robinson said II this bill we're
rassed il would affect the small house
hnider as we'll as the man owning huge
uronertv holdings. He predicted that IT
would bring calamity into the real estate
/ World and also into the general business
| community. There would De no more
building in outlying districts, he said.
where operations were conducted largely
IN credit. because nobody would he able
10 get any money. He quoted Edgar 7.
Lew. an expert as saving that such
scheme Of taxation would bring about "A
most disastrous panic.
Mr.. Marsh. who appeared for the bill.
vas asked by Senator Stilwell what he
had 10 say about Mr. Robinson's accusa b
tions. He said the recommendation re-
ferred 10 by Robinson might have been
( lost" at one meeting and passed at an
other. or lost at a committee meeting
and adopted AT a full meeting Of the
commission.
Mr.. Robinson interrupted that that
| could not be. as the copy Of the minutes
he had was that Of the minutes of the
| last meeting Of the commission.
Mr.. Marsh introduced Robert lnger-
soil OF the committee on congestion. lie
said there was nothing in an argument
Of Mr.. Robinsons that the debt limit of
the city would be decreased under this
proposed taxation scheme. He said the
net result would be. probably, a slight
Increase in the assessment valuation of
the citys property. He thought the
scheme would encourage the building OF
factories in the suburbs instead Of In
Manhattan. and so the workers could
| have deceit homes near their places Of
/ emulovment. William j. Schiefelin of
the Citizens Union. Joseph Wilkinson
OF the Tenants Union. and Or. Walter
Laidlaw. secretary OF the State Fedora
tion of Churches also spoke for the bill
| and the others in the series