The sun., 1896-10-09
NEW JERSEY TAX PROBLEM
RAILWAY CORPORATIONS oBJEcT
TO PRESENT ASSESSMENTS.

The Pennsylvnnin Company Pays S1So an
Acre In Jcrsey City. Other Taxpayers
eeoo - Complaint Hs Made That Ger
tain Trusts Escape Taxation In Jersey.
The New Jersey Commission appointed to In
vestigate tho subject of equal taxation held n
session yesterday in Chancery Chambers. Jersey
City. The members present wero Attorney
General Stockton. w. H. vredonburGh, Charles
@. Black, Gen. Roebling. and ex-Sherlfr Rey-
nolds. Representatives of the railroads had
hearing. Lawyer James B. VredenburRh and
Charles Il. Thurston represented the Pennsyl-
vhnia Railroad. Lawyer Flavel McGee the Nor
ris and Essex. LAWYER George Holmes the New
Jersey Central, and James Allen tho Erie.
Judge John J. Blair, Corporation Counsel OF
Jersey City. and ex-senator William ID. Ed
wards represented Jersey City.
Mr.. Vreden burgh said that the Pennsylvania
Railroad Is paying moro than its fair share Of
taxes. Jersey City property Is taxed at only go
per cent. of It's full value, Elizabeth at 40 per
cent, Railway 80 per cent. and Trenton 90
per cent. The tax levy in Jersey City was
$4,000. 900 last year. Tho Pennsylvania Rail-
road paid taxes at the rate or S752 per acre.
while other taxpayers in the city paid only $266
an acre. Mr.. VredenburEh called upon Mr..
Gardiner, the company's chief engineer, to give
the Commission some facts and figures: Mr.
900. and one-ifth OF 1t is located in jersey City.
The company pays n tax OF one-half OF one per
cent and the amount annually paid to Jersey
ssnstor Edwards asked Mr.. Gardiner II he
had Included In his valuations the property In
Greenville recently acquired BY the company;
that the company has 2i5 miles OF road in the
state and 80 In Jersey CITY.
What do you consider ~ the ", valuation ,I % Of the
About s7.ooo,o0o." answered Mr.; Gardiner;
And the real estate outside OF the stemp"
mad fr 1yrR Rr6a
About $40. .000,O 900"
=, Mr.. vredenburgh said that the Pennsylvania
inc taxes on property which Is exempted from
taxation under n State law He said he referred
appointed by the Supreme Court had put "a wall
uation OF $50O,O00 on that property. a State
sp so Ss
be exempt from local and municipal taxation.
The law had been tested and declared by JUS
tice Depue OF the supreme Court to be con >titu-
tional. Notwithstanding this. the company.
MIR: Nredenburgh snd Is paying an annual tax
I'VE own said Mr.. vredenhurgh, less than
ono forty fifth OF the acreage OF Jersey City. yet
the property VIC bought in Greenyile for coal
chutes was assessed at S9S.C00. The following
year the valuation was increased TO S427 1000.
so IL is with all property acquired by railroad
company. As soon as a railroad company ac-
quires piece OF property its valuation increases
at tremendous rate in the eyes OF the as
SCISSORS"
Mr.. Edwards asked Mr.. vredenburgh how
much the property on the north side of the
Greenville tract. and the property south Of 1t.
owned By the Point Breeze Railroad Company,
were assessed.
They don't pay a penny OF taxes" replied
Mr.. .Vredenburgh. They never paid any taxes"
Mr.. Nredenburgh said that the local assessors
made no attempt to assess the numerous cor
porations having their official residence in Jer-
sey City; and which are capitalized at over
Sl.00O.U0 900. He gave this list OF the cor
porations: Sugar Refinery. 81 j, 900 900; Cordage
Trust S34; 100000: National Lead Trust. s30,-
national Navigation Company. Sll 100000:
National Importation Company. $50 100000.
Attorney-GencrRl Stockton said that few of
the corporations mentioned had a dollars worth
OF property in the State.
The next session of the Commission will bo
held in Newark.