New-York tribune., 1895-12-29
MNNRSEYNEN,

wouldn't there be a fine state OF things IN
New.Jersey II 4, were possible to put into opera
ton such a law as Congressman Bailey has pro-
posed in the National Legislature? Mr. Bailey's
bill prohibits Senators and Representatives from
so]iciting Federal appointments. What blissfui
feeling Governor-eect Griggs might have II Sen
ators and Assemblymen were debarred from pes
terng him about patronage!
II the war horizon should get darker by next
summer Senator Bradley could make Dig MT
10y having the Naval Reserves assigned to duty
at Asbury Park 1t would please the young 'ars
and delight the visitors.
An impartial critic summing UP the weeks
developments in State politics would say tha'
Senator Thompson is ahead in the fight FOR the
Senate Presidency and Alfred A. Skinner in the
contest the speakership Of the House
Small wonder. indeed that the taxpayers OF
Jersey City are clamorng FOR change In the
taxation laws for the purpose Of compelling the
railroad companies to pay on the same basis as
individuals. In that town the railroad companies
own about one-third of the real estate ana they
pay 100000 year less than would be the case
were they assessed at the regular rate.
The report OF the State Board Of Taxation
shows total valuation OF property OF all Klnds
returned within the State as H,o01.2o6,73l. and OF
this amount 22ls7o,22l, or almost one-fourth OF
the entire valuation. is returned as railroad and
canal property At the same time. while the total
amount received for taxes exceeds SIG 100000, the
railroads and canals. while owning one-fourth OF
the assessed valuation. pav only one-sxteenth
Of the taxes.
The question OF reforming taxation laws
will be one of the most important before the new
Legislature. There Is nc good reason why the
local property owned by railroads should be
treated differently from the property owned by
any other corporation 0r individual. BY making
all property bear a proportionate share of the
taxation. the municipal treasures Of Jersey City.
Newark. Trenton. Paterson and Camden would
be enriched and the burden Of other taxpayers
in these municipalities reduced. Another good
result would be enforced economy in the state
Government An overnowing treasury resulting
from indirect taxation is always strong tempta-
ton to extravaganza.
The water problem. too must receive attention
Before it is too late the State must preserve its
watersheds. which have been falling into the
hands Of mercenary corporations. Newark is
the only city in the State that has provided
quarter of a century ahead an arlple supply Of
pure water. All the other municipalities in the
northern section OF New-Jersey are growing rap
idly. and even those now having good supply
such as Paterson and Orange must face before
many years the need Of getting water from
new and less limited source than the present
The Pequannock Valley. whence the Newark sup
ply comes is sufficient for all If the State will
only keep the corporations off until the munich
palities are ready.
That the corporations are not idle is apparent
from the latest proposition made by the East
Jersey Water Company to the Newark Board OF
Works Read 1t carefully:
The East Jersey Water Cempany will M build od a,5s new
one-half of the cost Of It's cons,ructSn; the
s IS Be by s' s
shall ST. 400 900 its estimated ed cost the the
to become the property of tho city after September
the completion Of the new :, cSnd% the sdss East
sSnSs S S sn so% held IN
give satisfactory security for its further & compliance ON
The city thereupon to have the right to draw an
agrees as saPs By
ad and @ The Of s9 nr Hn
Company to have the right to draw an average
pacy H' Of fet the S Of supply until September
1919 For the Of fepns an Ss 6e of
East Jersey Water Company shall have refrained
At any time wh9 a Wbs has S9e rs
TO draw it shall have reserved to itself the right
shall have been exhausted but it will not overdraw
in anticipation OF having future reserves available
right TO add to the sources Of supply. at It's own
by S 0f oeon % pipe S
dtonal works and rights after September "A, 1910;
upon by arbitration.
OF course no one can blame the Water Com
pany. 1t didn't go into that business solely for
benevolent purposes and naturally is anxious
to make hay while the sun shines. But consider
for a moment what 1t wants Newark to do.
In effect, 1t says: Your contract calls for 5o.-
100000 gallons daily The present pipeline
won't supply that, We'll construct that
will deliver you more than the contract calls for
II you'll pay half the cost Then you'll pay over
to us the $2,500000 now held back to guarantee
the funment Of our contract. instead of wait
ing till 1900 In addition to this you'll let us use
all the water you don't need until 1910. Well
use the s2,5oO.000 to build additional reservoirs.
and these, with your surplus water. will enable
US to supply Jersey City and other towns, at 80
much per million gallons. until we make enough
money to build plant for them and sell it for.
So. ss, 900. 900"
CHINESE LAUNDRYMEN AT ODDS.
CUT RATES CAUSE LIVELY WARFARE IN
HARRISON AND KEARNY.
There is war IN the Mongolian camp in that ter
rtory east OF the Passaic River known as Harri-
son. East Newark and Kearny. Fierce competition
In the laundry business has split the race into two
factions One side upholds the Trust methods and
wants an ironcad combination made TO maintain
prices while the other believes in free trade
rivalry in which each shall get trade as best he
NAV regardless OF how the other fellow gets along
One enterprising Chnanan in Fourth-st. reads
American newspapers regularly and the big adver-
tisements OF cheap sales recently appealed to his
commercial instincts. He got out handbiils an
,ounr,nr reduced rates ard business increased