New-York tribune., 1904-10-09
QUESTIONS TO BLACK.
Stokes Wishes Information Regard
ing HIS Position.

New brunswick. " J. Oct (speciaD.-Edward
c. Stokes, Republican candidate for Governor. made
his first appearance before New-B Brunswick Repub-
licans in Columbia Hall last evening. and made
clear and convincing exposition of campaign issues
The Republican position equal taxation" was
defined by Mr.. Stokes and he propounded a series
Of questions 10 his opponent. Charles G Black. OF
Hudson asking him to explain away his seeming
inconsistencies the taxation question
State Senator w. II. e. Jackson introduced Mr..
Stokes. VINO said in part:
New-Jersey has been under Republican admins
tration for ten years and IN that time there has not
been passed single act FOR whose repeal the peo-
Gratis in control for four years and at the end
Of that time the people asked for the repeal OF the
whole administration, and voted them cut or power
as fast as Election Day rolled around ,,,,.o
The same leaders who had control then nave
leaders have promised themselves something ana
have Promised the people equal taxation. They
mean an Increase in the railroad tax They prom
power the law they passed declared that nothing IN
It should in any wise impair the {ax aS SD 1i fax
and were compelled To lay HANDS on the school
sund. whicn they did rather tnan raise the TAX OA
The pemocratic candidate FOR Governor has said
that We favor esS snd iaSe Sey that is absolutely un
true We say that while the railroads have helped
fhe railroad tax law should be revised The ralI-
roads have absorbed large properties IN nrpSd
tiles particularly where terminals are Soncei 5 nsu;
and we say that property so taken should be taxed
a local rates and Tor local purposes.
7-ha+ leaves the main stem" that strip or lanu
NTed h,- iaw at not over a hundred feet that runs
across the state. That is intricate proposltloI
and presents so many constitutional pronIels lhat
A. this time the State is paying SSOWV for good
voads SqfO GO 10 the counties for the maintenance
~ +bai~ insane and is distributing nearly SlVp-
90 arn,aIIv 10 the counties help pay local
expenses. All these would be affected by this
proposition.
Then Mr.. Stokes propounded his set OF QdeS'iohs
to Mr Black. They we're as follows
Won ora a member Of commission TO judicially
daferr,ine whether the present system OF railroad
-. ,ta- a.. rigbr or wrong. You are. Of course,
- -ander a decision that is just to the railroads
snd tbe naoole alike: more no less You nave
announced what YOU viii DO peiote @ @ ,s @ $50, ,t19
parties have had their day IN court anu hdNe 1huS
preiudged the case IN ADVANCE.
Do you think this Is tair! -,
You' cav upon n political platform that the day
re a member OF commission 10 Investigate this
s1,bi,t accented n IN good faith. and still remain
. member Of this body. Why do you remain a mem
Der of an investigating commission II the day OF IN
y sstd an Nav y last in lecture upon the
sbiecf of delivered IN Jersey city that the
question of railroad taxation should be thoroughly
investigated that the commission should near the
evi5cnSe and debate upon the Law as II is now
written tv all the parties in interest You furtles
ii any proposed statute upon this subject
should be thoroughly and exhaustlveIy deoated oS
Ali the interests Involved before IL IS presented 70
the legislature and that il should then be again
thoroughly debated in the legislature. hou nov
sav that the day ~ investiga tiou Is past W men
d!d YOU change your MIND -
mission vote adjourn the hearings OF the COM
mission So that interested parties might present
their CASE r. you say. the day OF Investigation
ton? Why did YOU not vote FOR an adjournment
without date2