New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-12
NEW-JBRSEY RAILROAD TAXES
WHAT THE COMPANIES NOW PAY.

A HEARING BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE coMMiIiEH
OTHER CORPORATIONS EXEMPT.
frRoa TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIbuNhJ
TRENTON, Feb. 1.-THE special Joint Com
mittee on Corporation Taxes held session IN the SENATE
Chamber this afternoon Chairman Griggs PRESIDING anu
n number of railroad managers being present Inc op
ject of the inquiry to ascertain the existing s
affairs with the expectation OF securing ne" arie
rnent 10 the better advantage OF the state oena'o
William j. Sewell. representing the PennsyIVan' hn'
road Company, was the first witness lie tcStheu INA"
under the act passed in 1869 the tax was changed O
tonnage and transit Dues which were 10 cents ton ana
10 cents passenger TO one-han OF ono
Der cent until general act should be passeu
taxing all railroad companies alike In 1873 a
general railroad law passed. providing that 'nci-
pal tax should be assessed all property except tne eh
acres at each terminus The courts decided thaV OWING
TO the companys special contract 1t was not llaoic l
this but the Pennsylvania Company has always paid IT,
the amount beins about per cent on three mnI"nS'
There is sao Senator Sewell, difficulty about oD-
tanning proper and abundant revenue for the state
The manufacturing companies pay no TAX nor uo 'io
surance companies, except small one 10 INA, rono "
barbarsn the volunteer fire companies All OF these to
ceiye valuable privileges from the State and ought 10
nav for them Jay Gould obtained for nothing
under our laws the charter OF The American
Cable Comnany for which he might as wen nave
Maid $4,000 The railroad companies IN view Vi
this state pay more than their Just snare Inc
PENNSYLVANIA Company pays the state $29sooo on VAT
nation NJ about S4 600 O00 IL pays Jersey City *3oooo
local tax other points $50 000 and voluntarily presents
Jersey City with $4,000 more, making III Iuli soou'
tbreeouarters Of per cert or Its Vsluston' "hich
nraccav abont as much as the average citizen pays
For this the company gets nothing but curses ana they
have been especially plentiful since 1t maze us i
$50 900 TO Jersey City The absorption OF a1aoe prop
erty for terminal purposes has been complained o. ou
can he stopped at any time. The witness sad ne nd o
suggestions TO make to committee further than mat
would find a profitable field IN looking after inc taAe1
from other corporations IT, when these are adjusted he
state still needs revenue the railroad companies are Iu
prepared to come to its aid. There is nothing mean ~
them. . -, NJ,
General Robert r. Stockton representing the Efe E|t
road testified that that company he had only 10 urge
tho, the other companies be raised its level In the matter
,+xos If now maid fun rates and thus Disseminated
Oanst Personally his views were radical ana iaVoreu
the Michigan law which taxed the real estate
then imposed a State tax on gross earnings
President Little of the Central Railroad or NeWJersey
Ohladel,hia and Readng) said his company under the
special charter contract paid tax OF one nan OF one Per
cent on the $l7.0O0,0O0 OF its New-Jersey prop
ertv The remainder Of cts total Vauauoh
81 eco ooo 600 WAS made IN OF Pennsylvania coal fields,
PENNSYLVANIA lines American Dock improvement inter-
ests amounts advanced other INES etc ~ pau
tax in Jersey City ON not used for railroad purposes
n nad an If could afforc and all the state Lad right
~ Irosjdent Cinevs Of the Delaware Lackawanna
and western Company testified that the company paid
81 40 600 TO the STATE and $4,000 to various ocates
Ex-Governor Bedlc. Of the same company Was sstSo
popular sentiment and the power OF me oIale eto 70
WELD any portion o. Its contract bal sad ne was not pre-
Cortlabdt Parkera director of the Erie made statement
against TAG existing system and In favor VI moe geh
The Committee will meet for conference tomorrow
night and bill will probably be reported next week