The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-25
TAXATION WRITINGS
The Assembly Trying to
Make Something Reason
able of the Commits
sion Bill.
EVERYONE Is AGAINST 1T.
Questionable Amendment in Re-
speet to City Bonds-Ex-
emption for Notes.
Only Superficial Faults Reached
So Far by the Legis-
~ latOrs.
EVERYONE Is AGAINST IT.

TRENTON, Feb 25, 1891. The new Tax
bill came up on second reading yesterday
and the members attacked it generally
They demonstrated their hostility to the
various provisions by seeking to amend
1t. Speaker Bergen took the floor and
led of with an amendment to that por-
ton OF the first section. which provides
that If local taxing officer refuses OF
neglects to perform his duty the State
Board may appoint some one to take his
place. His amendment was to the effect
that the State Board should not have the
power to appoint to vacancies among the
local assessors. but they must be filled
In the regular way. This was adopted.
Mr.. Potts then offered an amendment
making the Board non-partisan, which
Mr.. Campbell, the Speaker pro tenn. de-
ciared to nave been carried on UtUd U0ce
vote, when some body called for the ayes
ment was lost by II to "a. A long debate
followed, which degererated into a
wrangle at times and compelled the
Speaker pro tenn TO call several members
TO oroer. The dispute was provoked by
an amendment Of Mr.. Williams. Repub-
lican, o. Passaic. abolishing the poll tax.
He said that there were so
many exemptions now under the law
that IL was practically obs elete.
Mr.. johnson opposed the amendment be-
cause the counties paid the tax of the
cities. IL yielded a large revenue whic h
no one felt and every one ought to be
willing to pay dollar to be citizen OF
such government as ours.
HARD TO COLLECT.
The amendment was favored by Mr..
Hardin, democrat, OF Newark and Mr.
King of Passaic because. as the latter
said, il costs too much to collect the tax.
Elizabeth, Mr.. Lane said, collected all
but eight per cent. OF its poll tax and for
that reason ne wanted to retain IT,
Messrs. Ernst, republican, of Essex and
Kerr, democrat, Of Passaic wanted the
tax abolished. Cole, republican, of Cam
den thought he had been selected to
straighten out the muddle and he had q
substitute which provided that there be
a poll tax of fifty cents, but If a man ply
sically able to do SO does not vote on
election day he shall pay poll tax OF
So MIR. Coles substitute was declared
out of order because it involved two
separate matters.
MIR. johnson said that the abolition OF
the tax would cause an Increase in the
taxes of the counties Of ten per cent
Father Nash In a characteristic speech
opposed the amendment because he said
iC was the pride of all American citizens
To bear a share of the expenses of the
eloquence the amendment was lost and
the poll tax clause stands.
Mr.. Ketcham objected to any further
amendments. He said that the bill had
just been received by many and they had
not had sufficient time to examine its
provisions. The Tax Board of Newark
was opposed TO the bill The
speaker thought that the Commission
would give the State a bill which would
meet with satisfaction and accomplish
the purpose for which it was created.
The result has been such as to cause dis
appointment all over the State. and Mr..
Ketcham said. he wanted time so that the
Newark Board could submit a series of
amendments which he was preparing.
The speaker pro tenn assured Mr.
Ketcham that he would have ample time
to do so. The next amendment was by
Mr.. Swartwout, democrat. OF Sussex,
who objected to the clause exempting
personal property TO the amou Mt OF $500.
This was promptly defeated without any
debate.
IS IT coNsTITUTIoNALS
Then Mr.. Puster introduced an amend
ment, which was one of the most impor-
tant yet made. 1t exempts municipal
bonds. water scrip and improvement cer-
tificates. Mr.. Puster, IN supporting his
amendment, made a strong speech, He
said that, under the bill, if man living
in Jersey City purchased per cent.
bond he would have to pay 3 per cent. tax
on it. Therefore, he would receive but
per cent. on his money while the pur-
chaser out of the State would receive q.
He did not think that was right. 1t
would be impossible for the savings banks
10 purchase The bonds. Mr.. Potts also
spoke in support Of the amendment, as
amendment was adopted.
EXEMPTION FOR DEBT.
The most important amendment was
secured by Speaker Bergen. 1t amends
Section ~. and in addition TO the exemp-
tions allowed in the section IL
exempt all debts represented by writ
ten obligation, provided the party who
claims deduction informs the assessor as
to who holds the obligation. Then the
assessor must assess the debt represented
by the obligation TO the person who holds
the obligation and notify him of the fact.
The holder of the obligation must then
pay the tax to the assessor of the munich
pality wherein the debtor lives. II he
does not. the debtor may do so and deduct
the amount from the principal and inter-
est OF his debt. When the obligation is
held by a bank discounting paper the cap
itai stock and assets OF which are taxed,
the deduction is allowed the debtor, but
the BANK Is not taxed as IL has already
paid the tax on the amount in that paid
on Its capital and assets. The debtor is
not bound to disclose the name of the
holder of the obligation unless he claims
q reduction for the debt.
No measure which has been introduced
into the Legislature, perhaps, has met
with more widespread and universal con-
demnation than this Tax bill. Almost
every member or the House has some
amendment to IL. Senator Werts says
that Morris county is strongly opposed TO
the measure, and ex-senator Pfeiffer of
Camden, says the same opposition exists
in his part of the State. Mr.. Zimmerman
of Bergen, has a humber OF amendments
TO meet the objections of his constituents
and MIR. Jackson OF Belleville. also has u
batch of amendments in his pocket.