The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-02-16
WATER AND TAXES.
The Board of Trade to
Crusade Against Rail.
way Exemption.
GROSS WRONG TO TAXPAYERS
Why Jersey City's Rate Is So High
The Belleyille Water
Purifying Experiment.

The Board of Trade held a regular
meeting last night, President Joseph a,
Dear presiding. Secretary VIM. J. TAFT
read an invitation from the New Jersey
Water Purifying Company of Newark,
inviting the Board to inspect the come
pany's plant at Belleville, individually or
collectively. as the Board prefers, and
offering to furnish the means OF transit.
The invitation, oil motion of Mr. Bankss
was accepted for tomorrow r. J. Weaver,
the Purifying Company's agent, said the
experimental piaat at Believille was Ca
pable Of purifying 1000 gallons an hour.
Mr.. James Flemming reported that q
bill had been prepared by the committee
named for the purpose to provide for the
reapDointment of tue State Water Coms
mission. The bill was in Mr.. L. G.
Wards nossession, he said.
President Dear said that some members
OF the committee had waited on the Gov
ernor in reference to the bill and were res
ferred by him TO the Attorney General.
Mr.. Ward went TO Trenton, last Tuesday.
to sac the Attorney General, and was 10
be at the meeting, but he was not
present.
UNFAIR TAXATION.
Mr. Flemming said that no one except
those who had given special attention 10
the matter had any idea how much pro-
perty was taken out every year from the
local tax levy. He understood that two
bills had been prepared to remedy this
evil, and he would endeavor to obtain
copies of them for the consideration Of the
board. Ii all property was taxed In this
city, as it ought to De, the rats
would not be over one and
half per. cent. A member. Of the
Board OF Assessors had recently informed
him of the withdrawal of S14.0 900 from
the tax levy. A piece OF property on
which Mr.. Flemming had had a mortgage
had been sold to the junction Railroad.
and since then the property had not been
asked to pay cent of tax. Mr.. Flemming
moved that the secretary procure from
the members of Assembly and the Senate
all bills relating to the taxing of property
in Jersey City and Hudson County.
Humphrey w. Carr suggested an
amendment that the Secretary procure
copies of all bills affecting Jersey City
interests.
President Dean said that the exemption
of railroad property from tax was blot
upon justice. But strong interests were
entrenched behind this exemption. IL
was good thing to stir the people
up on this matter. The more they
heard about it and talked about
it the more indignant they IN ust
become. There was not a man here
paving the tax rate of Q so who was not In
jured, handicapped and made poorer by
having to MADE up the tax which the cor
porations should pay. Mr.. Dear bad been
in hope that Mr.. Flemming would move
stronger resolution. He suggested that
committee be appointed TO promote
campaign tor just taxation. 81 am
convinced" said Mr.. Dear. that there is
q Governor in the chair who is in SYM
pathy with the people. The sense OF
Justice of the people of the State is such
that when they see their first city, aud
most populous county groaning under
impositions for the benefit of rich corpor.
ations, they will not oppose us, or say
word against us.
THE KoRsECAR DEAL.
"We hope the railroad which has Just
been sold at S3l5 per share will be run in
the interests of the people. and not merely
to keep ferry busy or to serve another
rich railroad. But you may be sure that
the men who have put their millions Into
this road were convinced that they could
make the STOCK still more profitable.
reasonable for the exemption of
the property of a new ente rprise
capnot be urged now. There is no JUS
tiee in such Discrimination. A paid
lawyer Tor the sake of his fee will go into
court and defend the exemption of rail-
road. for in court he may quote law and
defy the principles of Justice. The law
as now framed is partial and inequitable.
1t is time to make an agitation on this
matter and not stop until the wrong IS
right. The exemption of railroad prop
erty in Jersey City is outrageous"
Mr.. File mining moved the appoin tment
of committee to bring the unjust ex.
emptions of property In Jersey City be-
fore the people and the Legislature, aud
take other action to secure the desired
reform. Before the meeting closed Presi-
dent Dear named as tue com rnittee. James
Flemming, John }. Voorhe es, II. Y. Con-
dict, A. j. Corcoran and John Awaken,
The President was added.
ERIE CROSSINGS.
Mr.. A. j. Corcoran presented resolu-
tions commencing the Street and Water
Board for its effort to secure the eleva-
tion of the Erie tracks and enjoining the
Board to continue the efforts. Mr.. Corr
coran read the statistics of lives lost on
The Erie crossings, which he recently
read 10 the Street and Water Board. He
exhibited diagram of an elevated road
from the Erie tunnel, which could be con-
struc5ed at grade of 80 feet to the mile.
Grades of 60 feet are in use, he said. Mr..
Corcoran's resolutions were adopted.
NICARAGUA CANAL
Mr.. Anderson of the Committee ON
Commerce reported resolutions favoring
the Nicaragua Canal project. aud request
ing Congress to support it ana get con-
saw was that the undertaking might have
the fate OF the Panama Canal scheme.
After desultory discussion the resolution
was tabled.
A letter from the Associated Boards of
Trade of Boston, informing the Board of
the Boston Boards petition for the peal
OF the Sherman Silver bill, and their oppo-
sition to the Silver bill introduced by
Congressman John f. Andrews Of Ma ssa-
chuSAttS WAS referred