The evening world., 1915-02-02

Nvboo ~ xoo cOSUoT4y(oR - 80
seseed value q franeh1see ~ holn4
Of Tax Commissioner, who dstsrmins
The total sssesset vassaaions a
special franchises tn New York City,
Including the street raiiwaya. the gas
companies, the electric light compan.
les, tho telephone companies, ana
other publhc service corporations,
show the following reductions In re-
cent years.
Est 1919 .... .......e41eeli9e!
es , ,o,s ''......... S$c.S7SSt
In two years tho assessed valuation
Of franchises has been marked down
$4,000. 900, when each day the rights
and privileges q the ''spofauons
The brooklyn Rapid TrAn1et Com.
pany paid franchise tax In 1s1s on .
valuation Of 146.O0o,0oo.
Tho Brooklyn Rapid Transit Com
pany In 1914 was assossed only on
valuation OF ga ,OO0, ,o0o.
The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Gem
pany In 1915 was assessed on ~ fran-
chiss $4,000, 900.
The Brooklyn Rapid Traaslt Con.
pany u hshting the city with high
reductions on Its franchise >taxos Of
previous years and the city oDolAls
are on the point Of making . CON.
promise with the corporation.
The Brooklyn Union uas Company
10 hghting the city on hack ffanehise
taIss. and the Corporation Council
has recommended q compromloo a.
very much reducsd ngures. "
Tho New York Central Railroad n
disputlng its taxss for one of the
most valuable rights and franchises
namely Fourth Avenue. giving direct
entrance TO the heart Of the city, q
privilege for which the Pennsylvania
company spent many millions to dig
The Mayor and his Cabinet are az.
cussing IevyinG direct taxes upon
people of small means to meet the
enormous expenses OF city govsrnmsnt
when there arc millions Of tax1s un-
collected from millionairss and corpor-
ations, ~ ...r7
The assessment Of personal property
(or tax purposes has bssn cut down
one half In ten years, although wealth
In Now York City has increased vastly
In that time.
The principal taxing on,cials Of the
sonal taxes "becauss Of the impossi-
billty Of collecting them." - -. 3D..
Real estate in New York has bssn
bearing the burden Of nearly all tara.
tion. Out Of 10000. 900 levied on
property taxes last year, real estate
was called upon 70 pay >isS, ,ooo. 80 ana
psrscns, 7. re nsd property was taxed only
Mayor Mitchell to-day put directly
up 70 tho state the responsibility for
tho fact that New York City may
soon have TO resort TO extraordinary
personal and property tax levies.
"If We .have TO resort to taxes on
salaries. habitaticna o ocsnp.nciss: cup s.M.:
sources of revenues" declared the
Mayor, "the sole reason Ii that the
State In forcing this condition Of af-
fairs upon us. New York City itself
Ia not responsible. The state of New
York n compelling New York City to
contribute the Hons share OF running
the State government.
New York City would get alonE
splendidiy II II were not compelled
10 pay the direct State tax. Even our
permanent improvements would not
embarrass W to the extent Of goiua
outside the usual channels OF revenue
However. slkeptics might point TO last
year and say that the city did not
have to pay direct TAI then. But
the fact must not bs lo6t sight Of thai
Ve had to meet extraordinary condl-
| tions then. We had to w,lte of ts..
OO0, 900 OF uncollectable taxes ~ part
| az the budget. Then ~ bad TO pso'
| vide for the interest on the 500, ,000,'
900 European renewal loan, and ~.
| 700, 600 for snow removal. Ave are suf.
| fsrtng from the accumulated burdens
Of State expenses, and l suppose the,
have to be met"
II IL believed IN the City Hall tina,
the Mayor and others OF his admins.
tration will arrange . conference
| for the city will be discussed.