New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-21
HEARING or EQUAL TAXA1ION
A RAILROAD REPRESENTATIVE SAYS IL
WOULD BE UNJUST.
MAYOR wANsER AND OTHER JERSEY CITY i"0
ERTY OWNERS QUOTE STATISTICS IN SUP

ERI1 -OWNEkS QlOlE SIA iiN' -
PORT OF THEIR PLEA.
Trenton Feb 20 (speciaD.-The Railroad COMMIT
tee of the House gave another hearing 'o-ua' va
Queens Equal Taxation bill. The first speaker "a,
James Allen. who appeared for all the raiiroaus ~
the State. This the most important p"e
which had before the Legislature, MI |''
admitted. but equal taxation was a mshoine' ~, "
II Mr. Queens bill should pass he said IL "o"'' ~
unjust taxation 1t would impose upon ''e 'r o.
roads an additional burden of $l,V"ep annual
Last year the railroads paid to the state N'f"v,O
He free to say, however, that II ne were '
Hudson County he would advocate the Dill, peVau'.
Hudson really suffered from the present System "a
taxation There doubt that IT was d o'''s
law for Jersey city. but that not the faui' Vi
the railroads. they did not ask for the law
Mr. Allen traced the history OF the various a',
tempts TO secure taxes from the raifoauS' anu
showed how the present railroad law had pa'u ,ne
States debt and wiped the State tax. IN mn
nois the railroads valued at SVVp a H'l''' -
New ork ut $4,000 mile: while IN New
they are valued al $4,000 a mile. Mr. Alien S''u
he would be willing to let the local boards Oh as
the railroad property just the same %
any other o,
Assemblvman Hoos spoke next. He said: Inc
New-York and New Jersey Railroad has c'sh'ee"
miles OF track in New-Jorsey. on TINS IL Pa''
S. $50 81 own $1,000 worth Of property III 'c'H'S
City which Is assessed at $62 600 and on when pay
s2.3lS."
In reply to Mr. Aliens argument that the o'"'r
Board of Assessors is unjust the railroad ne s'
that the New-York and New jersey Railroad h"' e."
station at Carlsbad which was assessed AT ~ , U
which, IA had been built by private ilui su''.'
would have been assessed at 5000 or $V" n' ~
man Lomer asked II Jersey city would he pe''ci o'
without the railroads. -, ,..sar CIV
"Certanly." came In chorus from the jersey '''
people present $500, CIV. 81
Then Mr. Tice asked what made Jersey ~! ~
important if Ii the railroads. MI V"'''
replied that IL the water front ,,arv
Mayor Wansc: made comprehensive sum g.,
OF the question He said: The total area Oh '
sey civ including public streets ana lal'i ~,
water is about 1895 acres. Tie assessor o - az
valuation. fixed by local assessors ior ~ a." 49,
1885, is $50 1850 The assessments as leViti y! ~
State Board of Assessors for lssi-'' on pio'hr'y
used for railroad and canal purposes othei tnh'
main stems amounts to &2.5s,5l3 The to'ai ar ar,
OF property assessed Is 1898 acres lhrouS"ou'
the state the railroad and canal main stems A.
treated By the state Board OF Assessors as Il UNI.
and the valuation placed on THIS class OF pIopel -
in Jersey city may be estimated AT over sV'ni"",,
The result IL that although the value OF ran
road property is increasing very rapidly IN iiuI
son County. the amount OF taxes received oy lne
city from the State therefor has not increased pro-
portionate.y.'
Mr. Queen then introduced Louis Y. BorreaHi' u
Jersey city property-owner. Mr.. Rorreani sAit
that. owing TO the depreciation Of the value oi
property caused by the railroads. ne mas be'h
obliged TO leave Jersey city, ard is now living on
the Orange Mountains at Moniclar