The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-11-05
LADIES CHEER FOR
EQUAL TAXATION
Women's Tax Club Holds a
Crowded Meeting at
Phillips Hall and
Applauds the
Speakers.
MRS. ALTHlA BEDLE's ADDRESS
Charles Q. Black Enthusiaa-
tically Received Fine Pro-
gramme Of Music and
Oratory.
MRS. AITHEA BEDLE's ADDRESS


Nearly five hundred women crowded
Phillips Hall yesterday to listen to the
doctrine of Equal Taxation discussed by
Gubernatorial Candidate Charles G.
Black and Counsellor John S. McMaster.
There were other addresses and these
were interspersed with singing The
meeting was held under the auspices d
the Women's Equal Taxation League,
which has been quietly but very effective
ly working in the interest of Mr.. Blacks
candidacy.
The address of welcome was made by
Mrs. Althea Randolph Bedle, widow the
former Democratic governor. Mrs. Bedle
made an interesting comparison between
the power of men as voters and the influ
ence welded by women when aroused on
a subject that affected their homes. A
man had but one vote, she said, but each
! woman could influence several votes, and
she was, therefore, greater factor in
the election franchise than men.
Mr. Black did not go into intricate de-
tails of the subject of Equal Taxation
but gave an interesting recital Of his ex-
perience as candidate on an equal tax
alton platform. Hes gave a glowing ac-
count of the manner in which every sec
ton of the State had become aroused on
the subject and Of the warmth with
munity as a candidate who insisted that
the great railroads that have gridironed
the State should pay the same local tax
as that imposed on the properties of the
private individuals. Mr.. Black also paid
tribute to newspaper men of the State
who had so heartily espoused the
cause of equal taxation He called at
tention to the fact that there was an area
equivalent to 1o,56O city lots, 25x1O0
feet in dimension, owned by the Railroad
Companies in Jersey City upon which but
amount went to the State instead of into
the local treasury. He drew a word
picture of the magnificent railroad ter
mini, the splendid depots as one catches
a glimpse of them from the ferryboats
that traverse the various ferry routes,
declaring that they formed one of the
most conspicuous features of our land
scape, and vet these, he said escape local
taxation and the owners are taxed but
| SIS per thousand valuations while the
man who owns adjoining property was
taxed $3.50 per thousand valuations and
the little amount of tax the railroad did
pay went into the over flowing treasury
of the State.
Counselor John s. Mcfaster recited
the history of railroading in the State, re-
calling the efforts of Leon Albeit as Gov
| ernor to compel the companies to pay
their share Of local taxation He told
how every effort that had been put for
ward by Democratic Governors and
Houses Of Assembly had been thwarted
| by Republican Senates. Mr.. McAIaster
explained with considerable effect the two
systems Of taxation, and drew very IN
| teresting comparison between the SYSTEM
| by which the property of the Pennsylva-
MIA Railroad in Exchange place is taxed
and that of the property Of individuals
| just across the street. He showed how.
| the railroad company was favored under
| the present law and the individual owner
Of properly was taxed over five times as
much as were the railroad companies.
| Addresses on the subject Of equal tax
alton were also made by Frances ".
Dobbins and BY Mrs. Cecilia Il. Griel,
both OF whom urged the large num-
Der Of women present to exert all the in
| iuence in their power to persuade their
husbands, their brothers, sons or sweet
hearts to support the candidacy Of Chas
G. Black, the Democratic candidate for
Governor, on the Democratic platform of
Equal Taxation.
Patriotic airs were sung BY Miss Lille
Frost and vocal solos were contributed By
j Nf;ss r T;11;o4 n Ro.-rs o,,.4 N;Ssl q RI Vrorf}