The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-20
TAXES ON BUSINESS
URGED FOR THE CITY
Mayors Committee Hears
More Arguments for Relief
of Real Estate.
CHANCE AT JAMAICA BAY
Municipal Property Of 1000
Acres Could Be Filled In
and Produce Revenue.

The Mayors Committee on Taxation
heard many suggestions on how other
sources of revenue might be found
TO Lessen the tax on real estate at
the adjourned public hearing yesterday
afternoon In the Aldermanic Chamber
Of City Hall. City and State officials
and men prominent in the real estate
field and business world expressed
their views.
All were agreed that a united et-
fort should be put behind a bill drawn
to meet the Views of the majority
Aside from the proposal to impose
an income tax, the idea Of new sources
OF revenue included the levying OF
assessments upon business and pro-
LESSONS, and upon such businesses In
particular as derive large benefits
from the maintenance by the city OF
its various departments.
Henry A. Meyer. Second Deputy
Dock Commissioner, who said he had
been developing unproductive lands
for twenty-five years, elaborated on
the great marsh lands bordering ia
maica Bay. He said that the $500
acres of reclaimable land for Avenue
L to Barren Island, OF which the city
owned 1000. could be made to return
a revenue equally as great as mas
been returned to private developers
He explained that the problem OF the
city's ash removal would be solved
by dumping the ashes on these lands.
He told Of the development Of Man
haitian Beach, which in 1908, he said.
was assessed at S1,4oo,ooo and for
1919 is S4,336,S00.
New Source of City Revenue.
This, Commissioner Meyer explained
would be an entirely new source OF
revenue. He added that in the fve
wards bordering Jamaica Bay. 20,263
buildings, costing Sl2o,564,so5, were
erected from 1910 10 1917. The
Fourth and Fifth wards OF Queens,
which also touch these shores, he said.
showed even more substantial growth.
necessary legislation to carry out this
project had been passed ten years
ago, when the State presented the
city with thousands of acres, which
were to be reclaimed in connection
with the Federal Governments plan
to build channels through the bay
Mayor Hylan explained that because
the previous administration had
changed the lire OF the channel the
Federal Government would not agree
TO pay for the reclamation and that
this matter would have to be settled
before any progress could be made.
What the city has done" said
Mayor Hylan. lis TO find out Just what
lands it owns. 1t does not purpose
to fill in land or dredge channels
and then be convinced later that it has
been developing land for private in
terests. We must get the approval
OF the Federal Government before
proceeding or replace the Jamaica Bay
line to the point from which it was
removed"
During the discussion particular
stress was laid on the practice Of
wealthy persons who choose 70 live
where the tax rates are lowest and to
claim exemption from New York city
rates on the ground OF being non
residents while enjoying all the BEN
efits and privileges Of the city. The
remedy suggested for this was an
equalization OF tax rates in all coun-
ties throughout the State and cooper
alton with neighboring States.
Limit Reached Travis Contends.
Eugene NJ. Travis, State Comptrol-
Ter, reviewed the reasons for the in
crease in taxation and admitted that
the condition has been reached where
real property cannot we'll stand a
further advance. He explained that
the expense of all forms OF govern
ment had gone up because the pop
ulation has increased: the people are
demanding more and better govern
mental service; the war has imposed
additional expenses, and the undefin-
able something known as the upward
trend in the cost OF government He
continued:
1T in your cities you are TO have
additional streets. sewers, parks, recre-
alton centres. child welfare stations
and better educational facilities and
libraries, those who pay tho taxes
must foot the bills. Unless the people
are willing To be content with less
governmental service We cannot hone
to relieve property subject to general
property taxation from any OF its
burdens unless we succeed in formu-
lating a taxing policy which will dis
tribute the load more equitably"
On the mortgage tax law Comptrol-
Ter Travis said the revenue received
from the recording tax cost too much
70 obtain and he intimated that n
change might be good. He suggested
a tax that would exempt the mortgage
for given period and II not paid In
the time set a moderate annual levy
be invoked or the obligations be
classed as an investment and taxed at
investment rates.
Other speakers included Stewart
Browne, president OF tho United Real
Estate Owners Association. Samuel
Strasburger, formerly State Tax Com
missioner; Walter j. solomon, presi-
dent of the Forty second Street Realty
Association, and Hugh Gordon Miller,
a lawyer.