New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-17
GRIGGS on TAXATION.
Thinks IL Should Be Kept OHt or
Jersey Politics.

Paterson. sept Is (SpeciaD.-Ex-Cio'e'io
cr,ees when asked 10y The Tribune correspond
90, dsv what he thought OF the way ~ "h'O"
sbe ne,pocratic State Convention at iIeu''"
,,.s,erda, handled the subject OF equal taxation
replied: ,hs
In view of The proclaimed promises NJ me
neuorrats Of New-JefseH, supposed tnat lie''
stat. platform would declare for noinihg
,ho, a., entire over4hro w Of the system OF taX
ton 81 railroad property esiabhsneo pS 'e -.
~ 1884 1 was surprised. therefore in readiis
,to sSarass % Mr.. Hardin the temporary chair
man Of the state convention. held EeS'ero7H'
s,d the preliminary and final drafts Of he Sta'e
,la,forr, 20 SEQ how much Of the law OF fe,7 u
commended and how little is sugsesied 'o' ST.
alton With the glittering generauties oi '''7
Democratic platform The public have htue con
Germ. II IS only when Il becomes sPeehic ma
We are able TO express definite OPINION upon H.
The act Of 1884 was drafted by Repuo"cAiiS
and its passage through the ieelsiS'"
secured by Republican support against ''e ~
,,,.,.ton ~ tho railroad companies and the more
sr.re,ne Democrats. II has nov stood suosuah-
tisllv unaitered for twenty years Mr. Hsrui'l
admitted in his address that il had been re-
parded BIZ the railroads most serious ana
hu-dens0nne innovation and an attack upon toe't
constitutional rights. He pointed OH very
sustly that the Court of Errors and Appears %
the State had declared the law. 70 he eohsO'u
tlonsl and 10 conform to the constitutions pu"-
vision that property should he assessed Ioi '"NeS
under general laws and by uniform ru'eS
cordiug 10 its true value. That adinisslo" PuIS
out Of the discussion amy contention that 'He
T,a,,,t,;,a, ,,.rtv is responsible FOR the enact
ment and maintenance OF an unequal VI ~
stitutional law on this subject.
..Mr Hardin further admitted Mr. Grigss
p,ent on to say. that the peculiar situation anu
character Of railroad property required tha' :.
should be valued for taxation by a separate anu
independent board and not by local assessois'
That was one feature of the Law OF Icof ann
the Democratic platform comedies fha' II Mas
sust and wise and ought not TO be ois'urOe1'
Therefore that subject is also taken out Oh 'ie
disc 1ssiOn.
IT, -, of 1854 Contains another innova-
,iop which was the imposition OF tax OF one
half Of / per cent upon the value Of railroad
franchises-a source OF revenue that has yielded
during the last twenty years immense sums 10
the State treasury. TO the relief Of the genera
taxpayers OF the State. The Democratic plat
form comedies that this provision ought 10 re-
main undisturbed The only remaining point
on which any change in the law of lss4 Is sug-
Eested is as 10 the rate rates to be imposed
upon the tangible property, real and personal
Of the railroads The demand OF their platform
and coherent whole railroads shall be cut up
into slices according TO their length in each mu-
nicipsiity the separate slices valued by them
selves. and the local tax rate imposed thereon.
MY judgment has always been" Mr. Griggs
continued, and still is. that this is a question
Of On economic and scientific nature and not in
any wise subject for political difference The
Who have written and reported upon the taxa
ion 81 railroads take the view that they cannot
Justly be segregated into sections and taxed IN
separate parts but ought. in order TO do JUS
dee 10 he roga rded as units and taxed as
whole. This is especially true to railroad
equipment. rolling stock. etc. which has no local
situs and cannot be said TO be attached TO or
definitely located in any particular taxing dis
trict. II il nova bic and changeable. and II Is
impossible with Justice to say that one locality
IS ENTITLED TO tax il and not another. be-
lieve Nj. Hardin IN his address took this view,
but the platfOrm as finally promulgated seems
to dlfer With him, ana demands that rolling
stock and equipments. well bonds shall
be taxed locally. instead Of a general whole.
III IS obvious" MI. GTisgs said. in conclu-
sion. that the modification demanded by the
Democratic platform is In The interest almost eX
clusively Of one locality. and that the remainder
Of the State would necessarily lose the benefit
Of that money contributed by the railroads in
the form OF taxation which this particular To-
cality secured by any change in ;he law. Still.
y snch resok Is JUST ana fair, II ought 10 be
done without regard to local effect. But can
NOT understand why modification of a tax
law which benefits only small section Of the
state should be magnihed into a so-called great
political issue. Let the subject be investigated
the hgures studied, and then let whatever seems
Nisest and best In the interest OF all concerned
% done That IS not likely 10 be done il the
matter Is approached from the standpoint OF
political caucus. The commission now i'm ex-
istenee charged with the investigation of this
SUBJECT IS composed Of OF both parties
capable OF understanding. and approaching ali
me giflcuIt1es or the question and I think the
people can we'll await the result Of their report
snd recommendations and then leave il to the
legisla ture In dispassionate and unprei,,diced
manner so 10 modify the law II II requires
moolhcailon as 70 secure as nearly as possible
payers ~