New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-15
FORCES MASSINC
FOR TAX BATTLE
Joint Legislative Commit.
tee Gives Hearing in
Albany Tomorrow.
GOVERNOR FIRM;
FOES CONFIDENT
Canal Funds and Widowed
Mothers Pensions Other Lead
ing Subjects for Week.

Albany. Feb. 14.-Proponents ana
opponents of changes in the state TAX
system tonight arc summonlng al
their forces to Albany to carry their
fight before the Legislature this week.
Many phases Of the tax problem are
expected to be taken up within the
next few days. Whether Governor
Whitman's tax commission reOrganiza-
ton bill will be amended and II a d.
. rect tax bill to provide funds Tor com,
Melting the barge canal system Will
be introduced are the leading queS-
tions which probably will be decided
A hearing on the reorganization. TAX
bill will be held Tuesday before a
icint legislative committee. Both al
vocates of the measure and ITS oppo-
nents. the latter headed by Controller
Travis. arc expected to be present III
large numbers. The chief fight centres
on whether the corporation tax as
sossment work shall be taken away
from the Controller. His forces nave
been working among legislators ana
saw they have enough support TO IN
sure a victory. Should they fail IN
committee. they intend 20 oppose the
bill on the floors Of both houses. sup
porters OF the measure, including the
Governor, say they are positive the
bill will not be amended.
Most of the legislators favor APP
propriating money for the immediate
completion of the barge canal system,
hut there is serious objection in some
quarters TO assessing a direct tax OF
one mill, as proposed, to ralse o Ine
necessary funds. About sll,OOO,oOo'
according to the estimate OF Stste
Engineer Williams, would be reauiooeeoo
to complete the work, and sZ''Voo;oVo
10 nav off all obligations, lncludihg
damage claims which have resulted
from the building Of the waterway.
Administration forces are backing
the proposed direct tax because they
regard it as inevitable. As the WORK
now stands in a partly completed con-
dition. the state bids fair TO lose
vast amount Of money unless the cor
etruction is hurriedly brought 10 an
end, State Engineer Williams declares
Senator Wagner and Assemblyman
Smith, Democratic leaders OF thelr re-
snective houses, announced in state
ment issued tonight by the latter that
they would fight any direct tax when
/ would aQG 10 the Duiucuo VI wv
York City property owner. They stat
ed that New York City now was pay
ing 60 per cent OF all the direct taxes
and approximately 90 per cent of the
indirect taxes Of the state, but that
"the time has come when the upstate
legislators must cease to fatten their
localities and fix their fences at the
expense Of the City of New York
In addition to opposing all proposed
appropriations that would add TO the
direct tax, Smith said. they would seek
TO amend existing laws that provided
for what they believed to be unneces.
sary appropriations in the interest OF
! certain counties.
I Chief opposition to the proposed
mothers pension bill has arisen over
I the belief .hat it would add to the tax
rate. Supporters of the bill deny this
The State Board of Charities in its an
nual report to the Legislature to-mor,,
row will recommend that widowed
mothers pension bill be passed. This
report also will recommend legislation
permitting an issue of long term bonds
| to enlarge and improve the states
charitable institutions.