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

to what we suppose Mr.. Noonan would
loosely denominate the ramifying cir
cumstantialities of politics-io witt
The Eighth District is composed OF the
Town of Harrison and the Township OF
kearney, including Arlington, together
with considerable section of Jersey City,
embracing territory extending from the
Hackensack River to Jersey avenue and
from Newark avenue to the City of Hobo
ken, with many sinuosiIies consequential
upon the outrageous geTrymandersng OF
the Republican party in the redistrictation
of 1851. The politicians of the district
have divided the district into " this side"
and "the other side" This side is the
east of, and the other side is the west Of,
the Hackensack River. Ever since the
formation of the district, The other side
has complained of an alleged grievance,
viz That il has not received fair pro-,
portion of the political patronage appurt-
enant to the district. and accordingly has
fought for years, especially the three last
years, TO get an AssemblyInan from that
side.
In the last Presidential year, the Harr-
son end, that is, the other end. of the dis
trict put up the Honorable John Wade as
an independent candidate. on the local
issue as aforesaid, and elected him over
the regular nominee, Ex-Assembiymsn
O'Donnel, who was an aspirant for his
second term. The following year the
flarrisonites fell ont among themselves
and refused 10 give Mr.. Wade HIS second
term, and Gle c;ed delegates To- tie conven-
ton for MIR. FaIrel, the gentleman VINO
opposed Mr.. Noonan last year and this
year.
Last year Mr. Noonan defeated him in
the convention after long, close, and ex-
citing contest, in which the vote was six to
six, with four half votes il the delegation.
Mr.. Farrell opposed Mr.. Noonan Tor his
second term TINS year. as he opposed Mr..
Wade for his second term las, year. Mr..
Noonsn is entitled 10 a second term by The
tme-honoved usages If tue Democrauc
parry throughout the Sale. which favor q
return 10 the Legislature, for at least a
second tenn, OF worthy representatives. Of
the people, as Mr. Noonan certainly proved
himself to be. He. although the Youngest
member of The House. at the outset of the
session, pla My evideaced the fact that he
was the right man in the right place, and
be at once obiaIned recognition as one Of
the leaders on the Democratic side, which
was, by far, the ADLER side OF the House at
the last session. He took an active inter-
est in and played conspicuous part on
all measures OF general public concern and
was a very industrious and useful member
throughout the session. and had the re-
spect, esteem and appreciation of every
member of the House. irrespective OF
party.
Although at times very severe and sar-
castle in debate, yet he was very much
liked by all the members on account of his
genial disposition and courteous demeanor
and was universally conceded TO be one Of
the best natured members in the House
He never became angry in discussion,
though always decisive, emphatic and forci-
Bile. He simply would nor allow any men,
Der TO make him angry. He gave and took.
and would laugh at a joke, or pun, or bit
of satire at his own expense as readily and
heartily as at that of another. Besides
being the youngest. as well as about the
best natured member, he was unquestiona-
bly, the linqust of The House, and was not
far from being the logician, too. Others
may have known more law, but none knew
better how TO frame blll-at least so far
as making it mean what it was intended to
mean-was concerned. He was the House
analyst and the coIrector of bills hastily,
improperly or crudely drawa, and his own
bills, while on superficial examination they
may have appeared somewhat pathological,
yet on closer study and scrutiny they were
found to bear the marks oil the perspicuous,
comprehensive and cautious draughtsman.
He introduced number of very impor-
tant bills during the session. Foremost
amongst them was his bill for equal taxa
ton. Ii is generally believed that the rail-
road and canal and miscellaneous corpora
ton tax acts passed during the session OF
1884, provide for equal taxation but such
is far from being the case. 1t is true that
uhe bill for the taxation of railroads and
canals, as il passed the House OF Assembly
(which was Denocraticl did provide fol
equal taxation but the Republican Senate
refused 70 pass the bin in that shape, and
so amended il as 10 discriminate greatly ia
favor of the corporations and against the
individual taxpayers. When the bill came
back TO the House with the Senate amend.
ments, the House refused to concur, and
appointed a conference committee. The
Senate conference committee would not
recede from the position taken by the
Senate, and thus the Democratic House
was compelled either TO concur in the Sea.
ale amendments or do without any bill al
all for the taxation OF those corporations
The latter course being probably The better
to pursue, the Democrats resigned them
selves to the inevitable and accepted the
situation as the best attainable under the
circumstances although but a short step in
the right direction. And now, before stat
ing precisely what Mr.. Noonan's equa
taxation bill was, we shall first show waal
the present law is, and It's mischief Oh
grievance, and then we shall briefly give
the solid remedy proposed by him. The
act of April roth, 1884 provides for a tax
of one-haIt of one per cent. for the State,
on all railroad and canal property in the
State, used for railroad and canal purposes
and, in addition thereto, tax not exceed.
ing one per cent. for county and municipal
uses, on all the railroad and canal real es.
tate in each taxing district used for rail.
road and canal purposes therein, except the
.smain stem, which is defined by the acl