Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-03-31
MAYOR FAGAN ON
EQUAL TAXATION.

The history of New Jersey will show no
such arraignmentof legislative inaction and
corruption as that contained in the follow
ing communication, addressed by Mayor
Mark NJ. Pagan, Of Jersey City, to Cover
nor Murphy:
70 the Honorable Franklin sNarphy, Gorern-
or Of Nez0 Jersev,
My Dear Sir: As Mayor Of New Jersey
City, and also as member Of the Republi-
can party, venture to address to you this
public communication, in the hope Of avert
ing possible calamity to New Jersey, and
an almost certain disaster to the Republi-
can party of New jersey.
The present session Of the Legislature is
drawing to a close. Its record, on the
whole, is bad and in some respects is dis
graceful, its control by cooperative interests,
in the Assembly, at least, has been abso-
lutte. For this condition the Republican
party is responsible. The bills for equal
taxation demanded by practically unani
nous public sentiment in all North Jersey,
at least, have been buried il committee at
the command of the railroad corporations,
and every attempt to move them has been
resisted by solid Republican vote. Upon
the test motions, the Republican majority
has made no attempt to defend this action,
and has thereby admitted that it cannot be
defended. No more humiliating spectacle
than this has been witnessed in the State
House since the race track and coal com
bine days, Of unsayory memory. Bills
affecting Jersey City, notably, several bills
to empower the city to sell its surplus
water to neighboring communities, which
it as-supplied for twenty years, and which
desire to renew contracts with us, have
been buried in committee.
A bill to ratify a water contract recently
made Deswsen jersey City and East New
ark was introduced early in the session, and
referred to the COMMITTEES on Boroughs,
which committee still holds it, The bill
was afterwards introduced under another
number, and referred to the Committee on
Municipal Corporations, where is still re-
poses. Our most determined efforts to get
these committees to act have been unavail-
ing, because Of the refusal of the Republi-
can members thereof, but we can get no
satisfactory reason for, nor explanation Of,
this action.
A bill to allow Jersey City to test the
right to trolley franchise. which we are
advised BY counsel has, expired, has met a
similar fate.
In our political measures we find that
the opposition of Essex Republicans in one
house or the other, or both, is effective to
prevent the passage of any bill in the inter
est Of the Republican administration of
Jersey City This opposition is deter
mined and bitter, but no explanation is
offered for It's existence.
What is the meaning Of all this ? The
answer is plain. A Republican Legislature
is controlled by the railroad, trolley and
water corporations, and the interests Of the
people are being betrayed.
While / charge no man with personal
corruption, do not hesitate to say that
this is a condition of affairs which is essen
TALLY corrupt and, which, if unchecked,
means the virtual control Of our State and
cur party by corporations
As citizen, I say shat this condition is
dangerous and demoralizing.
As a public official, protest against the
injustice done to Jersey City.
AS member Of the Republican party, ]
deplore its subseryiency to, corporate greed
and injustice.
No political party can long receive the
support of the people with such record as
this Republican Legislature is making.
You are the Governor of this State, and
as such are the representative of the people,
and the natural leader Of the Republican
party. If this Legislature is allowed to
close with its present record, it will not
only reflect upon your administration, but
your leadership Of the party will be held
responsible for the political disaster which
will inevitably result
There is no one elso here to whom can
appeal. believe you can yet change
this condition of affairs, and that deter
mined effort on your part to do so would
at least be the discharge Of your duty to
the people, whom know you honestly de-
sire to serve.
Very respectfully,
MARK M. FAGAN,
Mayor Of Jersey City.
Says the True Anserican nThe facts
stated by Mayor Pagan fully Justify the
warmth Of his assertions.