The Jersey City news., 1904-12-21
M'CARTER URGES
CAUTION
Attorney General Recon-
mends That the State
Revenue From Rail-
roads Pe Let. Alone.
EQUAL TAKERS IN TRENToA
Baird for the State Board of
Assessors offers saggss-
tions Act oflss4 IN
der Fire.
EQUAL TAKERS IN TREAToA
der Fire.
tspsela! 10 .The Jersey city News,

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey city News,
TRENTON. Dec. 21, 1904.-All the
members of the Equal Tax Commission
were present at the meeting in the
State House yesterday. President Riker
called the meeting to order, saying that
a. the request of Governor Murphy, At
torney- General Robert McCarter would
set forth the claims of the State
at the signal from President Riker,
Clerk Usher read communication
from the State Board Of Assessors. 1t
MAS signed by David Baird, the chair
nial As it was said Monday night that
the letter would not be introduced. the
members Of the commission were sur
prised. After resretting his inability to
accept the State Boards invitation to at
tend the meeting and offer suggestions.
the letter makes recommendations in re-
gard 10 proposed alterations Of The rail
road tax law they are
i. That all property ''nsed for rail
read or canal rirposes'' should he
valued and assessed BY the State Board
OF Assessors
That the taxes arising from the
assessment of main stems Of railroads
or waterways Of canals, together with
The tax Hnan the valuation Of franchises
and tansible personal property should be
retained for the uses Of the state.
}: That The term main stem should
be more clearly defined than in the
Ffrseat lax, arsl- SHOULD be made TO M
Glade all structures located wssAin the
main stem necessary for and appur-
tenant 10 the operation Of such main
sten.' sach as tracks, tanks, signal
towers and signal appliances. safety
gates, etc Furthermore. that the land
actually occupied by a passenger. de-
pot should be included in the valuation
Of main stem" Under the. present law.
the passenger depot itself is valued as
part of the main stem,4 but if located
without the prescribed width of 100 feet
the land beneath the structure is included
in the assessment of property other
than main STEM" Second class prop
erty.)
4. That all real estate and structures
fused for railroad or canal purposes
outside of main stem fsecond class prop
erty) should be subjected to the same
rate Of taxation as may be applied to the
property of individuals in the same tax
ing districts wherein is located such
railroad property, and in order that the
rate Of tax may be properly determinable
the law should PROVIDE
ta) That on or before a given date the
State Board of Assessors shall ascertain
and report to the taxing authorities of
each taxing district the amount of sec
ond class railroad property found to be in
that district.
% That the taxing authorities of each
taxing district shall add to the other rat
ables found to be located in such district
the valuation Of second-elass railroad
property located in that specific taxing.
district.
td) That the entire amount of tax upon
this class Of railroad property shall be
conceded by The State in the same way
and manner as is now provided in the
present Law, and, after having been 50
conceded, shall be paid over to the local
authorities in manner and form as at
present provided.
fe) That a penalty shall be provided
for the failure OF the taxing authorities
Of any taxing district to report to the
State Board Of Assessors within the time
prescribed the local tax rate as fixed for
the current year.
Aside from the question of railroad
taxation, / have no suggestions TO offer.
other than that in my Judgment. it would
be good legislation to provide some more
drastic means for compelling the local
taxing authorities to comply with tile
mandates Of the law, and assess at true