The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-09
ABOLISH EXEMPTIONS.
Radical Action Taken By
the State Firemen's
Association.

The New Jersey State Firemen's As
ISOLATION has for a long time been con-
sidering the matter of equalizing tax as
sessments. Monday night, through its
Executive Committee, which met in fire.
mems headquarters, Newark, It took an
important step in tax reform, deciding
to recommend the complete abolition of
tax exemptions. There were twelve mem
bers of the committee present when the
vote was taken and not one dissented.
Here is the address TO The public which
they decided on:-
The Commissioners appointed in this
State to consider the equalization of tax
assessments having, it is understood, de-
termlned to recommend the repeal of
the laws which grant an exemption of tax
on $500 of assessed valuation to each fire.
man and member of the National Guard,
the Executive Committee of the New Jer-
seq. State Firemen's Association avails it,
self OF this circumstance to express it's
views upon this important question.
The law providing such exemption for
fremen was passed at a time when there
We're but few paid fremen in New Jersey,
and the number of such is still compare
lively small, when considered with the
aggregate of those who are doing fire duty
N this State. Probably ni~ne-tenths Of
the hrernen In this State are volunteers.
They pay dues to their various ~organiza-
tons, provide themselves will uniforms,
and bear the heaviest burden of the cost
OF providing fire protection in the locali-
ties where they are organized. Their nm
paid service involves risk of life and
health, and damage to clothing, besides
the cost OF maintaining their organizations.
Their service Is entirely unselfsh and
contributes only to the public good. This
service was rendered before exemptions
were granted. and will continue to be
rendered if exemptions cease.
The fremen have felt, however. that If
any citizens are entitled TO exemptions
they Should be included among the num-
Der; but they have no desire to be classed
as public beneficiariess and are willing to
surrender this privilege when all the ex-
emptions are eliminated from the statutes
Of New Jersey
Az a matter of equal and exact Justice
the Executive Committee of the New Jer-
sey State Ffremen's Association, desire to
put themselves on record as ~favoring the
complete abolition of tax exemptions of
every nature in this State. These who
institutions are in the main Taxpayers,
and the payment of taxes by such insti-
buttons would only result in the decrease
of the rate on the private property. While
average taxpayer it would remove every
possible excuse for tax exemption of any
nature.
We hold to the broad principle that
everything containing value, no matter
by whom owned, should be taxed, with
out discrimination of any kind.
To give this contention the widest pub
LEFTY possible we hereby instruct the Pre-
sident and Secretary Of this Executive
Committee to forward a copy of his pre-
sentiment. over their official signatures,
to the Governor, Equal Tax Commission.
each member of the Legislature and each
local firemen's relief association in New
jersey. The local associations are also
requested to secure its publication in the
newspapers. and to urge the Importance
and justice Of our position upon the menu
bers Of the Legislature in their respective
counties.
These officers We're elected for the ensu-
son; Vice-President, Henry A. Lyons; Sec
rotary, E. D. Tlrttle; Treasurer. Alfred
Rider; Trustees, John Pierson, William
T. Frey, J.. N. Davis, A. J. Valentine, Mil
ton Baldwin.