The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-04-16

bills to carry out the ideas urged by Mr..
Harrison and myself before the Commits
sion, We're prepared and handed to the
Hudson county delegation for introduce
ton; one of these bills No. i provided
that the terminal property Of railroads
and canals should be assessed at full local
rates for local purposes. but inasmuch
Eas the railroad companies insisted that
their property was assessed at 4 higher
rate relatively than the property Of other
people, an equalizing clause was inserted
IN the bill. giving to the State Board OF
Assessors the power to equalize between
the State values and the local values; this
bill would lave done exact justice to this
class of property, both as to the railroads
and the taxing districts. The other hill
tNo. 42) provided for taxation of terminal
property at local rates not exceeding 2
per cent, and the paymen of the whole
tax to the municipalities. 1t was based
| upon the fact that the present&ayerage
tax rate throughout the State was a frac-
ton over 2 per cent. AS a matter of dol
lars and cents, 1 am of opinion that this
would have been the more profitable
enactment for Jersey City, but it was
open to the criticism of unequal valua.
ton by different boards and systems.
These bills were pushed in every way
by the Senator and Assemblymen from
! Hudson county, Mr.. Kink acting AS the
introducer and advocate of the bills on
the floor of the House. The opposition to
the bills were from two sources-one from
the railroads. who objected to any in
| araacn Of favofiop orl Az 1+L,-xf.1A.
the other counties of the State, who
claimed that the result of this legislation
reducing the income of the State, might
lead to the imposition of a State tax.
This argument was adroitly exploited by
the railroad people, and was given as.
an excuse by many members for voting
against the bill. If Essex county had
stood by Hudson county in this fight,
Jersey City would have obtained all that
she asked for in the House. Upon a close
vote bill No. l and bin No. AZ were de-
feated. II the meantime House sill No.
lS4, following the lines of the report of
the Commission, was introduced and
passed by the House; in the Senate it was
claimed that there was some ambiguity
as to when the bill would take effect.
Rather than run any risk on. this point.
a new bill. No. 366, was hurriediy intro
duced in the House and passed there and
in the Senate. This is the bill which has
been signed by the Governor, and is now
knows as Chapter SO of the Laws of 1897.
The law as enacted. does not afford en-
tire justice to Jersey City. It is, however,
a greater step in the right direction, both
in principle and results than any of its
predecessors. Under it Jersey City will
receive a greater increase of income from
this class of property than under the
much-lauded act of 1854. 1t also elimi-
mates from any future contest the oppo-
sition of the other counties, based upon
a fear of a State tax, and leaves for the
future agitation only a c~iean-cut issue
between the railroads and the people.
1 would advise that in making up the
tax levy for the coming year that the
benefit of this increased sum be given to
the taxpayers of Jersey City, and that
that fact should clearly appear in the
tax budget and in the tax rates Ii this
increased sum of money is simply spent
by the city by increased appropriations
and expenditures, there win be little hope
in the future-of further legislature or this
subject, looking to an equalization of the
~ 49, ~ tiC dt1l 0dQ1
and other property. If the money is SO
spent, the prophecies made by our oppo-
nents, in season and out of season. viii
have been fulfilled.
I lave written thus at length about this
matter, because l think some permanent
record of this memorable contest should
be among the city archives. also send,
bound up, a copy of the briefs presented
on behalf of the city, and on behalf of
the railroad companies in this matter, to-
gether with copies of the maps. The
large maps. prepared by Mr.. Fowler I'M
der the direction of Mr.. Harrison, have
been filed in Mr.. Fowler's Office and will
be there available for future reference.
We have also placed before the taxing
department of the city several matters
of Importance, which were discovered Ly
us in the course OF our investigation. and
which will increase to quite a consider
able sum the taxable values Of the city.
if properly looked after. In this con-
nection l may say that hereafter the
State authorities will nave very LITTLE in
terest in keeping up or increasing the
value upon the terminal properties nc
CURED and to be acquired by the railroads
companies. because they will receive no
revenue therefrom; for this reason, in
creased vigilance on part of the city win
be necessary before the State Board of
Assessors on this subject.
I herewith enclose my bill for services
and disbursements in this matter. to-
gether with Mr.. Harrison's bill.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed)
WILLIAM D. EDWARDS.
Mr.. Edwards bill for services and ex-
penses is slo.1s144, and Earle & Harri-