The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1904-10-18

AuiSrepreSeuteu.
He then. showed how the State expen-
ses have more than doubled in the last
len years and claimed that there wasmo
good reason for it. He held that it could
only have been caused by criminal ex-
trayagance. Democracy has no room
for such extravaganza" he continued,
"and if elected Governor would endeay-
er to have the expenses curtailed to the
lowest possible necessity.
'aThe great problem before the people
is whether or not the property of the ralb
roads shall be taxed the same as that OF
the Individual" At this point he explain
ed the two methods of taxing property
at the present time, and then showed the
difference between the Republican and
Democratic platforms on the question.
He told his hearers that the Republican
platform stood for equal taxation on only
$42, 100000 of railroad property, while
the Democratic platform stands for equal
taxation of $167, 100000 worth.
Continuing, he said:-"The Democratic
party stands for the proposition that all
this property shall be taxed at the same
rate and Shall bear the same burden as
the individual taxpayer>~and the pro-
ceeds shall be applied to the localities
where it is taxed.
eff you believe that is just and fair
proposition and one that is just and equal
ask you to vote for me for Governor.
"No one asks that the railroads shall
pay more, but we demand that they shall
not pay less than the individual tax
payer.
''Let me give you practical illustra-
tion of the issue. Princeton borough has
about one-third of a mile of railroad
property, worth $4,000, and all the tax
the borough receives from it each year is
$137. .43. IF the Democratic platform
was enacted into law the railroad prop
erty would be taxed the same as the
other property in the town, at the rate
of $3.50 a thousand, and the town
would receive $S2s.ss a year.
princeton township has six miles of
railroads assessed at $421 900, but all the
tax it receives on the property is 1892. so
a year. Under the Democratic platform
all the property would pay tax at the
township rate of $12.s0 thousand, and
the township would receive $5,254.4S a
year.
Nobody can deny the Importance and
the correctness of equal taxation as an
academic principle. An arbitrary tax
rate written in. the law is unsound in
principle
The Democratic party demands an
equality of taxation. We say the de-
mand is just and fair. 1t appeals to your
justice and self-interest, and reaches the
pocket of every taxpayer"
In closing Mr.. Black urged his hearers
TO examine the question, and said the
more they examined it the more they
must see its justice He thanked the
committee and the students warmly fol
the reception they had given him.
Candidate Stevens also spoke briefly.
He conHasted the Republican and Demo
cratic policies in the nation with refer
ence to the cost of the government, and
showed that the Republican administra-
ton expenses had been such that from a
surplus of $91, 100000 the treasury had
gone down to a deficit of $40, 100000
He showed that the cost of living had
increased SO that, man earning 81 a day
seven years ago was better off than one
earnings $1.50 now. Mr.. Stevens's refer
ence to Alton B. Parker provoked great
applause.
At the close of the meeting many
shook hands with the. candidates.
Mr.. Black, with Congressional Candi
date Stevens and Joseph Hoff. called Oh
former President Cleveland at his home
in Princeton, yesterday afternoon. Mr.
Cleveland received them very cordially
The call lasted about half an hour.
Mr.. Cleveland expressed much interest
in the State campaign, and wished Mr.
Black success. He recalled the fact thai
in 1892 Mr.. Black presided at meeting
in Jersey City held in the interest of the
Cleveland campaign and at which Mr.
Cleveland spoke.
BIG BOWLING TOURNAMENT,
Mr. TT T,unra anr,r.,,<,,e. N 1...r