The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-10-30
RECKLESS GRIGGSY..

AN0 O4k1Q
Continued from, First Pages
sors to publish with each of their annual
reports a statement showing the amount
of tax assessed for local uses under this
act, together with a statement showing
the amount which each taxing district
in the State would receive from the taxa
ton of properly used for railroad and
canal purposes If such property had been
assessed at the same rate as other prop
erty in such taxing district.
You voted mo-" Why did you vote
against this fair proposition? Is it wrong
that the people should be taught what ex-
emption costs? Are You ashamed to have
the story of your work annually told in
plain figures? You say my knowledge OF
the movement for equal taxation conf
menced after the bill was passed and |
was appointed a State Assessor. Let me
recall the evening of Tuesday, March IL,
1884. Arguments were made that even
ing againstall railroad tax bills by Messrs.
Edward II. Green, George M. Robson
and Courtlandt Parker, who appeared
for the corporations. The argument on
the other side was probably not worth
listening to, but l distinctly remember
that you interrupted me with many ques-
tions while | was making it. The ques-
ton Of whether I had held several Offices
can scarcely be called q burning is
sue in this campaign. You gleefully
ask why Governor Albeit did not secure
equal taxation. Plainly, because the cor
porations and Senator Griggs and other
Senators equally anxious to secure the
exemption of railroad property formed a
combination which 1T was beyond the
power OF Governor Albeit to entirely de-
feat. That he forced 0 to surrender
ANYTHING, after the attempts of previous
years had failed, establishes his title TO
the gratitude of the people. You admit
that Governor Albeit recommended the
taxation of gas. electric light and other
companies, and furnish the following ex-
tract from your speech here:-
There was another law, which he did
not draw, providing for the taxation of
miscellaneous corporations, under which
at the present timeis levied upon corpora
tions, other than railroads and canals, q
sum equal to nearly 100000 a year.
Every word of that bill was drawn by a
Republican member of the Senate. Gov
ernor Albeit never saw it and never had
anything to do with it except to sign it
after it had been passed by both Houses,
That was the exact truth. Every word
of that bill was written by myself"
You intended your hearers should be-
lieve that 100000 is annually derived
from the provisions of your bill. This
would be $4,000, 900 in five years. As a
matter of fact the revenue from this bill
in five wears has been less than $3.50, 900,
the exact figures for four years being
$40, 500. So you wrote "every word" of
that bill, Senator, and Governor Albeit
never saw it until it passed. | never
limited that you didn't OF that he did. 1t
might have been better if you had called
upon the Governor for advice, as | find
the following comment upon your work
in the report of the State Comptroller for
the year 1887 (see page 14. He is speak
ing of tnxation under the act which you
wrote while 'sfocking all alone by your
self.1
sSome of the taxes now in the hands of
the Attorney General will be collected,
but as to the great mass of them it is idle
to hope that anything can be realized from
them. Many of the corporations assessed
have ceased to exist, Others never acted
under their charters, while as to many of
those against which the largest sums have
been assessed it would require a greater
than Columbus to discover their officers
and a more powerful microscope than has
ever yet been invented to discern the
assets upon which the claim of the State
can be a lien. Nevertheless, the State
Board of Assessors are required by law to
annually determine these taxes and GER
tify them to the Comptroller, q process
aboutaS irrational as to impose a license
fee upon exhibitions of the aurora bore
ais, and in default of payment to charge
| up the amount of the annual delinquency
to unpaid taxes, and let it swell from yeal
| to year the sum of unsolicited reyenue.
My o~ft-repeated recommendation, thatthe
law be so modified as to permit the State
| Board of Assessors to discontinue the
annual assessment and return of taxes
| which can never by any possibility be
| collected, is again respectfully renewed"
On the question of railroad taxation
you were shy and doubtful; but when ii
came to the assessment OF q defunct cor
| poration you were there with both feet
In closing, Senator, | cannot avoid the
fact that, on this question of taxation,
YOU omit all reference to General Grub.
Has he M views on the question: AS g
lawyer, you know that his letter of &C
| ceptance pledges him to no course at all
He says that he will carry out a consti-
t~utional provision which the Courts have
decided would not be violated by the
absolute exemption of any class of prop
erty from all taxation. If your candidate
has any views on the subject he should be
allowed to express them.
Your speech" as issued by your State
Committee, contains an appeal for Gen.
eral Grub on account of his persona,
qualifications. You say that he is the
Kind of a man whom ministers should
pray for.
I believe you, and while they are pray
ing for him, it might be we'll for the Gen
eral to thank heaven that even your foul
assertions have not provoked a persona
campaign" on our side.
Respectfully,
ALLAN l.. MCDERMoTT.