The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-03-25

SHOULD PAY AS OTHERS.
The Board Of Trade FaVors
Selling Street Franchises
and Requiring Rent.
NONE SHOULD BE EXEMPT
Resolutions Fayoring Competition
and the Exaction of Five
Per Cent. On Gross
Earnings.
NONE SHOULD BE EXEMPT

Ino Board or TRADE met last niRuL W
consider 1.-THE proposed wholesale occu-
patton of the public streets by railroads
and the terms on which it should be al
lowed" The outcome was the adoption
of resolutions that street railway fran
chises should be paid for, and that all
right to exemption from taxation should
be waived.
President Dear stated the object and
referred to the proposed Hoboken, Jersey
City and Rutherford, the Consolidated
Tr; ction Company. the Jersey City Rapid
Transit Company. which once proposed
an elevated railroad to Jewett avenue.
and the Crimmins Syndicate. and other
companies which have promised I'M
proved means of trans 1t
DOUBTS THEIR GOOD FAITH.
President Dear said it might seem
ungracious to take stand against an ex-
tension of our railway facilities OF which
we had long Seen 10 need. But 1t was
obvious that not all the applications for
street railway privileges were in good
faith, but intended only to pre-
vent rival companies from oc-
eupying the streets. There was
a law which prohibited the paralleltng OF
street railroad within 1000 feet. The
established companies might hope TO shut
out competition by fling claims for
routes they have no intention of imme-
diately using. When railroad exemption
was first agreed upon. the object was TO
tempt capital Into an Investment of great
advantage to the city but very hazard
Gus TO the investor. That is not
The case now. 1t may be said that the
are bravely out OF it now. When rail-
road stock is worth $50 aud fifteen mil
lions are ready for investment III 1t, you
may Ee sure that big profits are seen.
The most remuneratfve property is the
means Of intercommunica5ion In
thing rs bankrupt street
railroad. have never read of street
railroad bsing in the hands of a receiver.
1t is clear that these companies should
ask for no favors at our hands. Other
cities are receiving pay for privileges.
see no reason why Il company willing Co
come here and make money should not
pay for it. Let the city doits own work
in keeping the streets In repair, and ask
reasonable price for privileges. l hope
some resolution to this effect will be
offered"
TINE FOR A HALT.
DR. L. ]. Gordon said that applica tion
to take general possession of our streets
uuder the plea that IL was an advantage to
the people was TO his mind speciouS and
impudent. During his residence in this
city Of over 45 years he had seen the
streets given up TO rival gas, telegraph,
Telephone and other companies, with the,
idea that the people would gel cheaper
rates, but they got no advantage frout
it. Promises of that kind were like tine
letter that never came. l5 was time, 10
call a halt in giving prizes to corpora
tions.
Referring to the statement Of President
nj. Tr7r,c rv NII
terday, DIR. Gordon said that railroad
president had seen fit to reply to the
statements of the Board of Trades Com
mittee to the Tax Commissioners.
The Jersey City and Bergen
railroad which should pay a tax of $685.
GOO if it paid anything TO the city, pays
$1,000 to the State. 1T would seem TO
me no more than just IL our Street and
Water Board should say to the street
railroads, you will pay such rate for
your privileges that will make you
pay to the city an amount. equivalent
to the tax you ought to pay. L
have made adiagram to show the amou e
Of railroad property exempt In this city,
NEARLY oNE-FoURTH EXEMPT,
DR. Gordon held up q sheet OF letter
paper on which he had pasted piece of
black paper, which covered little less
than one-fourth of the sheet he said
that every man in the city who paid taxes
railroad property.
CoRCoRAN sLAPs THE ERIE.
Andrew j. Corcoran said we didn't
want tt to go abroad that we are opposed
TO improvements of wtich there is great
need. There was roeu for great improve
lnent, not only In regard to railroads,
but in the general management OF our
local affairs. Itdid him good TO see the elec-
trio cars. but they were so poorly lighted
in the evening 1t was almost impossible
to read the name of newspaper. The
North Hudson County road WAS said to be
anxious for the use of electricity on Grove
street. The New York men who have Of
fered such high price for the Jersey City
and Bergen STOCK were no doubt sure OF a
great profit. About everything
lie owned was taxed. The man
ufacturing concerns In this city
are more deserving of franchises than tn
railroads. They employ more men and
bring more money to the city. There are
no corporations which employ fewer men
according to the ground they occupy than
the railroads Counsel for the Erie Rail-
road announced that the railroad had
made Jersey City. II has made mass OF
poor cripples. 1t has license TO
kill The railroads used the
streets aud city land with imDunity
but il he put barrel on the sidewalk he
was liable to punishment. II the people
would encourage manufactures, we
would have a manufacturing city that
not even Sheffield in England would be
equal to.
were made to pay for privileges, the
city would get better service
and taxes would be lighter.
He knew of man VINO owns O hve-story
house in Hoboken and a four-story house
In Jersey City; the Hoboken house PAID
the best rent and was taxed for $25 less
than the other.
Mr. Hoos REFUSED PASSES.
Er-Aldertnan Hoos said that when he
was an Alderman be tried to have a law
saxinr street railroads $50 for every car
in use made effective. but was iaugnea
at. When an Alderman takes his seat
the first thing be gets Is O railroad pass
and he rides free during his term o!
pffice. l Irefused TO take pass ana PAID
whenever rode. Whene yer measure
for railroad comes before the Board,
the holders of passes are supposed 20 Vote
for it. and all arguments amount
to nothing. This company, winch Is
coming from New York proposes TO
pobble up everything, and there Is noS
RESOLUTION enough in the people 70 pre-
vent If. Ipay a tax of ST. 800. have
Foods which I have carried over from
Vear to year on which mnse
nav tax. That is The way Inc
taxpayers of Jersey City are handled.
When tie people come to vote they won
consider the,e things, and therefore
dop't expe Ct we will get any redress.
dot.,l see any remedy"
Mas.r Tomukius and III deman spoke