Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1898-09-01
Republican Reform.

Senator DAILY in his address to the Hun
terdon County farmers thus referred to
some of the pledges upon which the Re-
publican party gained power in this State
and tire manner in which they were re-
pndiated -
" The promise of the Republicans to re-
form the tax laws of the State has borne
DO fruit Of permanent value, and the
people bad expected much of them. The
Legislature of 1896 empowed the Gov
ernor TO appoint commission TO investigate
the subject and report the results with
recommendations, The commission con-
sisted of Messrs. Stockton, Rusling, Vreden
burg, Reynolds and Black. All but one OF
these gentlemen were learned in the law
But, if they were men of high standing in
their profession, / contend that the laity
should have been better represented and at
least one member of the commission taken
from the agricultural districts in order
that they who feel the burden upon their
little lands, The value of which is perma-
nent, might have a voice in the recommen-
datioDs for adjustment The cost of this
commission, in holding sessions bringing
witnesses and in printing the report, was
large, but it was 80 much waste effort IAN
outlay for nothing, as none of the recon-
mendations were ever adopted. The Com
missioners recommended unanimously that
the State Telirquish to the localities the
tax of one half of one per cent. now col
lected upon railroad property Of the second
class This. Governor Griggs said, would
add $205 600 10 the amount already paid to
these localities. But the extravagant Re-
publican Legislature could not agree TO
this, which would compel relreDchments
in the management of State affairs, as this
amount would he taken from the State
revenue. And as make-shiit they
adopted a plan by which Jersey City
would receive as q gratuity 100000
year from the State Treasury. Think of a
policy of this character robbing Peter to
pay Paul and that inadequately, for the
corporations have stolen from Jersey City
by legislation millions of dollars worth Of
IFS water font, and that which they have
stolen has been made the basis of capt.
aIization OF millions, and this paltry
gratuity is all they get in return! Is that
equal taxation Attention was also di-
rected by this commission to the fact that
the Assessors do not succeed in listing all
the taxable property, either from design
or carelessness, and thereby the real or
tangible property has been made to pay
more than its just share. remedy was
pointed 0ntD and method suggested of
reaching the dishonest tax -shirkers, but no
attempt has been made TO carry the
recommendations into effect You who
own little piece OF real estate or farm
are the great sufferers from this unjust
system. The Assessor can see your farm
and your implements and products, and you
pa, taxes for them, but the man who
holds valuable but intangible securities
goes free. The Board of State Taxation
again called the attention of the Legisla-
ture to this desperate condition and made
recommendations to overcome it. It even
prepared bills for the Legislature to that
end, but they died in committee. II also
reported to the Legislature that the tttal
of real estate subject to taxation was
STA 100000 and the personal property
$l38O00000 Yon and / know this return
of personal property is false. We know
that the citizens of this State hold at least
that much alone in stocks and securities of
corporations. This return shows the
evasion of personal property and that the
real estate pays at least eighty per cent of
the taxes and this falls most heavily
upon the poor and farming classes The
Republican party promised you relief, and
they gained your vote by this subterfuge
but since that time they have treated yon
with contempt, scorn and derision by per-
sistently neglecting to pay any attention
TO your protests.