New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-24
TOPICS IN NEW-JERSEY.
THE LIFE AND CONDUCT OF ITALIAN WORK
Frs IN THAT STATE.
MEETING OF THE STATE TAX coMM1ssIoN-A

MEETING OF THE STATE TAX COMMISsIoN-A
NEW REPORT BY THE GEOLOGICAL BOARD.
Trenton, " J., Nov. 23.-About year ago the
work upon the new water supply for Newark peeah
in the panhandle Of Passac County, on the fequah-
mock River. Since then the East Jersey Water Cofl-
pany the contractor has kept from 200 10 200 men
at work upon the reservoir sites, the construction OF
dams and the laying of pipe line The men en-
ploved have been mainly Italians, although a num-
Der Of Hungarans have been engaged The prejudice
against the Hungarian is quite great as that against
the Italian and Is somewhat better founded, II one
takes the experience OF the Pennsylvania miners but
in the work of the water supply there has been little
to distinguish between the two, and ii may be saaa
at once that the experience with all of the workers
has. been remarkably good The army invaded a
country which purely pastoral and as unused
10 the wckedneSs of the active world as
any section within a thousand miles VI New
York II is well described In an article
in "ScIibner's Magazine entitled "A Day
With a Country Doctor And your correspondent
has the testimony of the country doctor as TO
the mildness and simplicity of the italian laborcr.
The Italians at the water works busy for ten and
eleven hours a day for six days week; OH Sun
days they do their washing, and commit great
slaughter upon the frogs. Of which they are ex-
tTemey fond. They paid 81 % day, aud feed
themselves. For two years great numbers of Italian
laborers have been employed the railroad extern
sions They are well behaved, and the words of the
contractors are all III their favor. They are found
rywhere, and the story is the same. The truth
is they are nervous workers, brisker than most Of
their class and easily subjected 10 discipline SO say
the contractors. What could be done without them
IL is impossible to say. There are few Irish aud
German laborers TO be had, excepting old men. The
young fellows are doing something that pays better,
although wages for the Italians often reach 81 80 and
81 70 a day now. In politics they are troublesome,
as are all ignorant The fault In this respect
is chiefly that OF boss politicians and loose naturallLa-
ton laws carelessly administered
The state Tax Commission Will sit in Newark this
week and in other cities until its Of opinion In
completed There has been abundant discussion OF TAX
laws, with the Commission text, and progress
toward better understanding Of the assessment matter
Is being made II Is increasingly apparent that intel
gence and understanding OF the first principles Of
taxation the part OF tax would remedy the
gravest faults The suggestions for this are various
and one object can be accomplished by having county
board Of equalization. distinct nOm the board of local
Is required of them body by the law. The cy
empton question needs the thorough consideration OF
cided that a cemetery association need not pay city
assessment The association had u special charter
granted Exemption from takes The court now con
strues this to include assessments well, and the
burden which othcrs must bear and which was laid for
its benefit equally with all, Churches are. Of course
exempt so are other buildings used for church pur
poses so are gIayeyards; charitable and many
scholastic Institutions are some railroads to Ger
TO the extent of $500; emen also Investments of the
riparian fund and State bonds as well a. Government
and some city bonds the city Of issue Nor is the
| amount Of property which escapes taxation that Is
most seriously felt but the exemptions used to
escape burdens which an equal enforcement would make
IL mpOssble TO dodge.
The state Geological Board has Just issued part
second of Volume IL Of it Final Report, and another
valuable addition 10 this great State work is thus u
be chronicled. The new volume IS the Zoology OF
New Jersey and II Is prepared with the same eX
haustive its predecessors. All the Insects
birds and beasts known 10 New Jersey named and
classified and admirable index assists the student
The local observers who are quoted, from Dr. Abbott
down show that Nature has vast number OF careful
students and observers in NewJersey. The extraor
binary value of the work viii be instantly appreciated
and Il will be in constant use for years. From the
varieties Of mosquitoes down 10 the solitary ana
far less ferocous bear nothing known 10 jerseys AMI
nal kingdom appears 10 have escaped.
The railroads of the Northern part Of the state. as
well as those of South Jersey, have combined 10 charge
demuITage freight left In forty eight hours after
delivery. There i considerable feeling about the mat
ter based upon the absence OF proper freight facilities
making removal of goods difficult and expensive, the
new penalty increasing burden already felt 20 bt
grevOus.
The holiday business opens with much promise
The factories have bon busy and there II much money
afoaJ ana the condition Of trade generally In this
state IL remarkably prosperous.