New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-19
SEEK NEW WAY
TO REDUCE TAX
Real Estate Men Ask Hear
ings SO Public Can
Offer Suggestions.

Public hearings at which anybody in
terested may make suggestions as to
methods of reducing this years $685.
6l0,794 appropriations, passed by the
Legislature, have been proposed 20
Governor Whitman as one solution OF
the dilemma into which the Governor
has been plunged by the present lack
Of state funds.
The tax reduction committee has sug-
gested the vetoing OF $685. 48 of the
appropriations in order 20 bring the
total more nearly within the amount
available for state purposes. But,
since the public has had no oppor-
tunity to know which Of the items are
necessary and which extravsgances, the
Advisory Council of Real Estate Inter
ests has forwarded letter TO the Gov
ernor Offering public hearings as one
method of reaching fair decision.
In the letter TO the state Executive
the council said:
appropriation bills of the 1915 session
was larger than the amount passed at
the previous session by s14,208, 47123,
and was on the theory that something
like SlO.00O.000 would be needed to
make up for deficiencies sccruing dur
ing the administration of Governor
Glynn. The appropriations passed this
year fell little short of the amounts
voted last year. besides which il is es-
timated there are some S4,000,000 in adj
dition made available by reason Of the
change in the beginning of the fiscal
year from September 80 TO July |.
That although the Governor sub
mtted an appropriation bill on the first
day of the recent session, neither this
bill nor the estimates accompanying 10
were discussed TO any extent in the
Legislature, and no opportunity was
given for members Of the Legislature
publicly TO interrogate the Governor
or the executive officer Of any depart
ment with respect 10 the needs of de-
partments; but the Deputy Controller
and his chief accountant did appear
before the Senate TO answer questions
relative to the state revenue situation.
Therefore, so far as the public is con-
cerned, there is hardly any basis for
Judging whether the Legislature should
have voted the amounts granted or
whether the Governor should veto the
various items of the bills now before
him.
THAT during the time that the Govt
errors bill was IN the hands of the
committee there were approximately
5000 changes made in the amounts re-
auested by the Governor for salaries
end various other charges amounting
TO several millions of dollars, while
these are not clearly explained.
"rhe public has had little opportunity
TO know whether there is justification
for the items that are questioned by
the Tax Reduction Committee, the total
amount of which is Sl3,952,94S. There
fore, we respectfully suggest that the
Governor, in the exercise of his powers
of review. hold public hearings, at
which he may go into these questions
and give TO the public the beneht OF
full and open discussion. To this end,
may we not also suggest that you ask
the Tax Reduction Committee, whlcs
has raised these questions, to
designate someone familiar with the
business of the state. possibly some
member of the opposition in the Legls-
lature. TO act as counsel in the exam
ination of persons who may come be-
fore YOU 10 support the several items
which have been voted and concerning
which the question was raised IN the
petition referred TO "