The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-16
EQUAL TAXATION
Governor GIiggs Commits
sion Investigating the
Subject III Tnls
City
PRIVATE AND RAILWAY RATABLES
w. D. Edwards Presents the Num-
cipality's Case-How Brook
Iyn Has Grown.
PRIVATE AND RAILWAY RATABLES

The newly appointed Commission to in
yestigate the taxation of railroads and
canals met for the first time in Chancery
Chambers, this morning. to hear Jersey
CItys plea for more equal taxation. Rep
resenting the Commission ~were:-Attor-
ney-General John p. Stockton, chairman;
General ]. T. Rushing. of Trenton;
Charles C. Black. of Jersey City; ex-
Sheriff Reynolds. of New York. and Will
lam A. ~Yredenburgh, of Monmouth, sec
rotary.
Representing Jersey City were:-Mayor
Wanser, ex-senator W. D.. Edwards and
Corporation Counsel Blair; the Board of
Trade sent President A. J. Corcoran.
Henry v. Condict. -Assemblyman j. w.
Queen, H. w. Carr, F. O.. Cole and T..
Holt. The railroad companies were repre-
sented by James B. ~Vredenburgh and c.
B. Thurston, Pennsylvania; Lehigh Val
ley. William H. Corbin; D. L.. and w,
Flavei MCGEE; New Jersey Central, G.
de Forrest; and these interested citizens:
Commissioner F. Heintze. Mayor Pagan
of Hoboken, ex-Mayor D. Oliver of Bay
onne, Henry Lembeck, ex-Commissioner
r. Brown, Assemblyman E. Hoos, Com
missioner G. w. Harding, Commissioner
]. Kaiser. G. Ferris, Mungo Currie, Edlow
Harrison, ex-Mayor G. D.. Van Reypen,
Reuben Simpson, Colonel c. w. Fuller,
James Connolly and Others.
When the Commission was formally
opened, MrssWiaiam D. Edwards present.
ed the ease for Jersey City.
"WeF come before you, gentlemen, to
complain Of the injustice here in Jersey
City In the taxation of railroad and canal
property" Then picking up a bundle of
papers Mr.. Edwards launched into the abb
struse subject of taxation. He said that
the act of 1854 was largely the outcome
of feeling in Jersey City on the question
of the taxation Of railroads and canals.
The attempt then made to solve the prob
lem for a time was satisfactory, but as
years rolled by a readjustment. became
necessary. Since 1884 there has been a
large increase in the State receipts. Read
ing figures concerning these, Mr.. Ed
wards showed that from 1884 to 1895 the
Expenses Of the State had increased nearly
$780, 900 and the bulk of this increase came
from Jersey City. In Jersey City the peo-
pie are being taxed not only to maintain
their own municipal government. but for
the whole State, and even the whole Mis-
sissippi Valley through its terminal pro-
perty. All the great trunk lines like the
P. r.. R., B.. & o., D. L. & w, Erie r. r.,
West Shore, Central r. R, and N. Y, o.
G W., find their terminals in Jersey City.
The total value of the ratables of the
| State amount to s125, $50, 564. Out of that
sum Hudson County furnishes So, 142, 900,
and out of this the railroad companies
have taken q per cent out Of : the rate
| perty have been taken out of the ratables
of Jersey City and if that increase goes
on at the same rate in fifty years there
won't be anything left.
tfHow long at that rate will 1t be be-
fore they get the whole State?" asked
Secretary V~redenburgh with a smile.
1.-The railroads don't want the State ex-
cept for sidetracks," replied Mr.. Edwards
and everybody laughed.
Continuing. Mr.. Edwards dived into the
values of property in Jersey City. The
sa!dl was xalus $50 Is 1ss, sa5ae and e e this ins the dley. ra Il
read companies owned s4o,3 513.
Does that mean personal taxes?'
mo, sir. II does not. We have not
included ferryboats and personal prop
erty, although they should be taxed. We
remedy for US so that these railroad
companies shall pay their fair proportion.
We 0 want the railroad companies
to pay more than their share, nor the
tors.)
panies now own and for which they only
pay one-half Of one per cent. State tax
s s,,cn not . cl e cent Dfes to 5srsey &c fi fycts sn sba ma SIs
arguments from them ELECTED much APP
plause.. He showed that these great
railroad companies coming into Jersey City
and possessing terminal property in this
city, is not as many contend a benefit to
the city. AS an incident Of that he cited
roads; but has grown four or five times
more than Jersey City. Jersey City
owes nothing 10 railroad companies. ana
Taking up the exact amount of land
owned by the companies, Mr.. Edwards
pointed out on a map the. railroad lands.
| The stem which pays one-half of one per
cent. to the State was colored red: the
terminal property outside Of the stem
paying gn tax ito to the 5o.a State was eolored vel
to the latter class, Mr.. Edwards said it
was fast disappearing.
The total area subject to taxation, he
| said, in Hudson county, was OPS acres,
and that was all for. municipal purposes.
1t did not include about 1000 acres Of
t Mas' city 1a1 ia 1891 Ia was ya asou e S. 81 .lssa Co., o. aa aS
main stem Of the railroad property in
to the tax levy was q, 1883. 900. In Jersey
81. soo: 900. The eighty millions Of prop
said. did not include the G. miles Of rail-
tracks in Jersey CITY now controlled by
the Consolidated Traction Company
which claims the right of paying tax to
Mr.. edwards went into the terminal
property of railroad companies in other
counties and throughout the State otrr-
1 side of man stem, there was about S4l.-
10000 worth of property out of when
Hudson county furnishes thirty millions
| of ratables for the benefit of the Stare.
and from these $50, 600. 90 Jersey CITY sun
| plies S22. sos. 513. or more thar one-half Of
Hall the taxable railroad property for the
State's treasury.
This point Mr.. Edwards emphasized
and his appeal that at least the State
should be economical and should refund
some of the surrlus flowing into the
State treasury TO jersey City evoked warm
applause. 3
Jersey CITY has been the pocketbook
of the State. It has been the favorite pol-
ICY of the State to take the bulk Of lis
funds for building schools out Of tho rfpa-
rian funds drawn mainly from Hudson
| County. They have taken cur water front
away from US bit by bit. They have NOT
only taken the principal away from us,
but by way Of taxation they take from us
the interest. too. (~Applause.)
+tLat me show you how unfair all this Is
to Jersey City. Surprising in the great
city of Washington, where the Govern
| ment holds all the land that they hid
not only to pay for their own Govern
yaanf b1f paar1v fUa-thirdS ~ +hn 49,