The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-08-14
MAYOR HOOS' REPLY
Will Send a Communica-
tion to the Board of FL
nance About the
Budget.
THE RAILROAD TAX MIDDLE
Jersey City Was Assured That
She Would Receive the Adj
ditional Money Next Year.

Mayor Hoos is preparing a communica-
ton for the ediication of the Board OF
Finance, and the tax budget will be the
burden of his song. His Honor in this
same letter will offer reply to some
of the statements made in the recent
famous answer of the Board of Finance
to His Honor's charges of maladminis-
tration of the city's financial affairs; and
he will also explain why the veto of
the budget, which he had prepared, was
not sent in.
My communication is not veto," His
EMnor said to a News" reporter; 1T
is q review of the Finance Boards fiscal
policy.
The communication will ~ sent in by
Wednesday, and in order that 1t may
not be included in the bombshel category
the Mayor, hearing this morning that FL
nance Commissioner Reuben Simpson was
in the Finance Boards office, sent in re-
questng Mr.. Simpson; to call on him.
He informed Mr.. Simpson what he was
about to do; but, of course, gave no in
dication as to the nature of the COM
munication, excepting in general sort
of way. The Finance Board will meet on
the afternoon of Wednesday, and HIS
Honor's communication will be received,
and whatever action is necessary will be
taken.
The letters received and published yes
terday in 1.-The Jersey City News" from
Attorney General Grey in reference to
the extra s114,000 from the taxation OF
second-class railroad and canal properly,
indicate that the putting of that amount
in the tax levy is the chief point of the
Mayors attack Relying on the opinion
of the Attorney General that the sum
make the most of that point 1t was
pointed out TO him that the Governor
had promised to give his aid in securing
the proper legislation by which the State
Comptroller can pay over to the city that
sum, and relying on that promise the FL
nance Board included the sum in the tax
time to secure that legislative authority
within the ciIy's fiscal. year. To smooth
cut difficulties Mr.. W. .. Edwards, who
was mainly instrumental in winning the
Equal Taxation fight as special counsel
for the Finance Board in the matter, will
go to Trenton on Tuesday to have a con-
respecting tn that question. There IS not
the slightest doubt expressed that the
necessary legislation will be passed for
the cily'S relief.
IN speaking of the opinion of the At
torney General, Mr.. William D. Edwards
said this morning that though it might
Jersey City under. the circumstances, as
at the time the bill giving the taxing dis
tricts all the tax derived from real estate
used for railroad and canal purposes,
Jersey City would receive the amount
this year.
Mr. Charles G. Black, of the recent Equal
Taxation Commission, Jersey City was
to receive one-half of one per cent. ad-
ditional OF air moneys thereafter col,
withiB the city. The Governor objected
to that, because, he said the. taxes for
1871 had not yet been fully collected and
j
it. was not anticipated she should re-
ceiye; The bill was thereupon changed
to read that the city should receive one
after collected. against railroad prop
erty and the bill was made to take effect
Immediately. Some question was raised
as to the force of the bill as thus drawn
and the Governor finally drew up this
measure which became a law
Il. The taxes which hereafter shall be as
sessed upon the real estate used for rail-
Glstrs1 GGad ana 4 canal fi gnrposes in each taxing
and assessed under the provisions of sub
division two of section three of said act
when collected shall be allotted and paid
over to the various taxing districts
through which said railroads or canals
run. giving to each of such districts the
total amount of tax that may be derived
canal company therein.
"2. This act shall take effect upon the
first day of November, 1897
At the time the Governor prepared this
measure the people of Jersey City were
assured that while she would get none
of the money derived from the taxes for
1897, she would have a share of those Of
1898. This as those who were at Tren-
ton will remember, was all done in the
last hours of the session and the citizens
of Jersey City had. to take the Cover
nor's bill or nothing.
Mr.. William p. Edwards, who was one
of the. leaders in this fight at Trenton
last winter. said this morning that in his
opinion there would have been no doubt
on the question If Jersey City had not
raised it herself. w,gaS
of railroad and canal property the State
assessors are compelled to assess the
property between June / and Decem-
Der i of each year. and it becomes
lien the first days af AIcszas,ala