New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-17
JERSEY CITY,S ARGUMENT.
1T PAYS MOST OF THE TAXES FOR THE
STATE.
VIZ rnv.pns SAYS THAT AT THE PRESENT
RATE THE RAILROADS WILL SOON OWN
THE CITY-uEARING BY THE EQUAL

THE CITY-HEARING By THE EQUAL
TAXATION COMMISSION
tn. Commission appointed by Governor Griggs 20
investigate and report on the question OF equh'
,axat,on visited Jersey City yesterday 10 hear the
nleas NJ the CITY officials and citizens. The repre-
sen,at,ves of the city had plaintive story 70 tell
M ltv in the State so entirely needs equal taxation
as Jersey City, It argued The railroad corpora,
tons have absorbed It's valuable shore iro"' anu
acres OF its best land. and do not pay local taxes
rhs hearing was he'd In the Chancery chambers.
The commission consisted OF Attorney-Genera4 1ohi
y stocxton chairman; William II. Nredenourgh. OF
Monmouth County secretary; General James r.
Rushing OF Trenton; Charles c. Black OF Jersey
CITY and ex-SheriN Reynolds. OF Newark Inc CITY
officials who attended the hearing were Mayor " All
cor John I Nevin the Mayors secretary; Street and
Water Commissioners Kaiser. Brown and Harding
Finance Commissioner Simpson, and Corporation
~ourse, John A. Blair Ex-Corporation Counsel Ed
wards Assemblyman John w. Queen and several
members Of the Board OF Trade we're present. Inc
railroad companies were represented by F1avel NC
Gee. william Il Corbin and James VredenourSn-
Many prominent citizens attended
The case for the city presented by ex-Corpora-
zion Counsel Edwards. In opening he said: We
roma before YOU gentlemen 10 complain OF the IN
tustce done Jersey City in the taxation OF railroad
and canal property The &C; OF 1884 was passed De-
c,usa OF the demand OF Jersey City. II anorded
partial relief for time but a readJustnent Is
necessary now" He then read statement OF the
Of the State showing that from 1884 to 1896
they had increased about $4,000 and the bulk OF the
money 70 pay this had been drawn from Jersey CITY
The total value OF the ratabes OF the State, he SAID
is Sa5 s6o5s4 OF this sum Hudson County furnishes
go 1l2 OOo and out OF this the railroad companies
49, ,,kan q per cent. In twelve years the
ro-atlons have taken sl7oooo0 out OF the ratables
~ Jersey City" he said "and II that increase goes
=, ~ IN. same rate there won't be anything left in
Atty years.
How long a, that rate viii IT be before they
o.. the whole state?" the humorous query OF
Secretary Vredenburgh
The railroads don't want the State except for
.,ds,racks" was the reply. which caused laughter.
NJ Edwards. continuing. said the total value Of
M rs,abee o, the city is $50 1888 and OF this the
railroads own S4OSOs.5l3.
docs that mean personal taxes"
"No sir" said Mr. Edwards. I'll does not. We
have not included ferryboats and personal property
ol,hourh they should be taxed. We ask you in this
-alo,,on 20 devise q remedy for US. that these
railroad companies shall pay their fair proportion
We don't want the railroad companies TO pay more
than their share the Individual less"-a senti-
that was heartily app bs nraosr,v n.
corporatlons have taken on which they pay only
one h railroads were a benefit city by com
n maj tHT me growth OF the city with Brooklyn Jer
M cy ows ToW R1'h IN Spite 10 Of Of He eReaned
With a map the lands which the railway companies
have absorbed He took the figures OF the valuation
~ -i%ey properly IN the state and said that Jer
60 supplies more than half OF all the tax
able railway property for the State. In Closing he
si.rsey city has been the pocketbook OF the State
II has been the favorite policy OF the State to take
~ h1,k OF is funds for building schools OF the
rtn,rs an snds drawn mainly from Hudson County
fhaarsken our waterfront away from bit by bit
hui by way taxation II takes from US the interest
81 .s,-
citv Supposlng In tho great city OF Washington,
,bsrs rhe Government holds all the land, that Il had
NJ only 20 pay for It's own government. but nearly
twothirds OF the tax OF he whole country. That
an ernggerated Gaze, perhaps but Il very nearly Ia
nsrailel case 10 Jersey City. Jersey City needs
that money TO live. not exravagantly but econom-
tcaIiy II This goes any further-ths taking away
property from her.-she will have TO decrease her
rpolice and FIRE force. the number OF her schools