The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-02-06
Legislative Experts Struggle
With Plan to Save Million
to State.
MOTOR LAWS PROBLEM
Enforcement and Collection Of
Taxes May Go to New
Agencies.
Special Despatch 10 THE NEW YosK HEaaLn.
Now York Herald Bureau.
Albany. Feb. q.

Now York Herald Bureau.
Albany, Feb. ,.
The taxation committees OF the two
houses of the Legislature are now work
ing out details of the plan for saving
the 100000 which Gov. Miller said
should be accomplished by reorganiza-
ton of the Tax Department and con-
solicitation of all the tax collection
agencies of the State. The legislation
transferring these agencies to the Tax
Department already is before the Legis-
lature, but the committees are finding
the drafting Of the bill providing for
their future administration a difficult
task.
The Governors million dollar economy
will be effected in this measure through
having one force collect the automobile.
corporation and income taxes. The work
is now done by separate organizations.
1t Is planned to have the automobile tax
collected in December instead of Feb
ruary. The same force could then be
used to d large extent for the collection
of the income tax in March and of the
business corporation tax in July. An
other big saving is anticipated by the
combining of the various income tax and
automobile bureaus now scattered
throughout the State. For instance,
where both these agencies have bureaus
in one city they would be put in the
same Office and under one head.
Ends Fee System. v
The stock and mortgage transfer taxes
under the unified system will be col
lected much the same as they are now,
but the inheritance tax will undoubtedly
be collected by the Surrogates Of the va
rious counties. The inheritance tax at
torneys and appraisers, who now gather
it under fee system and who form one
of the chief patronage props of county
political organizations. will be done away
with.
Tho main difficulty which the tax
committees are meeting in carrying out
the tax plan of the Governor is provid-
ing for the enforcement of the automo-
bile law. That duty as well as the col
lection of the automobile taxes now
deyolves upon the automobile bureau in
the Secretary OF States office. When
the bureau is transferred to the Tax
Department II may be relieved of many
of the enforcement responsibilities A
plan Is being discussed by the legisla-
tive leaders for turning them over, to the
police officials of the various cities and
counties of the State. to put the dis
tribution Of the automobile number
plates up to the county clerks. The
latter suggestion, 1t is held, will prove a
great convenience to Automobiles living
in outlying sections of the State, who
now have to travel long distances to a
branch bureau for their number plates.
For Local Endorsements. ,ss.
Under the proposed plan the enforce
ment of the operators examination and
license law would be put up to the local
authorities. This law is in effect in New
York city, and the Legislature this year
is expected to extend 1t to the entire
State. The New York State Automobile
Association Is unanimously backing such
a measure. while other automobile or
ganizations are about evenly divided on
the question. The measure Is sought to
drive reckless and Incompetent operators
off the highways They are held mainly
responsible for the increasing number of
deaths from automobile accidents - :. !
The legislative tax committees have
not yet worked out any bill for increas-
ing the motor vehicle tax. as recon-
mended by Gov Miller. who held that
the assessment on motorists should at
least pay for the maintenance of the
highways. Automobile organizations
generally are opposed to any increase.
They declare that II an additional levy
Is to be placed on motor vehicles It
should be imposed on business trucks.
They contend that these heavy machines
DO the greatest damage to the highways
and are not paying their share of the
upkeep.