The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-10-20

economy they sought to continue Repup-
licans in office, in the cities of Newark
and Jersey City, at time when they
knew that the people were ready to drive
them from office by reason OF their IN
competence; and they would have sue
ceeded had not the Courts OF the State
put upon their partisan scheme the
stamp of dissapproyal, by declaring the
law unconstitutional.
We charge the Republicans with prac-
| tising deception upon the voters OF this
State when they pledged themselves to
revise the tax laws in order to secure
a more just distribution of the burdens
of taxation. The record of that party
in making this issue to secure the suf-
frages of the people, and then utterly
ignoring the demands of the taxpayers
clearly indicates the controlling influence
of corporate power over their acts. And
we pledge the Democratic party to ac-
complish this reform, and to right the
injustice that the taxpayers of this State
now suffer, by enacting legislation that
will distribute the burden of taxation and
will compel property, both personal and
real, to bear its just and reasonable
share. They sought to conciliate Jersey
City with an appropriation of Sl00,OO0. But
that is not the equal taxation that the
people demanded and which the Republi-
can party was pledged to enact. Although
confronted with the fact that personal
property pays but twenty per cent. OF
the tax, and that the inequality Is so
great that in some counties personal
property is about forty per cent. of the
property assessed and in other counties
but eight per cent is discovered by the
tax assessor, the republican party did
nothing in the interest of the people.
The Democratic party pledges itself to
reform of the existing tax laws.
During the last four years the Repub-
lican party has. by a system worse than
gerrymander, sought to destroy the au-
tonomy of towns and townships for par
tisan purposes. They have divided towns,
taken parts of towns and annexed them to
other towns, changed the boundary lines
of towns so as to increase the territorial
area of some and diminish that of other
towns, and have even sought to change
the boundary lines of counties. The mere
Increased representation to be gained in
a Board of Freeholders has often been
enough to bring about this kind of legis-
lation.
At time when the State needed to
protect its own resources and franchises,
for the sake of the revenue due from them
to the State and for the interests of the
people at large. we find that at the last
session of the Legislature the Republicans
passed the Delaware dam bill, and the
corporations that may profit by that act
are not compelled to pay anything to the
III IA
enjoy under It,
In another Infamous measure, the rail-
road commission bill, the corporations
sought to invade the authority of local
governing boards and place the streets
and avenues OF the cities and towns un-
der the control of a commission. 1t would
have been easier for corporations seeking
franchises for street railroads to obtain
such grants from a single commission
than from the different local bodies, and
but for the indignant opposition that
Democratic minority was able TO arouse
they would have passed the BILL
We condemn the passage Of laws under
which the oyster aands of the State have
been givensup to squatters. who have ap-
proprfated large tracts of these lands to
the exclusion and injury of large numbers
of citizens of the State heretofore en-
gagged in the business of gathering oysters
and CLAIMS. and we pledge the Democracy
of the State. Ii given control of the
legislature, TO thoroughly revise the
oyster laws.
We declare that under the extravagant
and reckless administration of the Repub-
hcan party. the municipalities OF this
State have been permitted to become op-
pressed with an enormous weight of debt.
That during the past four years that IN
debtedness has about doubled In dlsre-
gard of that economy which should guide
in public affairs. they opened up the gates
Of legislation for a flood of municipal
debt. Under Republican administrator
this debt has grown from about S4o,0o0, oto
IT,. 1890 to about $90.000,0Oo at the present
time.
The records of the State Treasury show
gross extravaganza in expenditures Tor
the, last four years. The disbursements
OF the State were increased from 81 90O,0 ,0o0
in 1884 tc 81, ,269, 600 in 1895, and it is estl-
mated that for the present year they VIII
, be at least 2.3S5 COO. This is the only line
in which The Republicans have shown
| progress. The highest point ever reached
under Democratic administration was
! ST. 900 III 1898. just before the Republi-
| can party assumed control. II the Re-
| publcans could show any return for this
Increased expenditure the people would
be satisfied. but they cannot. 1t has been
| expended for partisan reasons, in the eff
| fort to more firmly intrench that party
in all the departments of the State.
| Governor Griggs, the Chief Executive
| of the State. fagrantly violated the
spirit and intent of the Constitution in
| the appointment of officers. Every ap-
pointment was "a personal one. The
people had d right to expect much from
| the man who was chosen by them upon
a platform piedging reform, and declaring
that they should receive above all
partisan considerations, the very highest,
| purest and best government that human
wisdom can give" But he considered
| that clause of the cOnstitution-"the
advice and consent of the Senate" a
nulIity. and of no binding force upon him.
Political. availability to himself rather
than public service guided him in the
| selection. of officers, and he boldly
| affronted the Senate when they sought to
advise with him.
| Such was the character OF MS admin
| istration. and such was the character OF
| the legislation that was enacted by the
Republican party. Upon this arraignment
| of the Republican party and the issues
| we present we look to the support of all
| good citizens to again place the Demo-
| cratic party in control of their affairs,
| -fhus ensuring to the people economy,
/ IN