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Governor and Franchise Tax Bill 733

Franchises of late have been costly privileges to secure. Some companies have stooped to some dishonorable methods to secure them at much less than their real worth. It was the bribery connected with the franchise for the former Broadway horse car line in New York City that landed Jacob Sharp in jail.

Without this franchise, or permission to make use of the city property, the gas, car, electric light, power, and various other companies could not earn the enormous amounts of money they do, and it was thought that these same companies ought to pay a larger share toward the maintenance of the city. It was therefore decided to impose a tax on all franchises, and a bill to this end was passed.

When the bill reached the Governor, however, he was not satisfied with it. He thought there should be only one regular rate of taxation for franchises. throughout the State, and for this reason refused to sign the Ford Bill, which provided that the taxes should be fixed by the various towns which had granted the franchises. The bill seemed such a good one to him that he was unwilling to discard it altogether, so he called an extra session of the Legislature to reconstruct the measure.

The Extra Session was called for Monday, May 22, and on the assembling of the members of the Legislalature the Governor sent to them a copy of his message. In this message he recommended that certain amendments should be made, notably the one providing for the assessing of the taxes; this he wished to put in the hands of the State Tax Commission. He thought there should be another amendment providing that

the bill should go into operation October 1, and that all other taxes now paid by the holders of the franchises should be massed together into the main issue.

After the Governor's message had been read, the matter was referred to the State Senate Committee on Taxation, which on May 23 gave out the bill which they had prepared as a substitute for the Ford Bill.

The new measure is framed on the suggestions made by the Governor. The amended bill was introduced into both houses May 24, and will be passed without delay. This measure will yield a large income for the public benefit.

(May 29, 1899)

The Mazet Committee and Commissioner Hess. The work of the Mazet Committee is progressing. In investigating the Police Department some very sensational matters were brought to light.

Mr. Jacob Hess, one of the Police Commissioners appointed under the Van Wyck rule, stated on the witness stand that he had voted for the dismissal of Chief of Police McCullagh because he wanted to keep his position, and had been given to understand that if he voted in favor of McCullagh, he (Hess) would be turned out of his office.

Captain McCullagh was a very excellent police officer, who did his best to keep down vice and wickedness, and forced the people to obey the laws of the State. When Tammany came into power the party obtained many votes by promising to allow the

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police to shut their eyes to gambling and drinking on Sunday, and so forth. It is asserted that Captain McCullagh would not permit this, and so he was removed and Captain Devery placed at the head of the force in his stead.

The statement of Commissioner Hess caused a great sensation, for it seemed to prove the truth of all the bad things that had been alleged against Tammany rule.

Mayor Van Wyck was called to the witness stand during the course of the proceedings, and became very angry at some of the questions which were asked him.

It is difficult to say what will be the results of the investigation. It has been proved that wrong exists and that men are deliberately taking the city's money, and have accepted the solemn trust of the city government for the sake of what they can make out of it for themselves.

Should the Tammanyites be removed, we have no positive assurance that their successors would be a particle more upright. Until men of higher education and principle go into politics and make it a profession instead of a business, we shall be exposed to the risk of a constant recurrence of such scandals as those which are now being brought to light by the Mazet Committee. Thus far the only result of the inquiry has been the partial closing of gambling rooms throughout the city, and a stricter attention to businers on the part of the police. But other results may br looked for later.

(May 31, 1899)

The Dreyfus Case.-A despatch from Paris, dated May 24, stated that the President of the Civil Division of the Court of Cassation had sent in his report on the Dreyfus matter, and declared that a revision of this celebrated case should be granted. He added, however, that if a demand had been made to free Dreyfus on the ground that he had been unjustly convicted, the Court would have felt obliged to deny it.

The findings of the Civil Division have been submitted to the President of the whole Court of Cassation, and his decision will be given in a day or two, probably on June 1.

The Figaro has continued to make public the evidence before the Court of Cassation, and has called attention to the various frauds that were perpetrated for the purpose of fixing the guilt on the unfortunate Alfred Dreyfus.

Colonel Picquart appealed to the Court of Cassation, begging that he be set at liberty, and drawing attention to the fact that the crime of which he is accused and for which he is imprisoned, that of communicating state secrets and forging state documents, was not fastened on him until, through his work in the bureau, he had discovered that Esterhazy had written the famous bordereau, and that Dreyfus was not the man referred to in the secret paper of which so much was made. When the Zola trial came on, Colonel Picquart was asked what evidence he intended to give. He said that he would tell the truth, and he alleged that two false witnesses were immediately procured

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who made the accusations against him, which defeated his testimony and led to his arrest.

The "Reina Mercedes" Safe in Port.-The Reina Mercedes arrived safely at Hampton Roads May 21. It is said that she shows few signs of the siege through which she has passed. The damage to her is very slight, and except for the loss of two topmasts, a patch on her side, and some rusty spots, no one would suppose she had been in battle and lain for months under the waves. The Merritt & Chapman Wrecking Company are very proud of their success in raising her.

The Payment of the Cuban Troops.-An agreement having been reached with General Gomez, the payment of the Cuban troops will commence on Saturday, May 27. The arms are to be delivered to the civil governors or the mayors of each district, and will be collected and stored in Havana and Santiago under the care of armorers who are ex-Cuban soldiers.

The Case of the Seventy-first Regiment.An effort is being made by Major Clinton H. Smith, of the Seventy-first Regiment, National Guard of the State of New York, to restrain the board appointed by Governor Roosevelt from enquiring into his character and fitness for service, and the Major also demands that he shall be restored to duty with his regiment,

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