New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-11
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v>...-..,o oorruntion TO continue for many
years II the bosses and their tools In the Lee,s-
lature had not provoked an uprising os ioo
bling citizens of the commonest rieh's Va '
.eIspovernment Now that the Republican
party is in absolute control OF the state so'
eminent for the first time in thirty years II
cannot afford to initiate any OF the pluhoeis "a
the enemy II the Legislature at present III
session is amenable to warning ana ao'ice' IL
will not pass any bill designed to take from
On. neonIe or their local officials the control
that they presently hold over the puonc "'e"
vavs. Measures drawn for that purpose are
nend,ns in the House of Assembly. ana they
are thus Attingly characterized by the East
Orange Township Committee: FIRST 'he sa'u
bills absolutely destroy the principle Oh local
ell, ,ov.rnn,ent and take from the township
control over highways passing through III sec
md they depriv property-owners within each
municipality Of lhe right to say whe'her al
electric streetcar line shall go upon the street
IN front Of that property; third. they destroy IN
<ha township of East Orange highways loi
which the property owners and the township
have been heavily assessed. and which high-
ways were originally declared 10 De Tree car
rage roads: fourth, they are piiis lor WHY"
there is no public demand, and are lhiqui'ous
and special, and designed TO permit IL passeu'
the robbery Of all private rights IN Puoho
streets by corporations which should De COM
pelled to condemn and pay for their rieh's Vi
way as other companies carrying on 'he ous'-
ness Of TRANSFORMATION of passengers; fifth. the
streets in Essex County. which these DIS turn
over to the trolley companies. have cost the
taxpayers s3.0O0,O0O to grade. pave and lay out.
and 1t is proposed to place those roadpeds mus
made and graded over to the trolley companies
free Of charge"
Assembiyman ]. Martin Roll is a member OF
the Union County Board o. Freeholders The
Board held meeting the other day, at whch
Mr.. Roll not present and IN response 10
popular sentiment 1t unanimously passed
resolution condemning Mr.. Rolls BILL No 251'
giving Freeholders exclusive power as to the
granting of franchises to trolley roads.
The Rev. George Buckle has shown good
sense In needing the suggestion Of his elders to
cut loose from those persons who have been de-
flaming Elizabeth and assailing the character
Of its Mayor. Mr. Buckle was undoubtedly mis-
led into his former course through Ignorance of
the facts AS good citizen let alone
teacher of morals md religion. he surely would
not knowingly hxce .,oautenanced alleged re-
form efforts which included the employment
of the most abandoned persons and the dis
semination Of statements, calculated solely to
debauch pure minds within the gates of the
city and to give that city a reputation abroad
Of which 1t is not deserving.
In spite Of all that has been said by eloquent
advocates Of the railroad companies. Jersey
City Is not getting what 1t ought to get in the
way Of taxation from the companies. But As
eembyman Queens bill does not provide the
best method for obtaining what is justly due
TO the municipality Of which he is the special
champion in the fight for Equal Taxation"
This however. is not said by way of disparag-
ing Mr. Queen, who has made the best. squarest
and ablest fight ever seen in the Legislature
on this question. But he looks at the matter
solely from the point Of view Of Jersey City
man. A broader conception of the situation and
wider acquaintance with the circumstances
throughout the State should convince Mr..
Queen that his proposals would work positive
injustice in many localities To make all rail-
road property pay tax at the local rate would,
IN some instances. stop the running Of poor
paying branch rarroa especially in the south
ern part Of the State, and in other sections the
railroad contributions would be wholly out of
proportion to the money received from other
taxpayers
The subject is one that cannot be satsfac-
tOrlly disposed OF In a hurry, ana CRUDE leslSid-
ton on such an impo -tant question is certainly
undesirable. When a settlement Is made IL
ehould be on a basis carrying some guarantee
Of permanency. d ,es ii not, therefore, seem the
sensible course to adopt Assemblyman Reeds
resolution for commission. appointed by the
Governor. to Investigate and report next year?
Such a commission ought to ascertain partcu-
lary how the railroad companies can be COM
PEELED to bear a fairer share Of the general
taxing burden at their terminals without MAX
ing them pay too mvch elsewhere. The COM
panies should contribute more than they do to
the municipalities of Jersey City. Hoboken.
Camden and Phillipsburg. for example, but 1t
won't be so easy as 1t looks to determine just
how much that increase shall be, or how 1t
shall be levied
The Erie Railroad officials have brought the
track elevation conferences with Jersey City's
representatives to a standstill. The company's
spokesman unwilling TO agree to any terms
which the municipality could possibly accept
and they now threaten to withdraw their reor-
ganixation bills rather than allow them to be
used as club on the company. This attitude
seems to preclude the possibility Of further
friendly negotiation, and 1t is now for the
Legislature to act. 1t is not only the right, but
the duty Of the lawmakers to face the prob
lem-not Jersey City men, nor corpora
tion men. but servants Of the people willing
to do what they can to help abolish grade
crossings. There have been dozens of sugges
lions made to the most feasible and equitable
scheme for accomplishing the purpose aimed at
but there Is, in truth no consensus Of opinion
in any one direction. Perhaps the Legislature
could not do better than to authorize the Gov
ernor to appoint commission Of able and
unbiased persons to make inquiries and report
10 the lawmaking body next January.
The returns from the township elections
throughout New-Jersey, nearly as they could
be collected at late hour .ast night will be