The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1886-10-31

| Trenton.
Now, let ~ calmly consider how this
| state of affairs affects the duty of the peo-
pie of Jersey City in the matter of their
choice for Governor. Until the stroBg,
unyielding will of Governor Albeit was
brought to the support of the demand for
equal taxation, that demand uttered its
annual request and died its annual death.
With his inauguration the demand assumed
definite, practical shape, and the act
OF 1884 was passed the first step toward
Justice in taxation. The next step was
taken by Attorney General John P. Stock
ton. Those who have read only the news
paper reports of this tax litigation, have
but an inadequate idea of its mag
nitude Against Mr.. Stockton have
been arrsyed the best lawyers of Penn
sylvania, New York and New Jersey, at
whose command have been the treasures
OF the corporations. Against the efforts
of this combination Mr.. Stockton won the
cause of the people in the Court of En-
rors and Appeals, end will, believe. fol-
low that victory in the final battle at wash
ington. Yet one of the first official acts of
Mr.. Howey would be to remove John P.
Stockton whose term expires in 1887
from these trials by the appointment of an
other Attorney General It is unnecessary
to say that the corporations would continue
to employ the attorneys who are familiar
with their case. l therefore submit to you
that, even with reference to the unjustly
limited amount which has been assessed
for your benefit, it would be unwise and
impolitic to vote for Mr.. Howey.
The Governor of New Jersey can de-
nand equal taxation. He can demand that
the companies claiming irrcpeaiable con.
tracts shall surrender those contracts or
their corporate powers. The right to con-
denim the Morris and Essex Railroad ac-
crues within the term of the next Governor
OF New Jersey, as doesethe right to take the
property of the United Railroads of New
Jersey Commonly called the Pennsylvania
Railroad). If these corporations refuse to
accept laws providing for equal taxation
both these rights should be exercised.
That such action would be demanded by
Green and would not be demanded by Mr..
Howey is nay belief, and found that be-
lief upon the following reasons:
First-Mr. Howey served term in Con-
press. During that term he did not intros
duce single bill which became law. 4
he had any ideas on public questions. he
kept them in such seclusion that they are
not noted on the pages of The Compression
al Record. As Mr.. Howey confined his
legislative action to voting I refer to that
record. July 25, 1884, Mr.. Howey voted
againststhe f'Texas Pacific Act, introduced
to reclaim public lands from several rail-
road corporations which had not kept their
agreement with the government. On
bill to reclaim unearned lands from the
Oregon Central Railroad as not having been
earned by the company, MIR. Howey voted
to limit the area forfeited to ninety-seven
miles. On the bill to compel the Pacific
Railroad to pay for the surveying of land
granted TO it, Mr.. Howey vetod ssnc." On
the bill to make the Pacific railroad pay
its debts to the government, Mr.. Howey
voted "no"--a vote which was really in
favor of presenting to the road nearly $780,
600, 600, due foom the company to the peo-
pie. On every amendment to the Inter-
roads, Mr.. Howey voted sage" and on the
final vote he is recorded against the bill.
On the bill to repeal the presumption, tim
Der culture and desert land acts (framsd
to restore these lands to the use Of the
pseple) Mr.. Howey voted ssne."
But the amount assessed is not enough
II is not enough, because the law Of 1884
unjustly discriminates in favor of corpo-
ate property in the limitation Of taxation
to one per- cent. It is not enough, and
never viii be enough. until all property il
assessed BY uniform rules and according
to value. Who will best serve the people in
aiding to bring about this result2 Cam
didly say TO- you that this is the question
which should determine your action on
the second of November.
Let us reason.
The tariff question is one with which
the Governor of New jersey has alb
lutely nothing to do
The question of the manner in which
political rights are protected in the South
is never discussed at Trenton after elee-
ton.
second--Mr. Howey, in the State Con-
vention which nominated him, was the
choice Of Senator Sewell, one of the
shrewdest railroad men IN the United
States. Mr.. Sewsll may be in favor Of
equal taxation, but he managed to keep
his desires in that direction under very
close restraint during the nine years he
served the County of Camden in general
and the Pennsylvania railroad in partic-
ular in the State Senate of New Jersey.
That convention was presided over by g
director of the Morris & Essex railroad,
corporation which not only claims ex-
emption from all local taxes, but has fer
years made most suspicious returns of it's
property, subjected to state taxation
returns which believe investigation will
stamp as gigantic frauds.
Third-The platform on which Mr..
Howey stands was drawn to suit these rail-
road managers and approved by them.
FOURTH do not believe that Mr. Howey
has the ability to comprehend and meet
this great question. form this opinion
from his record in Congress. Since mis-
nomination he has not expressed himself
upon the subject, and will probably not be
allowed to.
Fifth-Because Mr.. Green. as member
of the Commission who framed the Consti-
tutional amendments adopted in 1875, drew
and successfully advocated the amend
ment, which provides that property shall
be assessed for taxes under general laws and
by uniform rules, according to its true
value" The author of that amendment