The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-11
LAW TO DECIDE TAX
FIGHT, MAYOR HINTS
Says Way May Be Found TO
Test City's Right 10 High
way Money.
AID OF LABOR PLEDGED

There may be No doubt about the
eagerncss OF the people Of this city to
have their Legislators vote In Albany for
the relief programme which offers a
thirty-one point reduction in the tax
rate, but only 500 Of th.m attested their
zeal by attending a we'll advertised mass
meeting In Carnegie Hail last night. ar
ranged by the Tax Reduction Committee.
speaker.
Whole hearted applause greeted the
Mayor. George Gordon Battle, Martin W.
Littleton and the other speakers as they
pictured the burden thrust upon the
shoulders OF Father Knickcrbocker by
Legislatures of tho past and urged the
imperative need OF concerted action by
New Workers.
THE press is united the Mayor said,
"our representatives at Albany are united
on at least a greater part of the relief pro-
rramme and the citizens must show that
they're united too. No matter more vital
to the city could bt presented than We
are presenting tonight. yet this hall is
anything but filled. This is a fight OF
the people. not particularly Of the city
government. IL the people want to viii
they've got TO get In and help. IT theyrt
not Interested enough to do this. and
they don get what they wanta at Albany
they will have only tn. mselves TO thank
! decline TO accept the responsibility
Heavy Burden on tity.
We've been carrying an unfair load
lille building u own subwayS w
have also been constructing ocal roads
IN the upper part of the state. Whil'
building the catskill water system, tn
greatest in the world. We have also heei
strengthening t-ds Of upstate creek
and dredging hshponds in local com
munities.
I'VE OF the city administration are !,
this Fight with clean bands W. have
done all we can 10 clean our own nous
and put the brake on city expenditure
We have performed the task TO which W
We're dedicated w1nsn We came into ONO.
The FIRST thing We ask is that M
state tax ie levied this year. The GOV
crnor and the Comptroller nave admitted
thai &, will not be necessary. VI ther
tx no Sttvt ttN NbuT CITY I'm raw WI
be Ia, points lower next yea than This
Il believe the Constitution has bee
violated whe! the Legislature refuse
tn give New York city a share Of IN
state hishwaSs provided for by bon,
issues. The state Acknowledgement say
we have no RICH, 10 any q: the high
way money, but At the game tim. h
refuses to allow us To test the matte
IN the courts. n, as he says, We hat
no rights. what harm could come fror
"A legal determination of the question
Perhaps we'll And a way TO get int
our after all"
II the Legislature granted all IN
city ard The TAN Reduction Commute
ask the city would save $4,000, 600
year. the Mayor said, which would mea
lowering the tax. rate 81 points
To Fight for Relief.
We are entitled to all OF IT," he sait
II We can't get all. We'll ash f.
jus; as muci as We can get, =
that relief will come when We need
most. But remember that every it.l
dropped out OF the eight bills tina, Al
before the LEGISLATURE means that niue
OF "a failure TO lower your taxes.
George Gordon Battle, who preside
said that the grievance OF the city ".
not a rich mans or a poor mans grie'
auce l.. affected every man. womau {
' child WHO buys anything in New Yof
city. The city expected 10 pay It's ow
bills. he said, and It's just share of II
states bills. but i objected TO anythii
more.
Peter j. BRADY OF the Allied Printii
Trades promised that union labor 'wouI
do it, utmost 20 put his program
through
Adoiph Bloch spoke for the real estd
men. and Mr.. I.lttle;oH voiced a eenci
appeal. Among Others N the platfor
were Jacob II. Schiff. Senator Robert
Wagner and Laurence NJ II. McCiuir
president OF the Real Estate BOARD.