The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-02-02
EQUAL TAXATION.
Democrats Inaugurate an
Active Fight All Along
the Line.
CHAIRMAN FAIRCHILD'S INSOLENCE
Wants to Know If Mr.. Aliens
Bill Is in Good Faith-Fight
for a Principle.
Railroad Policy of Delay Renewed
Bauer's Five-c6nt
Fare Bill.
Especial to "rhe Jersey city News."l


alton occupied a prominent position IN
yesterdays legislative proceedings. In
the first place Mr.. Allen introduced a
new bill. 1t is entitled: A supplement TO
an act entitled An act to revise ana
amend An act for the taxation OF rall-
road and canal property approved Aprli
tenth, one thousand eight hundred ana
efghty-four.' approved March twenty
seventh, one thousand eight hundred ana
eighty-eight, and it provides that 1t snan
be the duty of the State Board OF AS
SCISSORS. in addition to all other ascer-
of values now required TO De
made by them, to ascertain the true value
of all real estate owned or used for rail-
road or canal purposes in each taxing
district in this State. including the true
value of such parts of main stems ana
waterways as shall be found in each such
taxing districts.
That the State Board of Assessors
shall, upon the completion of their valu-
alton and assessment, proceed to com
pute the tax upon the entire assessor
valuation of each railroad company ana
of each canal company, as ascertalneo
by them; upon such valuation each com
pany shall pay TO the State, Tor STATE
purposes. a tax at the rate of oneehaif
of one Der cSntun1, alnudill, uPOli can.
dollar of valuation, and the stare bodlu
of Assessors shall compute the SAM,
each company shall also pay, in addition
to said tax of one-half of one per centuHl'
a tax at the local rate. as fixed and as
sessed for county and municipal pur-
poses, upon other property in each taxing
district. less one-half of one per centum.
upon the valuation of all its real estate
in each taxing district, lncluoing the
value of its main stems or WaterWdys,
found within such district, when Ian
Shau also he cdmputed by said state
Board of Assessors.
Senator Foster~of Hunterdon county mas
another measure of this nature whlcn is
most extreme, and goes beyond anything
yet introduced in this line. 1t pfovloes
that all railroad property OF every ae-
scription shall be taxed in the same man
ner and at the same rate as that Oh pri-
'The ommitte on Railroads and Can
ais held its first meeting yesterday after,
noon.1and took up Mr.. Aliens first equal
taxation bill, which is numbered l. ana
provides that the State Board of Asses
sors shall tax all railroad and canal prop.
srty in the State at the rate OF one-halI
of l per cent. for State purposes, ana at
the local rate for school,, county and mu-
nicipal purposes. the local rate not to ex--
coed 2 per centum. That the corporatlons
made no mistake when they placed Mr..
Fairchild al the head of the committee
was fully demonstrated before the meet
ing was over. Mr.. Allen asked that the
committee fix a time for a public nearing
on his measure. He said that as intro
-ducer of the bin. ii would not take him
long to lay before the committee what he
considered to be a prima facie cure + hroko
in Mr.. Fairchild, have you introduced
this bill in good. faith?"
Those in the room looked at each other
in establishment at this u~nmannerly ques-
ton of the Chairman, 1t took Mr.. Al
lens breath completely away, but when
he finally recovered himself he said
81 must say that l am perfectly dumb,
founded at such a. question. 1t is well
Known. that everyone in Hudson county
49, n1lral nV0ftn ~ nf a
right here that there can be no pohtlcs IN
the matter Of equal taxation. I am not
Republican State Committee may be, but
! know that the Republican
of Hudson county have advocated this
measure. The feeling in our county ire
it. 1t is one of the measures most dear
TO our heart"
often" again broke in Mr.. .Fairchild,
that it seems like a waste of time for us
TO go into it again this year"
"I don't think you are justified in say
ing that" replied Mr.. Allen. "Of course
if you voice the sentiment of you COM
miftee, can see that there is no use in
Report the measure adversely. Don't
waste your time. But remember you are
going against the people. The struggle
between the railroads of the State. will. l
suppose. have to be threshed over again.
] am fighting for a principle, that's all.
The question of equal taxation should only
be dealt with as a matter of principle,
and not be coupled with any partisan mo-
tiyes.
introduced by those representing the rail-
roads. They claim they are Overtaxed.
There should be a law on our statute
books providing that the railroad corpor-
alton should pay the same rate of tax as
an individual, nothing more. The railroads
claim they are overassessed. II such IS
the case, and the railroads want a State
Board of Equalization thai will have SUI
preme control. I promise that the entire
Democratic minority will stand for a
measure creating such a board. If you
want to tack on an amendment to the
Equal Taxation bill which will positively
prevent the State Board of Assessors
from oyerassessing the railroads, l will
support it,"
Mr.. Fairchild said tina he thought it
was unwise to further consider the bill of
the present. "Inasmuch," he went on,
"as there are several bills which have a
direct bearing on this bill, we had better
let it go over for a time
II would like to have the committee fix
a date for a hearing said Mr.. Allen.
IF you will just put a law on the statute
book which will provide that the corpor-
ations shall pay their equal share of
taxes, i will stand for any measure which
will prevent the railroads from being
overassessed. We are willing to agree TO
anything that is fair. We do ask, how
ever, tina when a date is fixed for a hear
ing there will be few delays"
II have sometimes seen many kilograms
from railroad lawyers" significantly re-
marked Mr.. Allen. asking to have the
case postponed. It has always been the
policy of the railroads to keep the Equal
Taxation measure back as long as pos
sible.f'
The committee refused to fix a day for
a public hearing. but it is supposed one
will be given next week.
The committee next took up Mr.. Bauer's
trolley bill, and the in~troducer also asked
for an early day for a hearing on his bill.
He explained that his bills We're to COM
pei the, North Hudson County Railway
6 Company to treat its patrons with de-
cent consideration. III there is anything
in the bills that you may consider ppeju-
dicial to other localities" continued Mr..
Bauer. 81 will be willing to eliminate 1t,
If it is possible. All ] ask is that the
people should have some kind of fair
treatment. The North Hudson Company
has not given the people any considera-
ton whatever. 1t has a most peculiar
way of doing business"
Mr.. Bauer. explained that the company
had an arrangement whereby it charged
FIVE cents faressope way and ten cents
another way over the same route. He
SOME FOOLISH PEOPLE