The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-05-26
GET TOO MUCH
Maoey's Talk sprang a
Surprise on Hoboken
Tax Commits
Sioners.

The Hoboken Tax Commissioners heard
last night what the teachers had to say
in regard to their petition for new
salary schedule. Not wishing to be ac-
cused of favoring the teachers in oppo-
sition to the taxpayers, the Commission
ers invited the representative of one OF
the largest corporations in Hoboken to
be present at the meeting and give his
views. This was William Macy. secre-
tary of the Hoboken Land and Improve
ment Company Mr.. Macy accepted the
invitation and his address to the Board
made an impression in an unlocked for
way.
He declared it was his personal belief
that Hoboken was run on an altogether
too expensive plan for town OF It's
size Public officials came in Tor too
much pap, he intimated, and the interests
of the taxpayers were made sabservient
to their interests. He said in part
"You want to know how you can be
more economical in the conduct of your
public affairs. Suppose you began by
cutting off the salaries of the Mayor and
Councilmen. These amount to over $1,000
per annum and l honestly believe the
positions would be sought after just as
much if made honorary public offices.
The Tax Commissioners do not receive
salaries, but who will say that you do not
evince as much interest in your office as
paid officials; or who will say that the
matters that come under your notice are
not dealt with as conscientiously as in
any other department of LIE city?
AS for the schools, 1 believe, too, that
change is needed in their management, or
rather an entire new system is needed.
You should make room for more primary
departments and rudimentary branches.
Stop paying for the higher education OF
children whose parents are abunddntly
able to pay for it themselves. Provide lib
orally for the education of Public School
children in the practical branches and en-
ploy the best talent you can. There Will
be no trouble about salaries once sys-
tenn like this is in effect"
Mr.. Macy spoke for over an hour. He
reviewed the different tax levies in Ho-
boken for the past five years and offered
the board many suggestions for the ar
rangement of the new budget. The police
department should be reduced one-half,
he thought.
Mayor Pagan told him this would be i'm
possible as the law compelled doboken to
| maintain the police force it does. Many
of the speakers suggestions We're OF an
/ equally radical nature.
There was a flutter of excitement
among the teachers when City Superin-
| tendent of Schools A. J. Demarest arose
! to present the teachers petition. The
! signatures of five THOUSAND property own
| ers were appended. Mr.. Demarest made
| an earnest plea to the Board, and when
| he had concluded he was applauded ~
| the teachers. The sergeant-at-arms made
no attempt to restrain the demonstra-
tion.
Mayor Pagan in protesting against the
! new schedule talked plainly. He said the
individual taxpayers of Hoboken Were
burdened heavily enough and if he could
prevent it the teachers salaries would not
| be increased. He added
LEGISLATORS make laws that corpora
tions and other moneyed powers hnd IL
easy to get around and especially IS this
! true of tax levies. The individual tax
payer. the small man, invariably is the
sufferer. This is true in the present case.
This new schedule will have to be sup
! ported, or rather the comparatively large
increase will have to be met by MIN. l
! always like to stand for the single house
owner and for this reason cannot see
my way clear to sanction the new
schedule If it will be adopted it will
be done against every effort l can use
to defeat it.
'sThe trouble with Hoboken is that 1t
has too many tenement houses. The in
crease in the population yearly means an
additional levy for schools and the money
we can spare must go in other directions
than for increasing our teachers SALARIES
These, for a town the size OF Hoboken,
are very good as they stand, in my opin-
ion. The teachers claims are unWar-
ranted."
When the Mayor finished speaking the
Board went into executive session and the
teachers withdrew with the assurance
that their petition would receive tne care
| ful consideration of the Commissioners.