Addresses and Proceedings (Volume 7)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 edition. Excerpt: ...the raising of additional revenue and the introduction of a more just and equitable distribution of tax burdens. These two are bound up together: the revenue necessary to meet the constantly increasing expenditures of State and local governments cannot be raised under existing laws without increasing the already heavy burdens on real estate and on such personal property as does not escape the general property tax. The need of new revenue, the failure and injustice of the general property tax and the disproportionately heavy burdens to which real estate is subject have been pointed out clearly and fully in the report of the Joint Legislative Committee on Taxation, of which the president of this association is chairman, made to the Legislature February 14, 1916, and in the report of the Committee on Taxation of the City of New York, made to Mayor Mitchel January 5, 1916. Three plans have been under consideration to meet these requirements: (1) An ability, or presumptive income, tax; (2) a classified personal property tax; and (3) an income tax. The first, the ability, or presumptive income, tax was given especially careful consideration by the Committee on Taxation of the City of New York. It was recommended by that committee as an alternative for the City of New York in case a State income tax should prove not practicable. Composed as it is of habitation tax based on residence rentals, an occupation tax based on business rentals and a salaries tax, it is primarily an urban tax, difficult, if not impossible, of application with any degree of uniformity throughout the State. Furthermore, it is on its face a mere indirect means of reaching external indicia of income, to be resorted to only where income itself cannot be reached. The second plan, that...