The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1904-11-02

change is required that would end their
work, they should SO report to the
legislature. II, ON the other hand, they
should find that change in the law
is desirable. their work should be con
fined to drawing thoroughly matured
aud working statute.
Let the proposed statute be thor
oughIy and exhaustiVely debated by all
the interests involved before il is pre-
scented to the legislature; then IL should
be again thoroughly debated in the leg :
slature. So intricate is this problem
of making these two systems OF taxa
ton work side by side harmoniously
and not injuriousy to any interest that
II will require the best trained ability
OF the state"
binck's views ms Candidate.
Mr.. Black, the candidate for govern.
OF, approves and indorses the taxation
plank in the Democratic platform of
1ael, which Fellows
I'VE demand equal taxation of MI
property not used for religious, chart
table or educational purposes The
franchises of railroad and canal com.
pnnicS are granted by the state, and II
is fair that taxes upon these privileges
should be pAd into the common treas
ury of the state. The real estate of
these corporations presents no features
that iuStiiics Il separate classification
ny to the amount of tax to he imposed
The railroads of New Jersey are not
infant Industries. They are of great
value to the state, but they are also of
great value to their owners. TO Tux
the vacant city lot and the unproduc-
tive farm and exempt the property OF
railroad and canal companies is not
only unfair. but Is IN direct violation
oi the spirit of our state constitution
which demands that property shall be
taxed by uniform rules. The Rcpub-
lean party has broken In New Jersey
every pledge of equnl taxation that II
has made to the people, II never gets
beyond the appointment Of "A commits
sion to inquire. We assert that the day
OF inquiry is past. The state Is In pos
session of the fucts"
Compare this with what Mr.. Black,
the lawyer, says in his text book or
taxation and what Mr.. Black, the equal
tax commissioner, said in the report Of
1897, and what Mr.. Black said as a
member of tho tax board and in a pri-
waite letter. Which does he mean2
Before and After.
In his speech before the Democratic
club in Newark on Sept II, 1901, Mr.
Black said.
THE Republicans want time to In
vcstigntc this question of equul taxa
ton. We say that the time for investi-
CATION has pissed and it * now time
to vote"
Compare this with the speech of MIR.
Black on May ~ 1904, before he be
came a candidate for governor
From 1891, when his earliest utter
ance Is found down to May -, 1901
Mr. Blacks position was that the sub
ioct was so intricate and involved that
it demanded the most thorough aud
careful investigation by those best
! qualified for the task.
He has approved nearly every year
railroad taxation established by the
law Of ISL He did not change his
position until he became the Democrat
| ic nominee for governor In September
1901.
WAS HE RIGHT IN THE YEARS
! FROM 1891 TO 19042
Has he changed his mind as to the
correctness of the principles OF taxa
ton established by the law Of 18S42
II he has changed, WHY2
Why does he believe in September
that the time for investigation has
passed.
If the time for inquiry 10 past, why
did Mr.. Black accept the position OF
commissioner to investigate the ques-
ton Of equalizing taxes?