The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-28
The Raalways and Their Taxes.

city, in Chancerv Chambers. The city,
through its counsel. Nj. W. D. Edwards
will h present statistics and add
from which II suffers at present. and to
Justify the measure of relief which it de-
mands.
There can be no doubt but that the alb
stract of this question calls for a radical
reform Of the taxation laws. placing rail-
wav and corporation p-roperty-State
franchises excepted. perhaps-upon the
same basis as ether property. This was
the original proposition Of Governor ABB
bett. and he never lost sight Of it at any
time. There can be little doubt but 1t
VIII become the law sooner or later. The
present exemptions and immunities are at
bottom quite as injurious to the COM
panies as to the general public, and as
the great problem of modern finance and
~italssts themselves viii GO to the Legis-
latures and by preference have their in
yestments placed as nearly on the com
mon plane as possible. and this they will
dc from sheer natives of economy.
But the time FIR this enlightened policy
has not vet arrived. and today it would
be useless TO attempt to deal with the
tax laws of this State on a radical basis.
The enthusiastically outside of Hudson
connty-are not educated I'D to the sub
feet. Railroad agents and railroad news
papers industriously propagate error. APP
peals to the blind greed of the rural dis
tricts have been the favorite methods. for
the last few years. 10 prevent the cities.
particularly those OF this county. from
getting justice at the hands Of legislators.
The railway CAPITALISTS themselves are
still in that purblind mental state when
they think it economical 10 heap up taxes
on private property. ~snciudins their own
and spend great sums Of money TO Sc
cure temporary. partial and uncertain ex-
emptions for their corporations.
The best thing that can be hoped for
in the present situation "a a compromise
which viii give railway ridden cities.
such as this. a living chance. Such q
compromise has been proposed by our
municipal authorities. and the railroads
seem likely to accept it. not because they
have developed any sudden iiberality. but
because they realize that they ave gone
50 far in swallowing up the taxable prop
erty of the community as to produce .
crisis. They see tina the time has come
when 4hey must make some concession
today for fear the people would rise M
in wrath tomorrow ard sweep all their
privileges away
The proposal made By the jersey CITY
authorities, through counsel affects
mainly the railway property in this city
fand other citiesl not included in the
main terminus or main stem of the rail
roads. II Is proposed to slightly increase
the rate which the ra 9roads at present
pay on this. The present rate is IA per
cent. The increase might be 10 ? OF 2k
per cert. This, II viii be observed. in
volves a very slightly increased burden to
the e~eupanies-
IT is further proposed that the State
should -eisnauish The one-half of one
per cent which IT at present takes from
the amount levied on mis- class of prop
e.4v, and turn over the entire amount
collected 10 the cities. This would for
a year or two cause a d%irninpt.on in the
ssatess income: but the natural growth
In the other sources Of revenue would
vary soon. 1t is believed. make up the
difference. At present the State has a
large surplus, a surplus which shows a
tendency 10 grow. The annual exnendi-
lures are being swelled from year TO
year. besides. merely in & wantoa effort
TO expend The money rhich flows into
the Traasury. The State has been grow
ing rich at the expense Of its cities. and
the estsss are being IMPOVERISHED to pro-
vide for the extra~asaace of partisan
favor The scandals of the later years
surpassed by the deliberate suuandering
Of public money shown in Republican APP
preparation bills. In a word. the excess
III the States income has had no effect
bet 70 corrupt administrations.
The compromise proposed by this city
ana thus briefly outlined. is said to meet
with Favorable consideration. But it
would be fatal at r1is time 70 create the
Impression snat the citizens and tax
payers are apashetsc On the subject
Nov is the time to display interest and
activity. to impress not only the Com
missiouers but the railroads representa-
Ses with the idea that something must
taat the people will not brook
&c should be a good array Of
Iked BY substantial eth
S. at the meeting on
moral support to the
made by the lawyers
I.
ksestled Problem.
fhe faet that the ex-
kek water Is now flowing