The New York herald., 1922-04-02
WILL FIGHT WASTE
IN CITIES AND TOWNS
Davenport Legislative Conn
mittee Prepares for Summer
and Fall Activities.
Special Dispatch 10 THE NEW YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Albany. AnriI 1.

Special dispatch 10 THE New YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Albany, April 1.
The Davenport special joint legisla-
tive committee on taxation, whose life
has been extended for another year
will make drive during the coming
summer and fall against extravaganza
in local governments. The committee
discussed this subject in a preliminary
report to the last Legislature, which
gave in detail conditions found in the
city, county and village administrative
affairs, and it hopes 10 be able to pre-
sent to the next Legislature construe-
tive remedial legislation.
| IL has found that In the last ten years
/ the increase in the expense Of running
| local governments has far outstripped
the growth in population and tax re-
sources. The committee, however.
recognizes the great improvements that
have been effected. and the growing
number of legitimate functions that are
undertaken.
| Immense progress has been made in
cities in the last ten years, resulting
/ in greater benefits TO the people, par
| ticularly in recreation and welfare
work, 1t has been found. The commit
4 tee does not criticize city administra-
tions for spending more money for such
improvements. but gives the warning
that the fact that costs are moving
ahead faster than the increase in tax
sources indicates the need of caution.
Tho decrease in purchasing power Of
the dollar is pointed out as another
cause of the rising cost of city govern
ments.
The committee has found that waste
full methods are in practice in many
cities and that through the lack Of bust
nesslike purchasing operations and the
failure 70 establish central purchasing
boards much money is spent uselessly.
Calling particular attention to condi-
tions in New York. the committee de-
| clares that another wasteful practice IS
the paying of interest on temporary
loans, which could be avoided by the
| collection of taxes earlier in the fiscal
year. 1t was estimated that New YORK
city has TO pay out $3.000.000 a year
annually by delaying the collection nf
the first installment of city taxes unti!
the fifth month. The committee men
tions unsound bonding methods and the
large amount OF tax exempt property
as causes for other difficulties from
which local governments are suffering.
The committee in its report TO the
| Legislature gave the following list cf
classes of property exempt from taxa
tion:
Indian reservations, forest lands.
planted and registered; property exempt
by law from execution other than an
exempt homestead property of the
| United States, the State, other than
forests or wild lands, and of municipal
corporations other than property outside
the city limits: real and personal prop
erty of organizations for moral and
mental Improvement, religious, charit-
aln1 taI
benefit and cemetery purposes, when not
operated for profit
Also real estate of religious corpora
tions used for clergymen up to $4,000 +;
property of clergymen up to $500 /:
property Of agricultural societies for eX-
hibition purposes: real property of in
corporated firemen up to $1,000: prop
erty of mutual fire insurance corpora
tions, incorporated before 1S49, in ex-
cess of 100000: personal property of
medical societies. not to exceed $780,
600 in Kings and New York counties
and $4,000 elsewhere. and OF pharma-
ceutical societies. not to exceed 500. 900
in Kings and New York and $4,000 In
other counties.
Also real estate from which no income
| is derived household effects and per-
sonal property up to 1000: vessels
registered in New York and owned by
New York corporations or American
citizens until 1923 property Of plank
road or turnpike corporations outside
Of cities and villages, until surplus and
receipts shall exceed Z per cent. of first
cost; new buildings for dwellings started
before April ]. 1879 may be exempted
| locally until January ], 1928: villages
may exempt property Of volunteer fire.
men up TO $500, and local financial OIL
cials may exempt property OF an acad-
emy of music from local taxation.