The New York herald., 1922-01-05
GOVERNOR CALLS FOR MORE EQUITABLE TAX LAWS

I AN III n ~
water for mill owners on the canal which
NAV be needed for navigation. That
exertion of influence has often been ac-
| companied by some measure OF success.
| At this critical period 1t would not do
| to incur any risk of subordinating navi-
| cation to the needs of power users. II
is estimated that 10000 horsepower can
be developed from the surplus winters OF
the canal 1t would be bettc< In my
judgment. to allow It to run TO waste
than to incur the risk at this time OF
creating any Influence that might mill
| tate against the maximum use OF the
canal for purposes Of navigation.
IF the State can lease surplus water
to advantage can perceive no reason
why it cannot sell at the bus bar any
! power that 1t may develop. BY that
means alone can the available power be
developed without incurring great risk OF
subjecting the use of canal waters to
influences that might prove detrimental
to navigation.
"The canal is public enterprise. con-
structed and maintained by the State. /
am unable to perceive why the State
should not complete it's undertaking and
develop the byproduct of its navigation
project.
1.-THE complete public development Of
tho States property. already partly de-
veloped should arouse no misgivings in
any quarter. If that be the logical course
| to pursue.
IT am advised that at visschers Ferry
and Crescent Dam 10000 continuous
| horse power may be developed, with a
| maximum Of 16. 900 horse power, by the
installation of suitable power plants. I
do not think that power should be al
lowed to go to waste any longer That
| is the obvious place to begin the devel-
| opment of the surplus waters Of the
canal. Private development involves the
risk that the needs of navigation may
be subordinated to selfish interest.
1.-THE other alternative is for the State
to complete what 1t has begun.
II therefore recommend the passage
of an act authorizing the Superintendent
Of Public Works to develop the use for
power purposes Of the surplus waters
of the canal where practicable, such
power to be sold at public letting, and
I recommend an appropriation Of $1000,-
600 to start at once the development at
Crescent Dam and Visschers Ferry.
For an Equitable Tax.
with the task Of reducing tho ex-
penditures Of the State government to a
point where its revenues may be ex-
pected to keep pace with its expenIi-
lures nearing completion. we should now
seriously address ourselves to the prob
lem of removing the Inequalities and IN
justices of our tax laws by a careful
revision of them. This Is a task which
must be approached with caution and
worked out by degrees SO as to produce
no serious arrangement Of the States
revenues. A committee of the Legisla-
ture and the Tax Commission have been
carefully considering this subject during
the past year. The committee Is about
to report to the LEGISLATURE That re-
port shows that the subject has been
comprehensively. intelligently and dccare-
fully studied. 1t may not be practicab bic
at this session to act upon all of the
recommendations of the committee, and,
indeed. in dealing with subject Of such
Importance 1t will be wise to give am
pie time for the most thorough consid-
Grafton. We are not confronted with
the necessities Of seeking new revenues.
The construction OF a just and equitable
tax system is our problem. The report
paves the way for such q piece of con-
structive work. which trust will be ac-
compllshed as soon as the subject has
portance and intricacy demand.
although the direct State tax. was re-
duced this year $12,SO2 1854. there was
in many counties little net reduction in
taxation and In some counties there
were actual increases, the saving eff
fected by the State administration be-
ing thus in whole or In part absorbed
by the increased cost of local govern
ments. The great burden from direct
tax resting upon real estate results from
the cost Of local, county. town and
municipal governments and that cost
has been increasing at a time when it
has been demonstrated to be practicable
to reduce the cost of government. The
demand for change in methods of
local administration bed to the adoption
of constitutional amendment at the
last election relating to only two coun-
ties in tho State. 1t may be that the
need was greatest in those two counties
because of developments incident to
their proximity to the city OF New York.
but have no doubt that there Is como
need, though possibly Of varying degree,
In every county in the State. / recon-
mend that provision be made for an
inquiry into the causes OF the excessive
cost OF local governments and the REM
edies therefor. The joint committee on
taxation Is we'll organized to conduct
such an inquiry.
N. Y. Charter Commission.
"Tbs New York Charter Commission
recently appointed by me Is now en-
gagged in the work of revising the char