New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-01
FiGTRFS FOR NEW-JERSEY TAXPAYERS.

I FIGTRFS ron NEU-JERSEY TIX-Pd YERS
The pressure of taxation has become so bur
dcnsomo in New-,Jcrscy that the people have been
aroused to inquire who should be held 20
sponsible for the enormous increase of expenhi-
turr by the State Government The IreaSnrers
rcports have been subjected very generally to
searching scrutiny. and the Republic
cans throughout the State are now able
to quote some figures which ought to
stimulate taxpayers into earnest rcif cton
before they vote next Tuesday. Up to
the year 1870 there no State tax
proper in Nrw-Jersey; the income derived
from assessments upon corporations, from tax
alton of private acts, etc, having sufii"ed TO
meet all current State expenses. But after the
Democrats obtained full control under Gov
erncr Randolph President Robbins, of
the Senate, and Speaker Leon Albeit,
Of the Assembly, there WAS sudden
growth of expenditure, and State fax was for
the first time levied. Since that date, while
the Government has been constantly admins
tered by a ID ,mocrltic Executive. this tax has
increased with startling rapidity. The entire
cost of the administrations Of the Republican
Governors, Newell and Oldcn. covering a
1873, which is less by 100000 than the
expenses of single year under Governor Bedle,
and this without taking into account
some extraordinary ontlays. like the war ac-
count, which would make the comparison much
mere unfavorable. Stating the comparison in
another form, six years of Democratic rule,
from II to '7G inclusive, cost more, by forty
five per cent. than the total expenses of the
State Government for the tweDty-four years
Immediately preceding. OF course there has
been growth Of population. which necessi-
ta;es larger expenditure but making the
comparison on the basis of the population,
If appears that in one year under Governor
Newell the expenses were tUenty-nine cent
per cap, while they were 50 II per cap. under
Governor Dedle.
An examination Of tho details of these ac-
colnis is quito as instructive rs a comparison
of the gros, amounts. In the Treasnrer's re-
port for 1853 there are only eighteen items
under which the expenses are grouped, while
in 1876 there appear sixty-four items, many
Of the new ones being salaries Tor commits
sions and boards which have been created
to assist needy patriots. The significant
item Of Estate House Expenses APP
pears for the frat time in 1865. start
ing or ar the neat sum Of S4.j6S. But
the State House expenses manifested lively
disposition to enlarge Themselves and in seven
years they had developed into $35, 1913. BY
comparing single years under Newell and
Brdlc, it appears that postage has grown from
$3.50 to $9,9S3; printing from $13,393 to
S11O,OSO; "incldentals" from 1880 to
$27,S45 legislative expenses from S2I, 127
10 $67, OBS, and that too before the new Con-
stitution increased the salaries OF Senators and
Assemblymen; and so on through the entire
list.
The above figures deal exclusively with State
expenses, but local taxation has been aggrG-
waited at the same alarming rate. Taking Sus-
sex County rs q sample Democratic commu-
nity. where there are no hi gh-v Weed cities" md
whtre purely agricultural population 0usht
TO insure watchful economy il thc conduct OF
affairs, it is found that between the years
'67 ard IT the tax LIST has IA up from $780,
2S2 to $102.3l7, while during the same time
the value of property has decreased normally
from 81 5,669,90 to $l3,2l0,79i and the
actual decrease has been still greater. In the
light Of these ~ tist cs one can readily see
VIII, there is n fIovm.. demand in Ncw-JcrScy
for return to the simplicity and economy of
earlier days, and why Governor Newell is con
stantly gaining strength in the canvass.
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The anti-resumpiiOn lunacy seems TO be a local