New-York tribune., 1921-02-01
Bill Provides
A1vl,ree-Headed
State Tax Board
Measure introduced in Both
Houses a. Albany Hess
C1ese TO Lime of Plans
as Outlined by Covernor
Aims 10 Cut Expenses
Auso Levy Would BE Taken
From Secretary Of Ssate
Home Rule Fight Started
From a ssar corYespsadsst

FT7sH q ss0T S8fF 0&T4A3eftE
ALBANY, Jan. si.~-Ia line with rec.
concentrations made BY Governor Mil-
ler for the reorganization Of the stasess
tax collecting system She joint iesis-
lasive Committee on Taxation and ms-
srenchmeme tonight introduced q bisl|
providing new machinery for shs gath.
erins Of the states revenue.
4 While the measure in She rnafn car
lies out the Governors recommendass
zion, it departs From the Governors
plan to the extent that it preserihee
three-headed tax commission, instead
of single cosnmisRiaasr, and makes
no provision for q tax board as srsx.
eested by the Governor. Rnt, even Ia
this respect the proposed law hews
closs to the line drawn by Governor
Miller in that it vesaa with 4hs prss;c'
dent of the commission sole executive
administrative charge OF the depart
ment.
Present Board Ahelishea
The bill sbolishes the present tar
commission and transfers this power
vested in this body to the nsw conrnis-
sion. IL also transfers 10 it eli che tan
collecting powers now exercised by the
Secretary Of State and the State Comp
roller. From the latter 1t takes COL
lection of the state income tax, the
transfer tax bureau and the stock
transfer tax bureau, while the Seers-
tary of State would surrender super
vision over the collection Of automobile
licenses and chaufgeurs' fees.
The measure does not attempt to
make any detailed changes in the ad-
ministration of the varieus bureaus. as
another bill dealing with this psrtios-
lar feature is to be introduced ia the
near future. This second bill will deal
with the reorganization of the methods
of tax collection, including especially
the Inheritance tax. ID. also Ia likely
that the bill viii suggest SEINE way by
which local officers would take ovsr
some of the functions now exercised BY
the Secretary of State with reference
to motor vehicles, particularly the
revocation of chaufeuEss lie censts. II
The plan for the new tax commis-
sion prescribes that the president of
the commissio shall receive $4,000 a
year and the other two commissioners
5000 each. sss
The president of Che commission In
given aosoiute controi OF the adminis-
sration of the department, including
the appointment of ali subordinate Of
fcers and employees and the establish
Sra nf Hfuis Nd gforrsso q ~ a
other two comm issioners will Be re-
quired to sit with the administrative
commissioner as body In disshsrgin9
the strictly judicial functions Of the
department..
when they are net 80 engaged the
president may assign them to perform
other duties in connection with the
werk of the eoMmission. The bill ex-
pressly provides that only persona who
are recognized as tax experts can be
appointed to ths commission. They are
10 be named by the Governor, subject
TO the approval Of the Senate. No
stipulation is made as 20 the political
makeup OF the coKamission. All three
commissioners may be either Republi-
cans or Democrats.
Many Jobs abolished
The bill paves the waK for refnoyiRg
from the Offices Of the Secretary OF
State and State Comptroller the great
powers and extensive patronage which
In the past have aided incnmbents Of
these Offices in their questa fcf che
Governorship. If the plan as carried
through without amendments Il will
mean that the Secretary Of States Of
fice will be deprived Of nearly all auto
mobile law enforcement snd that the
Comptroller will become largely an
auditing officer.
The reorganization plan Will be felt
probably will carry with II the aboii-
ticn of offices OF inheritanca appraiser
and attorney, jobs much sought ey lsw-
yers with political backing and upon
which the state expends moro than
ST00, 900 year.
The bill presenting the extension tax
collecting xeorganiz@tiem pragrAm will
be introduced in about two weeks by
the committee, of which Sen&tor Fred
erick Nj. Davenport. Of Oneida. is chair
man, and Assembiyman FrAnklin Jud-
son, OF Monroe, is vice-ehairlnan.
Senator James J. Walker, minority
leader, introduced bill calling for the
abolition OF the Offices OF Transfer Tax
Appraiser. Under the provisions OF athe
measure, the work now being dome BIZ
these appraisers would be performed
by clerks named by the state tAx COM
mission.
Senator Walker also reintrodueeS his
concurrent resolution OF last year, pro-
viding fer home rule In cities. The
measure would prohibit tha Legislature
from passing laws relating 20 the prop
erty, affairs of municipal government
q any city, accepting such as appfica-
hle TO all the cities in the state with
cut classification or distincticn.
The introduction Of the resolution at
this particular time is regarded as a
reply to Governor Millarss views on
htme rule as expresssd In his special
message ON che sransit situation. The
proposal was drafted last year.
resolution was introduced by Gena-
toi James l.. Whitley. of Rochester.
nemorialixins CongreAs TO change shs
G este OF Thanksgiving Day frcm tbs last
Insrsday In November to November H.
armistice Dsy The resolution VISA se-
1errea to the finance committee.
Alleged Bandit Caught
W. ~ "a ET-NA "