The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-18
Time a Halt Was Called on Ex-
penditures Every Taxing Dis
trict a Gamer.
low THE RAILROADS SHIRK BURDENS
zven With she Proposed Increase,
They win sun Bear Far Less
Than Their share.

,
in the Equal Taxation controversy in
which TIE operations of the Act Of 1884
are exposed. Today we give the proposed
remedies as set forth in the brief along
with a portion Of the argument by which
they are upheld in respect to their per-
feet fairness towards the railroads. The
propositions of the brief are as follows
AS we have shown. the great bulk of
few communities; it is not contributed,
as the main stem, proportionately
throughout the State. BY its acquisition
the taxing districts lose so much rata
bles. The municipalities in the meantime
are required to furnish police and tire
protection to these second-class proper
jacent thereto: in ali respects the cities
are required to treat them as any other
proy Erty within their limits.
yet under the present system the
81 with a full treasury, depleteS the
ties which are struggling.
recent report of the State Treas
shows a cash balance on hand of
propose not as a complete solution
he problem, but as fair compromise,
following remedy
cent on the secord-class property.
81 Levy a tax, through the State Board
assessors, at the local rates, not ex-
ling two per cent. on second-ciasS
iiertys apd pay same to the taxing
We beg the Commission to understand
tilat we make no claim to the one-half
per cent. paid TO the State on second
class property because the State is rich
and we are poor. We demand it because
Claim % of the State 4 has no aou foundatien uh ' IN
justice. The amount proposed to be taken
from the State under our compromise
plan OF increasing the tax on second
class properly to two per cent, and Civ
ing the whole of it to the municipalities
will be 500, ,6SS.21 annually. The increase
OF on apon annnsE ans yarasa gery w taxne
district in the State will reap some bene-
Now the state of New Jersey, without
of that economy which has been prom
tsed so profusely of late. can afford to
give up this portion Of the tax. 1t will
not involve the imposition of a direct
State tax or the increase Of any present
tax.
Very few people realize how the ex-
sses of our State Government have
En during the past decade. Under
economic systems of government the
sslft OF money required to administer
EoYernment is first carefully ascer-
ed. stayes are. then imposed to raise
amount. This plan is followed in all
cities. In New Jersey we reverse
method We first raise the tax, at
liked rate, and then devise ways Of
nding 1t. Instead of measuring reye-
s by necessities. we spend whatever
raise. Such system is bound to be
Iavagant; the only woader is that we
sye managed so well under it. The
svenues of the State have increased
rom sloe8, s53. SO in 1884 to 50, 2,l75,g31.S3 in
4-S9a while the disbursements in the
same time have increased from 81 1.120,-
3495-f9 to 81, ,269. .029.86 or over 102 per cent
or course during the same period the
population of the State increased 30.S
per cent. but that leaves over Il per
GENT. of the increase in expenses unac-
2lnted for by natural growth.
Now, IN Jersey City we have been
compelled to be. more economical. Since
HB3 our revenue from taxation has in
creased from S2,06S. S.22 (without tax on
econd-class property to s2.772,3s1 with
TENT, while our population increased l8ls
Ser cent We have been compelled to
pc more economical than the State. The
following table shows the situation at a
STATE.
Popu- Disburse-
,saz lstfon; at sgs Revenue ess : msnts. :.
sss M ssSsiSs Yss 81 asss ss asss sss 6 6
&icrcase, s9.S per ct 1o2 per ct. 102 per ct.
JERSEY CITY.
..-...... 1858 s2os8. .4oS22
1S2,513 2772,sS100
case, le15 per ct. "a per ct.
ae railroads have contributed but
nue. cf the State. In 1884 {the
year OF the new iaw) their State
s2 amounted 10 s9If,253.75. in 1885 to
52911. an increase of $l26. .250.35 tsee
3.f g, page SD; this constitutes only
cent. of the increased revenues.
real sources Of The States increased
aue are tfniscellaneous corporations
q s9S.5is. 10 IN 1884 to ssy7, ,342. Sc in 1850.
terad inheritance tax, Instituted in
Int WHICH amounted in 1895 to si2i,-
I. and official fees from S14.525 in 1884
t02. .75i % ia 1856. These sources of
aue are steadily, increasing.
ring the past few years the disburse-
side ief the account has included
payments for permanent better
not strictly annual charges; they
mt to about $3.50. 900 per year.
Stefe can AFFORD to call halt on
expendsturcs until the increasing
E1ues again show a surplus for lux
s. The steady increase Of revenue
tie miscellaneous corporations, coll
raI inheritance and official fees will
cfre for the normal increase In ex-
dstare The admirable plan Of an an
appropriation bill recently inauglir-
a Ia MI aid in keeping expenditures
#n.s We submit that the State can af-
- to be Just to the cities and towns
permit the various taxing districts
# #;ecefre the taxes on this second -class
3)frfY
xz@ 'comprornise suggestion also calls for
*fncrease IN the rate to be paid by the
+ kQsd dst on seeond-class property from
r local rate, not exceeding one and
per cent. to the local rate. not ex-
zf1nE TWO per cent.
& vas supposed to be an approximation
ne age rate or the State AS we
fccrt.aued on Second P2Sc)