The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-03-10

fight If each would make an active
fight in his respective municipality JIM
stead of having fewhundred people at
Trenton at hearing on the subject the
capital could be made black with people.
Mayor Kenny, of East Newark, de-
clared that the question was serious
one. He said there was NO reasen why
the railroad companies should not pay
the same for protection as other taxpay-
ers. All municipalities, he said, whether
railroads ran through them, or not, were
affected by the fact that the counties in
which they are located get nothing for
improvements. He put himself down
solidly as favoring the organization of
such a union as proposed
Mayor Lankering of Hoboken alluded
to the improvements made by the Del
aware, NLackawanna and Western Rail
road in this city and said that despite
them all the property was assessed prac-
tically at the same figures, it was twenty
years ago. So far as Hoboken was con-
cerned the valuation of the property had
not been increased a particle although
the city had to protect the railroad com
pany's property. People continually
pleaded for an increase of the assess
ment and at last got slight one, but
that was entirely unsatisfactory. He
said it was absolutely necessary for the
mayors band together and make a fight
and added that he would stand for any
thing the proposed union might declare
for and induce the people of Hoboken
to do the same.
Mayor Murphy of West New York
spoke in the same strain. He said the
West Shore Railroad mill property in
his township valued at 81 ,200, 900 upon
which it paid nominal tax to the state
along with the Ontario Railroad had tax
en- every vestige of water front and shut
the township in. The Ontario Railroad
also owned great properties in the town
ship from which the people derived no
benefit
Mayor Thomas Brady, of Bayonne
complained of the same state of affairs
in this city and strongly favored the
union.
Mayor Bayliss of Arlington, and May
or Ryan of Elizabeth, who was suffering
with a cold, also advocated the formation
of union. Mayor Ryan invited all pres
ent to attend an Equal Taxation mass
meeting to be held in Elizabeth under the
auspices of the Elizabeth Board of Trade
tomorrow night.
Corporation Attorney Robert Carey
after alluding to the fight started in 1895
expressed the opinion that nothing could
be expected from the present legislature
in the line Of relief. He said he met
representative of the railroad interests in
Trenton, who when asked when the rail-
road companies would be given hearing
on the equal taxation bill now in the
hands of the Committee on Railroads and
Ca=als, replied that the railroad COM
panies wanted no discussion on the sub
ject.
Mr.. Carey said that he next asked
members of the committee when the bill
would be reported and told by them that.
they could not tell. He said that As
semblyman Hamill and Fielder should
make application to have the committee
relieved of the bill.
A committee composed of three of the
mayors present yesterday-Kenny, of
East Newark; Lankering, of Hoboken;
and Brady of Bayonne-were appointed
to formulate plan efspermanent organ
ization and to report at a meeting to be
held at Mayer Fagan's Office next We'd
nesday afternoon.
Another committee consisting of May
ors Lankering, Brady, Kenny, Ryan and
Pagan was appointed to go to Trenton
next Monday night and urge a speedy
report of the equal taxation bill row in
the hands of the Committee on Railroads
and Canals. All other mayors in the
state are invited to jein this committee
in Trenton, which is to see the members
of the Assembly Committee on Railroads
and Canals and also Assemblyman Ham
i'll and Fielder as to methods to be pur-
sued to bring about speedy report of
the pending bill. The committee will
meet at the Sterling House in Trenton
Monday evening.
MR.. GUBLEMAN IN NY.