The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-10

will come the opportunity for the Demo-
cratic party to establish a strong founda-
ton on which to erect the fabric OF a new
victory to be achieved in the fall election.
The tide of politics has turned in the last
year. and of late the current has been UNI
~mistakably in favor of Democracy. Now
is the day and now is the hour to convert
the movement into a rush.
Last year the party made itself felt in
the conduct of legislation, although it was
numerically preposterous, even as a min
GRITTY. This year, it is formidable in the
House. and in the Senate its representa-
ton is doubled. 1t is a force which must
be reckoned with. and if the tactics of OBJ
struction were adopted by it, it might
badly as to compel it to make terms on
almost anything.
To win the approval of the people and
secure votes next November, the party
delegations must show themselves at
once and enterprising, jul
dicious and determined. They must show
that they represent ideas-and IDEAS use
full and beneficial to the public. They
must show, moreover, that they are not
Working for effect-making a show, play
ing to the galleries. They must prove
that they are in earnest, that they have
the public good at heart and that sin
certify backs up every effort they make.
In order to create this impression, no
bill should be pressed for the purpose of
quitting Republicans in a hole; that is
peanut politics. Hence, no bill should be
pressed which the party would not pass
if it were in the majority.
Especial care should be taken with the
Appropriation bill; the Democrats should
insist upon its early introduction and full
investigation. Our State expenses have
increased under Republican Legislatures
until they exceed by 100000 those of the
highest years of Democratic control. This
should be checked. The increase in the
revenue of the State from the railroad
and corporation taxes does not justify
waste and extravaganza. The excess can
be used to relieve the communities which
are overburdened with local taxation.
AS to the question of equal taxation,
the Legislature should first remedy the
trick of John w. Griggs in the closing
hours Of the last session, when the great
terminal cities were deprived, so far as
the present year is concerned, of the
benefits of the equalizing tax bill which
to e%ndanger the passage of such remedial
act in the first place. When that is
passed, bill No. 42 of last year, advocated
by counsel for this city before the
Legislative Committee, but defeated in
the House by only three votes, should be
pressed. Under it the railroads would
pay to Jersey City about $3.50, 600 per year
instead of s340, 600, under the act of 1897.
This may not be theoretically equal tax
alton, but it approaches it and has the
merit Of simplicity. Under it all railroad
AopCttss OutSlNS l. DIE 1ildlIi SLeil, WOuid
be assessed at the rate of 2 per cent. by
the State Board of Assessors for the
benefit of the localities wherein it may be
situated.
The Democratic members should also
support some legislation, looking toward
the abolition of grade crossings by the
uai1roode tbro,ol,out +ba c+,+ ME-,
should not, however. submit to the Re
publican programme of having these
grade crossings made at the expense of
the municipalities rather thar of the
railroads. We have enough commissions
now, and to the courts properly belongs
the administration of such laws rather
than to special commissions composed of
the nominees of the corporations.
In respect to Hudson county matters,
the present Board of Freeholders should
be abolished. 1t is unwieldy; 1t is ex-
pensive; it is inefficient: 1t is corrupt. A
small body elected by the people of the
county at large would be preferable. AS
ESSSA might ODJCCl 10 d cldHSc III lSI
system, his legislation could only be ac-
complished under the referendum. But if
sacn a proposition were put to vote in
this county it would be almost unani-
mously carried. Party consideration
should not be regarded in the makeup
Of this bill-the county must have relief.
Liberal minority representation, if insist
ed upon, should be granted.
The Boulevard should be put in the
hands of a special commission. with a
limited appropriation at its disposal. If
such a commission were to be elected by
the people at large, the wheelmen could
be trusted to exert such an influence in
its election as would insure the return
of proper custodians.
These are the main questions to which
our Hudson members as q whole should
devote their attention. There are, how
ever, several local matters which would
call for the exercise Of good Judgment.
For the city of Hoboken. there should be
PASSED, at once, an act providing for the