The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-10-16
M'DERMOTTS THUNDER.
coutlnued fronl First Paqe

earnest protest of Governor Lud-
low, who demanded in his second
annual message, that the railroad
property of New Jersey should con-
tribute its fair share of taxes. The inn
position of this tax aroused an indignant
public, and when, in 1888, Governor
LUDLOW renewed his request for Justice.
several bills for equal taxation We're
introduced in the House of Assem-
bly,. That house was in political SYM
jority of its members were soon to return
to their constituents with u renewed
request for their suffrages. That a bill
for equal taxation would pass the House
was beyond doubt. In fact one did pass
that body. 1t came to the Senate, and
failing to consider it. The cry of
the corporations went up for
delay" Then q brilliant IDEA
came upon yOu and other Senators who
had decided in favor of equal taxation"
The Senate should have a tax bill of its
own: Then the dignity of that body
would require that its own measure
should take precedence ofa blouse bill. "
The Senate would take its own time to
consider its own measure, n not be
bothered with argument on the House
bill.
The trick had not even the merit of
originality. 1t was patented by Cul. Bar
OoAO viz Viz SNhSIO1iCA vi II
House, before you were born.
Well, you visited the State Library.
copied the Illinois tax law. and had it
labelled, Senate Bill No. 200"
You introduced No. 200 on the 25th of
February, 1883, and 1t was referred to the
Committee on Revision of Laws.
You introduced the bill on Monday
evening. The week passed, but the COM
mittee did not report No. 200. The Sena-
tors who had decided in favor of equal
and even taxation" had concluded to
deliberate. The next week came
and the x week went.
Still no sign from the committee,
who had fully made up their minds that
the people should have equal taxation.
And you, Senator, where were you?
On the floor of the Senate, Indignantly
demanding that the committee should
give you a chance to live up to
had decided?" Not q bit of It'll
The third week came, and on the
second day of that week the committee.
through Senator Apologize, one of the
gentlemen who had agreed" you say
reported on the bill. You wilIprobably re
member that report. The committee had
held your bill from the 10Th of February
until the 18th Of March. In your speech
at the Opera House you told the gaping
multitude that the question of railroad
taxation requires great thought and
study" So it does, Senator, and that is
why an anxious public retained it's patti
ence over the committees delay. There
were grave questions to be considered
and fine points to be adjusted, and many
amendments to the Illinois bill would I'M
undoubted be reported, tending to render
equal taxation doubly sure. But even this
fair excuse for delay had it's limit, and,
after holding your bill for equal taxation,
upon which "both Houses had agreed"
over two weeks, the committee reported.
On the 18th of March, 1883, Senator APP
plegate presented the report. 1t is not
long, anu / give it entire:-
sThe Committee on Revision of Laws
reports Senate Bill, No. 200, adversely"
Simply this and nothing more. Now
came your opportunity, Senatorl The gen
tlemen who had agreed" had basely con-
cluded to disagree. Did you rise and ac-
cuse them of a breach Of good faith. If
you did the accusation was not heard,
while the record shows that you moved to
lay the report of the committee over until
tn 10Th of March," and the motion was
agreed to. Evidently the powers which
were strong enough to break that "agree-
menJ'' had whispered to the gentleman
from Passaic that more delay was neces-
sary. The Legislature was to adjourn
sine die on March %. One weeks more
delay and the corporations would be free
from equ~altaxation during the year of our
Lord eighteen hundred and eighty-three.
On the 10Th of March the report was laid
overuntil the Goth, on which late you had
the sublime impudence to move to re
commit the bill" This was within three
days OF final adjournment. That motion
was too bald, and was voted down. You
made no further motion, and the adverse
report of the committee was never even
submitted to a vote. There was no ne
cessity for one. The agreement" had
been shattered, and Senate 200 was laid
away in the archives of the State, with
this record
s'Introduced by Senator Griggs, Feb
ruary 20; adversely reported, March 10; re-
port laid over until March 49,; again laid
over until March 20; motion by Senator
Griggs to recommit defeated; no further
motion made; report OF committee not
acted upon; final adjournment, March 90.
Equal taxation postponed. Object of the
introduction of the bill accomplished"
This is the record of Senate Bill No. 200
which, you stated in your speech, was in
troduced by you Ito provide for the taxa
ton of railroad and canal companies be-
fore Albeit read his inaugural"
You further said;-"It did not pass,
but the effort was made" So a motion
to recommit a bill to a committee which
had held it nearly three weeks is
an effort to pass it, especially when
that motion is made within seventy
two hours of the time for final
adjournment. Senator, the agreement"
and the effort are creatures of
your imagination. Neither was ever
made. If a political opponent had intro
duced Senate No. 200, and acted precisely
as you did. Senator, how long would you
hesitate to ask, (Which railroad did the
gentleman representa-" Ihave considered
the record of 1888. In a day or two l will
refresh your memory upon your record in
1884. Your obedient servant,
ALLAN l.. MCDERMoTT.