New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-25
PLEAS FOR JUST TAXATION.
THE LAST HEARING OF JERSEY CITY AND
BAYONNE.
STATISTICS Addicted TO SHOW THAT THE RAIL
WAYS ABSORB THE MOST VALUABLE LANDS
AND DEPRECIATE VALUES BrT GIVE
LITTLE IN RETURN.

/
LITTLE IN RETURN
The Equal Taxation Commission met in the
| Chancery Chambers in Jersey City yesterday 10
end the hearing If the arguments for Jersey
City and Bayonne. General Rushing PRESIDED
as Attorney General Stockton was absent Com
mssioners william Vredenburg. Charles {.
Black and A. NJ Reynolds attended.
The Commissioners heard the Bayonne repre-
sentatives. Mayor Egbert Seymour. City Sur
veyor Emmett Smith and City Attorney James
Benny. map was produced to show the large
tracts Of land the railroad companies own. The
Mayor said that not only had the railway cor
porations taken from the ratables large blocks
Of valuable land. but adjoining property had
deprecated. and lowered the amount Of taxable
property. He contended that all railway prop
erty except the main stem should be taxed at
the same rate other property, especially mat
used for storage purposes and sidings' Inc
railway companies, he said. had taken up a
large plot at Communpaw. Jersey city. FOR stor-
age purposes and were extending their property
holdings for this same purpose into Bayonhe'
Railroads had recently absorbed so much prop
erty in Bayonne he said, that lots could not be
sold to-day for the price they could nave Deeh
sold for five years ago The city. he SAID, re-
ceives by the present indirect method Oh 'aNa-
ton from the State for railway taxes 5000 Vi
annually, whereas if the railways paid their
share like other property holders the amount
/ would be S16,S}1 -.
City Surveyor Smith explained that of the
$50 acres in Bayonne the railway companies
now hold 70 acres and will soon add 16s acres, as
roads and branches are projected or under CON
struction. The most valuable part of the city
ha cho
way companies are steadily encroaching.
Tur, QUESTION OF PERSONAL TAXES
General Rushing asked Mr.. Smith about the
amount of personal taxes collected In Bayonne
Mr. Smith replied that the amount was small be-
cause the residents not wealthy men, but
men who had built or were building homes
through the aid o: building and loan associa-
tons. General Rushing replied that there were
few wealthy men in Trenton. but that city col
lects personal taxes to the amount OF Is per cent
of the real estate.
RECOMMENDATION Counsel Edwards Of Jersey
City then took up the question OF personal taxes
in answer to the claim of the railway lawyers
that il is not properly assessed ana collecteo
and said the savings OF the people or Jersey
city were invested in savings banks ana puiiu-
Ing and loan associations Dotn OF WIG which we, {
free from taxation. OF the S3S.0OO.UCO IN the
state deposited in savings bank. SS,6i4'ooo was was
in Hudson County. and lJ,433 people III the
sociations the average value of which was a
little over 800 He found that less than TWO
per cent of the bonded indebtedness or jersey
City was held by its citizens. he Prouuceu
statistics to show that Jersey City had large
population in tenement-houses. He then TOOK
no the number II manufactures. and IN snow,
ing the capital invested IN them N !ne ,h
invested: in Trenton. $10.2lSO4l: in Camden,
SD PA 800: in Paterson. S2I 6Wbot3 While III
Iorsov CITY there was only $lS,lG)O9f so IN
vested. He contended that these figures clearly
proved that Jersey city was collecting larger
share Of personal taxes proportionate with ,he
amour. invested than any of the other cites
named He also contended that Jersey City
We uld lead the cities Of the State by decided
majority in manufactures. If the railway com,
panies had not seized the land along the shore
and closed the streets near the river.
Engineer Edlow Harrison produced statistics
TO show that New-Jersey receives less money
from railway corporations than other states
The Commission will hear the railway repre-
sertatives on october y.