The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-10

| tilt JULIUS lSSutu tHcSt enterprises,
II has become necessary to reeort
again this year to a direct tax.
But even now only about 10 per
cent. OF the total amount raised il
realized in this way. How then does
| the State get it's money? Well, II
comes from all manner OF special tax
alton which the ordinary man never
feels The largest source OF income
Is from corporations. which in recent
years has netted about $4,000, 900 an
nually, but which. this year. 80 far
has aggregated $4,000. 900.
The tax on inheritances yields about
S14, ZOO, 900, and experts declare II 10
be the most scientific ever devised.
During the last three years approx
mately s12,00o.000 was secured from
the estates of four multlmillionaires
One OF the most productive and least
costly of the 40 called indirect sources
Of revenue has to do with the tax on
stock transfers, and since It's enact
ment in 1905 has produced over
$50. oO0, 900.
The tax on the liquor business now
nets about $12.000O0 annually, and
although the number OF licenses is
sued has been reduced from $4,000
to 10000 this year, the revenue from
this source will not he reduced he
cause of the so-called volume tax that
Is, the tax imposed upon the consump-
ton of liquor over and above a spe-
| cifc amount.
| There are two forms Of state taxes
\ which are in the nature of exemption
taxes. that is. by paying certain
amount OF tax to the State it is pos
sible TO avoid the payment of larger
tax at home. AS a matter OF fact,
| however, the net result Is that the
State gets about $2,50000O income in
this way which never would be paid
as taxes anywhere else. These two
unusual forms of taxation are the
mortgage recording and the invest
ment taxes. which last year netted the
| State about 100000.
The States share of the tax on mo
tor vehicles last year aggregated
81. 1000 This amount represents
half the sum collected. the remaining
portion going to the communities. So
far this year over 81 ,000. 900 has been
collected, and under the law all the
money is set aside for highway main
tenance either by the State directly
or by the various counties.
| Another source OF considerable in
come Is the so-called organization tax
upon corporations. which SO far this
year has Melted over $1,000 900.
! Moneys of the State deposited with
the banks earn an interest OF about
100000 annually. The State makes
examinations Of banks and insurance
companies for the protection OF de
positors and policy holders, and such
institutions must reimburse tho state
for the expense. which totalled last
year about sl.500,000.
Whenever they are able to do so
relatives OF persons confined in State
institutions must pay the State some
thing for their care, and this yields
about s750.0O0 annually. Last year
automobile owners paid TO the State
$4,000 for violations OF the motor
vehicle law. In addition 70 the reve-
nues above enumerated there is sup
plemented an income from various
other fines. fees and earnings, and 40
far this year approximately s6,000.0Oo
has been received from these miscel-
laneous sources.
Naturally 1t takes a considerable
force OF employees to carry on this
vast amount of work. The Stale has
$1,000 employees and the annual pay
roll amounts to approximately SIS
600 600. Most of these are under civil
service protection and constitute a
permanent machine for carrying on
the states business. Their names SCI
dom get into print, but they are the
really vital element in the conduct Of
affairs. and some OF them have been
so employed for years.
In the above paragraphs some ~
the most important things about thi5
great Empire State have been do
scribed at length. During the last few
years. however. legislation has boon
enacted which has revolutionize TIE
conduct of State government. One -
the most important constructive legiS e.
lativc measures ever introduced has 10
do with the installation by the state
Comptroller of a systematic plan &C
central purchasing OF department suI
plies. enabling the State to save nj, e
ions OF dollars annually.
Another example of administratiyN
efficiency is shown through the ef'ec-
tive organization known as the state
troopers, and so far this institute
has firmly established itself as an in
portant factor in the police prOtcC'iN o.
service Of the State. So much for so'uN
things of Importance about this grca
CommonWea lth, but the real glory a.
the present hour is her loyalty a 'o'-
atty that has never failed when ~"
- 1t. Fa., "A