The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-10-16

following year. In the convention Of
1888 both parties recognized this ques-
ton in their platforms and declared in
favor of equal taxation.
Senator Griggs, of Passaic, introduced
inkthe Senate on February 26, 1888, bill,
the title Of which was, AN Act to Im-
pose Uniform State Tax upon the Prop
erty Of Railroads and Canal Companies"
On March IL this bill was reported ad-
versely by the chairman of the Commit.
tee on Revision of Laws.
In the fall of this year AbbettIwas NOM
mated. Even before he was inaugurated
in 1854 and wrote the inaugural demand
ing action on the question OF railroad
taxation, the matter was under serious
consideration in the Legislature.
Senator Griggs, of Passaic, on January
! s, 1884, offered the following
ResoIUed, That special committee, to
consist of three members of each house,
be appointed to take into consideration
the subject of equalization of taxation
upon the property of railroad, canal, tel
egraph, telephone, and other corporations,
and to report bill to provide for such
equalization.
was appointed and consisted of two Re-
publican and one Democratic Senator and
two Democratic and one Republican
member.
SENATOR GRIGG's EXPOSE.
Senator Griggs, who took "a lively in
terest in this particular measure, says :;
ssGovernor Albeit declares that he
waited for some one to draft new law.
He knew very well what was going on,
for he was frequently ia the Senate Cham
Der, an interested listener, while these
questions were being discussed before
| this committee. He took the bill of 1888,
| threw into it some provisions which made
| it a monstrosity, and had it introduced in
| the House of Assembly on February 10
by Democratic member. From that
/ time on it was impossible for that non
partisan committee to get the assistance
of any Democratic member that was on
it. The fiat had gone forth and the Dem
ocrats saw fit to make it party measure.
.The bill introduced at the instance
of the Governor was the most absurd
and monstrous concretion that was ever
presented. The Governor did not know
what was in it, the members of the Leg
islature did not know what it was, and
after 1t had passed the third reading
and was open to no more amendments 1t
was discovered that this magnificent uni
versal tax bill would tax every church or
ganization, every hospital, and even the
deposits in the savings bank. The bill,
however, was rushed through the Demo
cratic House. II was on February IL
that the non-partisan committee finished
its work and reported bill, which at
once was made the object of the Cover
nor's hostility. The House passed this
also, and dumped them both down on the
Senate, prepared to denounce the Repub-
lican Senate for adopting either, on the
ground that the one they did adopt was
injurious to the interests of the people.
A conference had to be had, because the
| House would not concur. The. Repnbli-
cans held firm to the decision OF the Sen.
ate in passing the non-partisan bill.
When the Democrats understood that the
Republicans would not yield they said
IF you fellows arc not going TO back
down, we will agree to the bill, but under
protest. That protest was GovernortAb
belts protest, sent to the House at his
dictation. This Is the law that is now or
the statute books. 1t was agreed to by
the Democratic Assembly under protest
because they did not think it good law,
Leon .Abbcit suggested the protest; fol
he did not think it was a good law. lie
said that, it being the best they could get,
they would accept 1t.
Last year the Democrats had contro
Of the House and Senate, but they did moi
venture to take up this law, so defective
that they consented to its passage, under
protest, in 1884, and strengthen and re-
wise it. It was found to be good enough
in 1883, so good that now Leon Albeit
claims credit for its inception and passage,
SOME pHmrHENT QUESTIONS.
"These are some pertinent questions
which Leon Albeit and the Democratic
party should answer:
g Do you claim credit for that law OF
notg
sis it a good law or bad law
''If it is bad law, why in the world
do you want TO claim credit for its
IF it is good law, why did you pro-
test against its possageg
"Leon Albeit can make no claims to
aiding or encouraging the bill taxing mis-
cellaneous corporations, for he never saw
| the bill. "
This is Leon Abbett's record IN conuec-
ton with the corporation taxes. The
records 10 the State Library sustain all
the facts presented and help to settle the
allegation that he is political pre-
tender.
/