New Britain herald., 1915-01-06

! ly supplemented
 Assuming that many desirable economics in the expenditures can and 1 Will be made, nevertheless even the | reasonable demands on the state trea- <. sury make an increase in our annual [ income seem absolutely essential. While this can be accomplished by larger state tax, it is not fair to the small property owner on whom this l burden falls most heavily to make considerable increase in this par 1 ticular when there are means and sources of income in the state which are not contributing in proportion to their ability, ss based upon the value of the property as well az upon tpe revenue derived therefrom.
 recommend the consideration of and action on the following statement l in the tax commissioners report or | 1914: ~~~-
 The imposition of an annual franchise tax on all general corpora tions organized in the state, and similar tax on foreign corporations doing business in the state; an an- nual franchise tax on all private Wa ter and power companies; a moder- - ate annual franchise tax on all gas and electric companies; adequate tax l ation of the states oyster franchises a reduction of the exemptions Tn the inheritance tax law and an increase l in the rates, particularly in property passing to collaterals and strangers stringent penalty to compel the hstlng for taxation of choses in action; the repeal of the present law taxing rail- roads and the adoption of the gross earnings basis, as recommended by | the Special Tax Commission in lsl2' | would insure a much increased annual ! income which might, with economies' make small state tax necessary only once in two years
 Stato Board Of Finance.
 The business affairs of the state, so far as is possible. should be con ducted along lines which have stood l the test of experience in successfur private business corporations. The expenditures should be made with | careful delberation, always keeping in mind the total annual income.
 Careless business methods are in- l evitably expensive to those financially | interested in the undertaking. The | practice which has prevailed for many years of making appropriations for the biennial period through an ap- propriation committee of the gen
 eral assembly is wasteful, unscienti- nc, ana 10 the dppIONtA m methods of private business. | The appropriation committee is ire | quentIy composed of men with pre- vious legislative experience, and who l have had no opportunity to study the needs of the state, nor the sources and amount of it's income, and, how ever loyal and zealous they may be, | the task is beyond them. | The present imperative demands on the state treasury, the necessity for l strict economy, and the importance of scientific study of receipts and | expenditures demand a change from
 our present procedure.
 Board of pfnaocc.
 recommend the creation of a
 board of finance. similar to that ad- | vocated by the tax commissioner in | his biennial reports of 1910 and | 1914, such board to consist of three citizens appointed for a period of | years: the state treasurer, comptrol- | Ter and tax com missioner, ex officio; and two senators and three represen- tatives to be appointed by each gen l eral assembly to serve during the session. All legislative bills author | izing appropriations should be re- ferred to this board for approval.
 
 the cumulative knowledge of the nec- 1 essary expenditures and proba ble re- ceipts of the state which this board | would soon acquire, would surely re- l suit in more wise and economical ap- I propriations, more efficient expendi- 1 tures and a proportionate decrease in | the taxation burden.
 1 Our present constitutional pro- 1 vision requires that this legislative session shall terminate not later than | the 9th of next June. It will of | course adjourn as much earlier as | the business which shall be submitted | to you shall be disposed Of and this 1 will be determined by the diligence of your committees and the length i and frequency of your daily sessions
 The 1913 general assembly ad- 1 journed on June 4th, and the l91t general assembly adjourned on Sep tcmber o6th of that year That tho 1 citizens of the state have not suffered by the shortening of the session and the decreased volume Of legislation will be conceded.
 Officers Of Ore Party. l At the November elecafon the voters 1 of Connecticut elected all their state ! officers of one party and gave to thst ! party an almost unprecedented ma 1 jority of the members of each branch l of the general assembly. This expression of confidence, in sharp contrast with the result only two years earlier, should bring with it a corresponding sense of responsibility on the part of those chosen. The strength of a political party and it's . hold upon the electors is measured by the service it renders the state as a