The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-30
RAIL WAY OCTOPUS.
How the Corporations Have
Grabbed Jersey City's
Taxable Property.
HARD NOW TO PAY OUR WAY
Additional Facts Laid Before
the Stockton Equal Tax
alton Commission.
PLANS FOR PARTIAL RELIEF
Louis V. Booraem Denies That
The Railroads Are
Sufferers.

The commission appointed to investi-
gate the taxation of railroads and canal
property in this State held its second
hearing this morning in Chancery Cham
bers. Besides the Comm lssioners, Attor-
ney General Stockton, General J. F. Rus
ling, ex-Sheriff Reynolds, C. c. Black
and ". H. vredenburgll, there were law
yers representing the railroad COM
panies. present, and Mayor Wanser,
Messrs. W. D. Edwards, NJ. ]. Furst
HeLry " Condict, S. L. Harvey. ex-
Judge Garrfck, James II. Love, w. G.
Bumsted, William Klink, C. Ferris, Mum
go Currie, L. " Booraem, James c..
Young. J. A. Dear, Charles p. Thurston,
Frank Stevens. A. j. Corcoran, Congress
man T. AIcEwan, MIC. Cudlipp, John M.
Jones, Mayor Seymour of Bayonne and
J. w. Queen.
Mr. Edwards supplemented his great
speech at the first hearing when he
presented the eitys case with data of a
volum nous nature He produced maps
showing the sections in the city where
railroad property existed and pointed out
those portions now assessed by the local
Board, which will ultimately become rail-
road property assessed by the State
While the maps were being exhibited
everybody crowded around the Commits
sionars' table and discussed them.
Mr. H. v. Condict. representing the
Board OF Trade, presented that body's
views regarding equal taxation He ad-
vocated changing the law so that every
piece Of railroad property should pay the
same as private property. or S2.75 per
thousand The Assessor should tax every
piece of property at the fullest rate. In
some parts OF the city he only taxes it
30 per cent while in others he taxes
the full rate.
.But haven't you a Board Of Equaliza-
ton Of Taxation2' asked General Rus
ing hui NJ. cendict said that Board
could not remedy the evil. The law
!, needed to be changed.
Counsellor Louis Y. Booraem was the
pnext speaker. He pictured Jersey City
,,1thirty years ago. and said that it had been
ruired by the railroads. Jersey City was
the home place for New York, but as a
place for homes il had been ruined by
railroad corporation. Take any of the
SIDE streets in Jersey City today. The lots
there had deprecated and were not so
valuable as they were twenty-five years
ago. They owed nothing to the railroads.
Mr.. Booraem hoped that the Commission
would remedy this state of things by
laying down fair rules for taxing rail-
reads Like the question of river pollu-
ticn, the question of railroad taxation
is affecting the whole State. The time
is fast coming when this corporate greed
must be checked. As property owner
in Jersey City ne knew the sentiment of
the people, and the situation was reaching
the danger point. The railroad com
much rates as you do'' but that is not
the point. What Jersey City needs is
equal taxation.
property, said that on Montgomery street
three city lots worth about $4,000 had
their value. Most of the property in the
city was taxed at rs per cent. of irs value.
yet railroad companies We're taxed at a
lesser rate. and take out territory from the
tax levy. Yet. he said, people talk about
these poor railroads how they suffer.
Why. gentlemen, take the Pennsylvania
r. r. 1t guarantees 10 per cent. divi-
dend on its stock, and they can acquire
riciles. and Jersey City is dragged down
in the dust
Commissioner Vredenburgh, interrupt
ing,asked Mr.. Booraem what should be the
remedy.
lIr. Booraem replied that the Commits
sien should not go behind the law. and
suggest the amendment of the constdtu-
ton itself so far as 1t affected the ques-
tion. The Commission, he said, should get
at the bottom of the subject. and suggest
the remedy In legislation.
Attorney General Stockton said that the
constitution and law was all right, but
he said that half the property in the
State escaped taxation Some time age
tionize the whole system of taxation ii
proposed 10 make every owner disclose
what property he had. but that bill was
killed In the Legislature. He, the Attor-
to the Commission True it was innIisi-
foGial. but IL was the best kind of equal
taxation for il lowered the rate through
out the State, and every one had TO pay.
Congressman r. NcEwan said thai
change Of ownership should not make any
change Of value He hoped tnat the Com.
mission would devise some rule of uni
form taxation on valuation. Every dollar
OF property ought 10 bear its fair share
of taxation.
Mayor Seymour OF Bayonne asked leav,
Ut a later date to present facts and fig
tires relative to Bayonne's plea for equa
taxation Like other cities BaYoane, b,
gaid was heavily oyerburdaned with take.
and wanted relief.
Mf. Joseph A. Dear. at the outset Of hi
speech. warned the Commission that the,
wcre not Don Quixofes who armed witt
al the windmills.'' Mr.. Dear said tina
for the Board to consular any question
Of general revision Of che taxation law
vas simply playing into the hands Of tn
The Attorney-Geaeral reminded Mr.
Dear that the Commission would have u
draw a general law and could not draw
bill FOR Jersey City alone.
CIR. Dear t1lsn pulled out typewriter
speech Of several folios. which he rea,
Il The Commission. This speech was
scbemo originating with Mr.. Dear
which he said would cover all the abuses
The suggestion have to make there
fore. is That this Commission recommen
the amendment of flae Law 70 read pro
Eided, That aia real estate other tllan tn
n1aisi stem, the tracks outside fhe 100 feet
sli depot buildings whether for passen
ger or freight. asi basiixs or Waterworlxs
riparian rights. docks, wGarves and pier
1sed for terminal purposes, shall Sc as
sassed separately, Also to amend Sec
Jon Y OF same act by adding the word
f34efs company shall also pay ID addition
said rate Of half Of one per cent. Il
property described as terminal property
Jay tax OF Inc local rate as fixed 10
;eun tF and municipal purposes upon otlae
property; but the iazl mentioned rate b
sresha9f Of one per cent. Shall IN no cas-
sxeeesz 3 per cent. OF The value or the pro
-L..9~. 4 y - p