The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-06

law, regarding such matters as the manufacture and sale of ice; the control of parks; the regulation of salaries; the making of public inn provements, etc, with power to is sue bonds under proper restrictions as to the time of their payment. and a proper relation to existing indebted ness and grand lists, all subject to the approval of the electors of the munf- cipality. It seems obvious that the people of each municipality are bet ter qualified to pass upon such mat terB than the members of the Gen eral Assembly who cannot have equal Knowledge of local needs and condi- tions. Such a, general provision in the statutes would be a great relief to the General Assemb bly,, and would not di- rninish the efficiency of the local gov ernments.
 Special Tax Commission.
 Connecticut is fortunate in having no constftuti onaI limitations as to the method and manner of state or local are found in statutes passed at Vari- ous times by the. General Assembly. These have not been codified for many years and are consequently more or less inconsistent, unrelated, and out of date. During recent years there have been many changes in the methods and procedure of taxation throughout the United States. In many states the best results are being secured by means of a more central ized authority over local taxation IL is also necessary for the state to con- stder additional income which should come from sources not now bearing their fair share of the burden. A special commission on taxation of certain corporations paying taxes to. the state, after a thorough consi dera- lion of all methods of taxation apply iT1e e5rYt1 7r 1oIc report to the last General Assembly. Some of it's recommendations were then adopted and others can we'll be adopted by you at this session.
 further recommend the appoint ment of a special commission to con- sider the taxation of property not in. cIuded in the scope of the former comni ssfons to codify the present laws taxing general property; and, af- ter proper hearings and due consid- eratton, to report to the next General Assembly recommendations for changes and new laws.
 Inheritance Tax Law.
 The receipts from the inheritance tax during the last biennial x period have fallen off to an alarming de- gree, due primarily to the altogether too liberal provisions or rates and ex- emptions as enacted by the last Gen eral Assembly. Reasonable and I made to restore the revenue to com pare to that Of 1911 and 1912 In order that this law may be ad-
 ninistered in a. business-nk and uniform manner, it is desirable thar all valuation of shares of stock ana choses in action belonging to the es- tates of decedents be placed under the Jurisdiction of one state official, naturally the tax commissioner
 There are in the state, one hundred T. tkl.a have Jurisdiction relative to inherf- tance tax appraisaIs. It is natural that with them suggestions as to val nations of shares of stock, etc, Of close corporations should be accepted from those intimately interested. While the state treasurer has the power to require a new appraisal, the results to the state cannot be so sat isfactory under such a system as un- der one which required all the ap- praisals of intangible property to be made by one state official. This l Massachusetts, New York, and sew eral other states.
 I recommend that the tax commits sioner be required to value all in- 1 tangible property of estates of de- cedents which are subject to an in- procedure would be a desirable re- I lief to the judges of our probate courts. and would insure uniformity Of valuations, and result in valuable ieumulative. information and a sub- stantially increased revenue to the Estate from this source.
 State Revenue.
 I Since 1908, during period of six l years, there has been an increase soi over ten million dollars, or 1899 per cent. in the net indebtedness of the
 state. There has been an increase of lover six million dollars, or 124 per 5i cent. since 1912 A continuation of sl this procedure should be considered I by the representatives, of the state as I .l,abso1uteIy impossible. Either the ex- pendttures of the different depart nents must be radically curtaiIed, Or the income of the state must be largely supplemented.
 l Assuming that many desirable I economies in the expenditures can and will be made, nevertheless even the reasonable demands on the state treasury make an increase in our an- nual income seem absolutely es- l sentiaL
 While this can be accomplished by
 a larger state tax, it is not fair to the i small property owner on whom this
 burden fals most heavily to make a consid derable Increase in this particI-
 lar when there are means and sources of income i'm the state which I are not contributing in proportions to
 their ability, as based upon the value of the property as wei as upon the