Evening star., 1940-02-13
New Workers Hold
Marathon Hearing
On Taxes and Budget
Special Troins Beur Port
Of 800 Witnesses
To l3-Hour Herring
BY the Associated Press.


ALBANY, N. Y, Feb. ia long
day Of democracy in government,
typifled by modern, streamlined
pressure groups, finally ended early
this morning with New York law
makers just about as muddled as
ever on the subject of taxes and
spending.
Weary and hoarse, Abbot Low
Moffat, Republican chairman of the
Assembly Ways and Means Com
mittee, banged a final gavel at /
am. ending a 13-hour marathon
Of protests and praise directed at
Democratic Gov. Herbert H. Leh-
mans proposed 1896, ZOO 900 budget.
Some 40 sleepy persons, at that
hour, were SO scattered about big
drill hall in an Albany armory,
where earlier $500 self described
tax payers sat and 500 more stood,
awaiting opportunity to talk about
taxes.
Invited by Legislature.
They had gathered, on invitation
OF the Legislature, to outline their
views on the budget, and especially
on a proposed $4,000 900 income tax
boost, affecting the upper middle in
come classes.
The legislators, who huddled in
front of a loud d-speaker on one side
OF the big hall, knew what to expect.
They had been bombarded for weeks
with mimeographed statements and
press releases from hundreds of or
ganizations and thousands of in
dividuals.
The New York lawmakers had been
similarly under fire before. Last
year. facing similar predicament,
the Republican legislative majority
tossed in the sponge and slashed
$26 100000 from the chief execu-
tive's budget.
Before the meeting many legisla-
tors said privately they considered
the increased income tax proposal
dead. After the hearing they said
so publicly. A ma ajority reserved COM
ment. Democracy had had its day.
Special Trains Arrive.
Yesterdays fireworks started early
when special trains began discharg-
ing thousands Of well-instructed
tax-conscious citizens at an Al
bany railway station. The delega-
tions. carrying banners and shout
ing greetings, paraded through the
downtown district to the armory.
The larger of the delegations. such
as $500 representatives of the State,
County and Municipal Workers Of
America &C. I. o. and 1,400 mem
bers of the State Federation of
Teachers Union, stole the marching
show. They were better drilled, bet
ter instructed and were loud in sup
port OF the proposed taxing and
spending.
Most Of them never got inside the
armory, where space was reserved
for a limited number of delegates
from each of the 829 protesting or
supporting groups A majority of
actual speakers opposed the budget
plan. ... -.
Believes Tax Measure Dead.
When the hearing finally con-
cluded, white-haired Senator George
Thompson, chairman of the SEN
ate, Finance Committee, and veteran
of many similar. though not SO pre-,
tentious hearings said the increased
income "tax is definitely dead and
a reduction seems certain. I don't
see how we can do anything else
after all this pressure.
Just how a reduction can be made
was matter Of conjecture and ap-
peared likely to become the subject
of lengthy conferences threatening
hopes of a mid-March adjournment.
Willingness to renew discussions on
the fiscal program. which if adopted
as drafted would be second highest
in the State, has been voiced by both
Gov. Lehman and Republican legis-
lative chieftains.
Legislators said privately, however,
little consideration would be given
to modification of the stock transfer
tax, despite an assertion by William
McC. Martin, IT,, president Of the
New York State Stock Exchange,
that mot only is our securities
business being diverted to other
States, but the State is being de-
pEived of revenue which 1t otherwise
would receive were the stock trans
fer tax modified realistically"