New-York tribune., 1915-03-22
Despairing of HandS-Off
Policy, Issues Warning
to Legislature.
MEASURE DECLARED
DEAD LAST WEEK
Now Expected, However, To Be
Reported Out of Commit
tee Promptly.
From san corrupoDd,n, o; 1ns Tribune.

Albany. March 2l- Governor Whit
man, rcclizing that his policy OF "hsnds
Of with respect to the Legislature
has resulted in nothing, stepped into
the arena tonight, whip in hand. 20
make the Senate and Assembly trot
around the tanbark under his lash.
The week will sec whether the Leg
islature. which so far has not passed
a single recon ST ructive measure that
wasn't Of the ~ripper" type, or any
other measure Of Importance unless it
was backed by an emergency message
from the Governor, will DO the Gov
ernor's bidding.
The Governor has taken for his ex-
case in assuming his present role the
failure of the Legislature to pass his
tax reform bill. In formal statement
given out this evening he issues a de-
fance ard says he does not believe that
the Legislature Will care TO assume re-
sponsiblity for the defeat of that
measure. His defiance Is couched in
mild terms, but ~ it's not needed by
the passage Of the bill at once, his
friends say, more vigorous statement
will follow.
At present the bill is slumbering in
committee in the Senate. Senator
James A. Emerson. chairman of the
committee, repeatedly declared last
week that the bill was dead, and that
nothing could resurrect it.
Joker Believed Doomed.
"Wcll. you can bet that Emerson will
see that that bill is reported out of his
committee, or he'll regret it," said
friend of the Governor tonight, "and
what is more, Senator Emerson will
see 10 il also, if he is wise, thai the
bill is reported out without the little
Joker that some one put into 1t, Joker
that exempts the railroads and traction
companies from taxes on the property
between the tracks"
This little joker in itself would mean
10 the railroads and traction companies
the saving in taxes on property valued
1T nearly Sl00,O00,000. The Governor
in his statement said:
"The tax bill, introduced in the Sen
ate by Senator Emerson and in the
Assembly by Dir. Hinman, and some
what amended in the Assembly, is
very great improvement on the law as
it now stands. ] have been interested
in the preparation Of the bill from its
inception. Il was prepared with great
care by men trained in the theory of
taxing and experienced in the admin
stration of tax laws in the state at
large. az we'll as in the city. 1t pro-
vides a long needed tax reform.
81 am confident that no community
in the state will be injured by its pas
sage, and | am sure that it will prove
a great benefit 70 all of the taxpayers.
] am absolutely committed to this re-
form and ] propose to redeem the
pledges made during the recent cad.-
paign, which pledges involved a reor-
canization Of the Board of Tax Com
missiOners.
Issue Of the Campaign.
"This subject was one of the issues
Of the campaign last year and to it the
Republican party is committed. OF
course, / expect cooperation on the
part Of Senate and Assembly an1 l
rely upon the Legislature to pass the
tax bill, and | do not believe that that
body will care 10 assume responsibility
for its defeat"
All sorts of efforts have been made
within and without the Legislature to
defeat the bill. Controller Travis first
appeared in opposition TO It. Scores of
legislators lined up behind him. These
we're whipped into lin by county bosses
who were under obligations to Travis
for jobs he gave then or their hench
N men.