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

Mr.. Rsdeman suggested the tax should
be conditional on the roads earning six
Per cent. President Dear said that then
the railroads would never make cent.
They understood bookkeeping. The tax
should be on the sross earnings.
Mr. Rademan favored inserting In the
contract with electric railroads the condi-
tion that the roads should be compelled
to adopt inventions that would promote
public safety.
STREET RAILWAY EXPENSES.
The discussion turned to the expenses
and proper fares of street railways.
President Dear said he had not heard of
lower rate than five cents in this coun-
try. Mr.. sHoos said the rate was
three cents in Toledo. Presi-
dent Dear said an analysis
in the Engineering Journal of the exs
pense of running street railroads showed
that the cost OF running horse car per
electric car with the old style double
trolley, $1.32. The new style single trolley
is still cheaper. President Dear declared
he did not blame the minority stockhold-
ers of the Jersey City & Bergen who
were reported to hold back for $500 per
share for their stock.
HEAVY WITHDRAWAL.
DR.. Gordon said that 81, 100000 were
taken from the rateables last year by the
Lehigh Valley Railroad Company and
this year applications have been made for
the withdrawal of $6U0,0 more. II the
railroads were properly taxed. they would
pay the entire interest of about s750.000
on the city's debt, Of SIS, 100000 outside of
the water debt. He offered the followin
resolutions which President Dear bad
written:-
THE RESOLUTIONS.
Resolved, That the Board of Trade of Jersey
City, recognizing the necessity of improved
fra eli nj N
perity and growth of the city, welcome the
coming of any railroad organization that will
supply the people of this o,a city yneaSaa %ith
and asks the Board of Street and
Water Commissioners to extend to such roads
all proper opportunities for business Including
the use of the public streets under proper con-
ditions.
Resolved. That it is only just to the people of
this city, that the franchise asked for shou Id be
adequately paid for. and that proper rent
for the use of the streets and the valu-
able franchise asked for would be
an annual charge of at least five per cent on the
gross earnings of each company.
Resolved, That 1t would be to the clear ad-
vantage of this city that the Board shall so act
on the applications as to promote competition IN
street railroading and not strengthen existing
Resolved That we believe no consent should
be given by the Board of Street and Water
Commissioners to the occupation OF any street
the company making the application shall. in q
legal manner waive any claim or right it claims
to persons to exemptions from local taxatio n
THE COMMITTEE.
The President named the following
committee to present the resolutions to
the Street and Water Board at the
Boards meeting on Monday next: DR.. L.
j. Gordon. James E. Banks. Peter Rade-
man, F. w. Cane, Andrew j. Corcorau,
Samuel B. Tompkjns, James Nc
Ilheuy. ex-Alderman Edward Hoos.
After some further discussion in the
same vein by DR.. Gordon, G. G. Jewell,
William A. Corcoran and S. B. Tomp-
k:ns, the Board adjourned. The next
meeting will be held In the basement of
the building, on the third floor of which
the Boards rooms now are.
The German Pioneer Verein of Jersey
City at a meeting held on Thursday even
ing, March %, unanimously passed the
following resolutions
Whereas Applications are now being made to
our municipal authorities by private corpora
tions for the granting of franchises to run
horse aud electrical railroads through the
streets Of Jersey City without revenue or benefit
to our citizens; and,
Whereas Other cities have received and do re-
ceive considerable revenue for such grants
and privileges, thereby benehting by lessening
the burdens Of taxation of the property owners;
and,
Whereas, 1t has been proven that such grants
and licenses have been and ars4 OF great value
corporations; and
Whereas, The exemption of such corporations
from municipal taxations entails great burden
to the taxpayers of this city, which is constantly
increasing by reason of the rapid growth of
their tax rateables and the constantly increasing
demand for municipal protection and as all
property acquired by them is so much taken
from the tax rateables of the city; thereto re
We, The German Pioneer Verein, an organ
ization of /, 200 members citizens an taxpayers
OF Jersey City, having the welfare of our muni
cipality at heart, and realizing the danger and
injustice TO our citizens by the rapidly growing
railroad exemptions from taxation, and the
further granting of franchises to street rail-
roads, without revenue to our city, in meeting
assembled on the 23d day of March, A. D. 1873,
unanimously,
Resolved, That we individually and in a body
protest against our municipal officers granting
any further franchises to private corporations,
without revenue to our city. and further pro-
test against the tax exemption of railroads, as
being the means of furthering the ruination of
our city's credit the increasing of tax rate, the
prevention of the growth of our city, and being
gross injustice to our citizens and tax payers;
And be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary Of this Verein
spread this resolution In full upon the minutes
OF this Verein. and cause copies thereof to be
made and presented to our Mayor, the Board of
Aldermen and the Street and Water Com
missioners.