The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-10-12

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way--a strip 100 feet wide-upon which
the State imposed a tax of but $5 per
$1,000 ratables, for it's own purposes,
none of h going 70 tAe citv. He explain-
ed that the magnificent depots are also
included in tlle main stems. Each Of the
main stems in this city are three miles
long. The companies. he said. were also
taxed but IS per 81 GOO rsatables ON their
personal properties. Next he described
What is known as SECOND class nronertv
in the railroad tax taw-yaq,ds. sidings
piers. buildings other than depots. etc.
upon which the railroad companies pay
but S15 tax per 81 600 ratables. He told
of the fight to secure even that amount
as the rate. He showed how the, rail-
road company's property is exempted
from taxation in this CITY ITO such an ex-
tent that the owners of private property
are burdened with such high rate of
taxation as S27.5o per $1,000 ratables,
for expenses of running the city govern
ment, whereas, if all the properties were
assessed at like value, the people of the
city would have to raise several hundred
thousand dollars less than they are now
raising the governmental expenses, and
yet an acre of railroad property had
greater earning capacity than an acre
owned by a private individual. And al
though the railroad companies escape so
much taxation, said the speaker, they get
the benefit of the city's fire and police
protection and were the principal bene-
ficiaries of the State militia.
In 1896. Mr. Fielder said. the Demo
Gratis again raised the issue. Such SEN
timent was aroused that the Republicans
Ter was referred TO n commission and
Charles G. BLACK who is now champion-
ing the cause of eoual taxation. was ap-
poinfed On the commission. All that com
mission did was 10 qeccommend that the
s. uax be taken from the State and
given r., t.he municipal5ties through which
the railroads ran. The railroad compa
nies he said were not compelled to pay
an sax4.na cent of fax Mr.. Black. said
tbe sneaker filed a minority report.
Mr.. Fielder told of his experience. aid
ed bv the other Hudson Assemblynen. in
irving to get a bill in favor of equal tax
alton through at the last session of the
Legislature. how the hill was pigeonhol-
ed by the Committee on Railroads and
Canals. and every effort made to get the,
committee TO renort If before the House
was futile. He told of Mayor Fagan's
disgust with his own marty. which was
so intense that he wrote a letter to Gov
ernor Murphy. ia which he stated that
the condition Of affairs was essentially
corrupt. The letter aroused the Leeis-
lature. and again the game of appointing
a commission to inouire into the matter
was resorted to. but seven months had
already ELAPSED since. and the commits
sion. after doing nothing, had adjourned
nnti after the next election. The
speaker called attention to the fact that
again Mr.. Black. on account of his emil
nent ability and familiarity with the
snbiect. was appointed ON that Commits
sion. ghe sneaker alluded 10 the subter-
fuee of tbe Republican party of declar-
ing in favor equal taxation-but only 50
far as if nertains TO second class proper
~. declaring that it would find out if
anv ineonaIitv existed. and if il didsfnd
tbis out If would remedy tbe defect He
sa;d Il wac not safe nm .srcb snbiect
to trust that party. which has shown
sueh solicitude for the railroad compan-
les whenever the Democrats have raised