The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-16
our Assembiymen and tho Taxation
Question.

S~A AhAC - INV -
Question.
The policy Of the railroads In the great
taxation fignt, which is about to begin
in the Legislature. Will be to confuse the
Issue w securing the advancement of a
number Of different propositions. Thus
division viii be produced In the popular
side of the question, ind the force of the
peoples demand for relief viii be lost in
the contention anon their own advo
Gates as to what particular scheme should
be adopted.
In the face of this probability, it will
be the part of the eleven Hudson county
Assemblymen to stand together resolutely.
They must constitute themselves the for
tress about which the equal taxation
forces may rally, and they must resist
all efforts. from whatever direction. to
impair their strength.
The way in which they will be attacked
is By endeav6rs to induce them DIS indi-
viduais to axe up more or less divergent
positions upon the question. The way in
which they can preserve their power is
by definitely refusing to do this, by get
ting together at the outset of the cam
paigh, by agreeing upon a set of de-
Inands. by pledging themselves to each
other to stand by the agreement, and
then by resisting ali EFFORTS to move them
from their position, whether as individ-
nais or a group.
If the Hudson men can come together
and stand together in this way, they will
be a power. Otherwise they win be a
beaten mob. No fight can be carried on
even respectfully without unity and con-
centFatien of purpose and effort.
IT may next be asked, what policy the
Hudson members should resolve TO stand
by7 We think the situation, as 1t stands,
affords hardly any room for hesitation.
The Hudson fight should be made upon
the proposition TO increase the tax on
second class railway property to two per
cent, to be assessed and levied by the
State with The present machinery, and
to be turned over entire to the several
municipalities. This should be the war
cry and the Hudson men should not only
fight for It but should rally ali the sup
port they can get from other quarters to
realize il.
There are manly reason for this. First
n simplest, 1t Is the demand made on
behalf of Jersey City, through its coun-
sci before the stockton Commission.
Secondly, 1t is the recommendation made
by Mr.. G. G. Black. who was the repre-
sentative OF this section Of the state upon
the Commission. Thirdly, 1t is a plain,
moderate, Business=like proposition. Ii
places the burden upon the railroads far
below the local rate. 1t does not increase
the taxation which they pay to any ops
pressive degree. 1t AFFORDS an increase
of income to every city in the State, and,
some adequate revenue from the vast
tracts OF her most valuable land which
the railroads have absorbed and taken
out Of the reach of her own assessment.
The report filed by the Stockton Com
mission; from a logical point of view,
completely comedies the case to Jersey
City. It lays down; in unfnistakable
terms; The principle that the second class
railway property, like other real estate,
should be taxed for local expenses and
npt for State purposes. The argument is
particularly elaborate upon this point,
and sufficiently convincing, and in it even
the railway attorneys. Rushing and vre-
denbuigl, were Obliged to coincide. 1t
may be assumed that this principle Is
established as d settled feature OF our
State policy, from this time forward; and
we believe, not even the railway lawyers
viii undertake TO dispute 1t.
This being the case, the only question
remaining Is as to how mulch tax it Is
fair and proper tnls second class prop
erty should pay to the cities, and we can
perceive no abstract reason why they
should not pay precisely at the same rate
as private owners of real estate. They
get every benefit from our municipal adj
vantages that private citizens do, and
it takes the brain OF a railway lawyer to
concelve Of a Fease why they should
pay less In return for them.
AT any rate. the proposition that they
should pay 2 per cent. is moderate In the
last degree. The average rate OF taxa
ton for the entire State Is higher than
that, and In Hudson county, where BIZ
far the greater portion OF the second
class property Is located, It is very much
higher, an average of 70 on the hundred
dollars, probably, taking In all years.
This difference is ample to cover the all
legged discrimination against the railroads
IN the full valuation Of Their property
By the state assessors. til point OF fact,
no such full valuation is niade. tt Is d
railway fake. But granting shat the Faii-
way property Il assessed at ten OF fifteen
~ eenfs nearer is true value, III this