New-York tribune., 1922-03-11
State to Reduce
Total Direct Tax
BY Sl4,OOO,OOO
Legislative Leaders Decide
on Mill Cut: Slash Made
Possible by 1921 Saving
and Lowering of Budget
Straus Has New Food Bill!
Charges Milk and Butter of
TubercuIar Cows Are Fed
Soldiers Homes Inmates
Fron, q stao Corresrondent


ALBANY, March I0-At a confer
snce of legislative leaders to-day it
pas decided to reduce the direct tax
this year by one mill This means a
reduction in the amount of taxes OF
approximately $4,000 ,ooo.
The original intention Of the lead
ers was TO reduce the direct tax one
and one-half mills, but this was found
impossible when the Davenport com
m N'ttee's recommendation to enact a
per cent tax on unincorporated busi-
ness was rejected by the leaders. They
announced that this bill, which would
have raised close to $s,000.000 in new
taxes. could go over another year.
How Saving Is Accomplished
The reduction IN the direct tax this
year is made possible because of saw
ags effected in last years appropria-
sions and tho $9,000,o00 SLASH in this
years budget. Last years direct tax
vas 81 mills. the greater portion of
the revenues raised being used to carry
out the states obligation of $22 .50o,-
o09 for increases in teachers salaries.
Tins sum VIII be taken from the sur
plus IN the state treasury.
senator Nathan Straus jr, of New
York. to-day offered bill appropriate
ing S5.oo0.000 for the prompt and adc-
quate indemnihcation Of owners of con
demnod tubercular cows.
Emphasizing the need of his meas
ure. and as showing 30 what extent the
state itself is negligent in eradicating
bovine tuberculosis, Senator Straus
charged that the Old Soldiers Home,
ut Bath. and the Women's Relief Corps
Home. at Oxford. where the wives and
widows Of the old soldiers who fought
ION tAis country are housed by the
state. are supplied with milk and but
ter from cows infected with tubercu-
losis.
Senator Clayton R. Lusk, majority
leader. demanded the source of his in
formation, saying that he questioned
the truth Of the charges.
Hewitt Told of Infected Food
Before Senator Straus could reply,
Senator Charles j. Hewitt chairman Of
the senate Finance Committee, said
lie had never heard that the inmates
of the Old Soldiers Home had been fed
butter and milk from tubercular cattle
but he had heard that the inmates Of
the Women Relief Corps Home at Ok
ford mad milk and butter from tubercu-
lar cattle.
senator Straus said that his source
ol information was reliable. but that
Ae did not feel at liberty to disclose it.
But continued Senator Straus, al
have been Informed that members OF q
Legislative Investigating committee
which visited these two homes main
NED by the state were warned by the
ate ndants not to touch any OF the
rjli. and butter served to the old SOL
d'e's and TO the women. because it was
from tubercular cattle"
Senator Straus also introduced bill
approuriating 100000 to establish a
chain o. public markets in first and
second class cities The measure pro
Vides that no profit shall be earned by
those markets beyond the margin re
ou'red TO defray operating expenses.
This bill" he said, would bridge the
gap that separates producer from CON
sumer and so bring about that close
co-ope ration between them that is
necessary 70 make the products of the
former available under the most fav-
orable conditions for the we'll being
OF tho latter"
Another bill introduced by him au-
tnorlzos the state to condemn every
tabercular carcass. 1t also provides
for the inspection of abattors and all
places where animals are slaughtered
Tor food purposes.
Senator Schuyler NJ. Meyer, of New
ork. introduced . bill prohibiting
members Of the police. re and street
cleaning departments of all cities from
soliciting funds
This bill is intended to stop the
practice by the uniformed forces, par
ticularly the police, of selling tickets
and soliciting funds for such purposes
as the police games said Senator
Never.
Under Commissioner Enright the
method of selling tickets has been a
great annoyance to the public and to
the conscientious members of the force
itself 1t has led to grave abuses. The
pollce have raised for various benefits
since 1918 approximately s1.661 900
j4e Arch Of Freedom Fund drew in
over 100000, but nobody seems to
Ano" much about it. In 1918 there
was collected by the police, allegedly
1or the purchase of uniforms for the
reserves, many thousands of dollars.
Inc reported receipts were 1914 600.
out there has never been any proper
aCCOuntlDcr