New-York tribune., 1886-02-24
GorERyoR ABBETr or RAILROAD TAXES
A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO THE NEw-JERsEY LEGIs-

A SPECIAL MESSAGE TO TIE NEw-JERsEY LEGIs-
LArURE.
rFrom THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or TIE TRIBUNE
TRENTON, Feb. Ex-Governor Albeit this
afternoon sent the railroad tax question
to the senate and Assembly part VI which Is as FOL
lows:
Idrem 1t my duty send you this special message IN
the statc Tue Central Railroad Company 0t NeWJersey
prosecutors. against the state Board OF Assessors e
A. defendants Ihis decision sets aside as uhc"hslu'
ona the act OF the Legislature entitled AN act Tor me
Taxation OF Ralir0ad AID Canal Property approved
Apu lG 1854 ~. L. ls-i. page l42l. Under tnls act
take, we're assessed by the state BOard Of Assessors
both FOR state local purposes for the years l7sl aud
SOILS 80, OF which sum tho companies paid
s78j ~ either voluntarily or under orders OF the
Slbb522 the year lssi The taxes OF 1850 have
yet been col ectrd fror to The act ot Aprll 10,
I1si taxes from railroad corporations except IT, cases
OF irreycaabe contrLctsl were levied under an act
entitled An Act To provide Tor sao taxes on ran ways
ad the more efficient collection thrrrof approved April
49, 1876 Under the act of 1870 the terms o the alleged
contracts with certain coIpolatIons INC osa,e l"rnrry
about Of &7iOOU0 from tho railroads anu canals
OF the state. This last would be- SJ5OOO "a less
than the collected by the state under the act 1f
1854 for State purposes In other worhero would only
100000 To pay back 10 tho corporations II the
act OF es4 should hntly Oo held unconstitutional. Tue
deficiency future income can he provided Tor without
rmbarras.nrn II the Of April 10, les4. Il finally
sustained thero will be- no need any further legislation
the stao EXPENSES but II i held unconstltn-
viii bo an annual deficiency OF about S25O,OOO
uuon the Controllers estimates. II
has been suggested that IL would be necessary for
the Legislature remain IN session until tue decision
OF Errors and Appeals under the act Just
passed prov for oIpcdtng tho appeal from the he
cisiOn OF the supreme Court do not thnk thit thls
will he necessary. do not c"Dsldrr u necessary
to consider the present time the question or repay
rut Of any OF moneys paid under the act OF 1884
IL Is not necessary NY Judgment for the Legislature %
continue sesslun Ia order To meet that question
suggest TO the Legislature that iont resolution or
law he passed authorizing tho Governor the Controller
ana the dispose Of, N they deem IL
necessary any or the securities now In the hands OF the
aud tho proceeds for tho purpose OF carrying
ou the necessary functions OF government. l
heartily OF the act passed by the Legislature To
expedite the appeal from the decision OF the supreme
Court
Tho committee appointed by tho Senate and Assembly
consider the tar question held meeting this morn
and agreed 10 submit resolutions which VIII, IN tho
conform TO the suggestions OF the Governor. The
comm concluded that there was no cause 10 anticl
pate any financial for the state ana the
temporary act tney may suggest will be- Of such
nature HOn the Court or Errors
aud Appeals may make. The intention Is to avoid any
anIicIp on OF the appellate courts action. The LeRls
laturc Will probably complete Its current business hhd
n the Court Of Appeals not then decided upon the
appeal there will adjournment extra session
In the summer. The Governors Message was fayOraby
received although some surprise was expressed at his
views upon the desrabty or collecting state tax from
corporations The appeal TO the COur OF Errors ana
Appeals will probably be argued In fortnight or three
and decision within SIX weeks ls expected. Ot
thirteen Judges who will consider the case, six are
lay Judges and ak members OF the supreme Court,
while the thirteenth Il the ChaucollOr Tho railroad
companies arc evidently not desirOus that the law OF
opinion that their contest has been carried about as far
would be SAFE II they want to reduction In
taxes. The Governors Message referred 70 tho
special committee this afternoon.