The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-10-25

OF good rOauS.
Dangers TO BE Guarded Againsf.
The danger that any change in th'
law Of 1884 may be unconstitutional
The decrease in the valuation Of thu
main stem through cutting it up int
small parcels.
The decrease in the value Of the mair
stem by separating il from the fran
chise.
The decrease in the valuation Of rail
road property BY comparing Il witt
other property in the same locality o.
like kind.
The revertins to the provisions Of the
cid charters.
Things worth Remembering.
A railroad main stem derives its value
from its continuity and its right to OPP
crate under the state franchise.
Railroad property is now valued as a
separate and distinct kind Of property
The highest state courts have decided
that its value is not determined by the
same rules as determine the value OF
other adjoining property devoted to diff
ferent uses.
The railroads claim that they have
retained their charter rights, and one
of the charter rights is that the tax
shall not exceed one-half Of / per cent.
If the railroads maintain their claims
of charter rights, the rate cannot ex-
coed on main stem, franchise and per-
sonal property So per thousand. The
valuation will be at local rates and will
be much less than at present.
The subject is complicated, and
changes should be made only after a
careful investigation.
The state received last year
from railroads. 100000
The state paid back to tax
payers OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. $4,000
The state paid toward good
roads ........s......... ...... 100000
The state paid toward the care
Of the insane. .............. 100000
The surplus revenue of the state was
approximately $1,200,000 in 1903.
ANY decrease of revenue will destroy
this surplus, and direct state tax will
be necessary.
The Democrats propose to take away
from the state 100000 Of its revenue
What the Republicans Propose to Do.
The Republican platform declares
datfooted for equal taxation of all
property, whether it belongs to individ-
uals or corporations It favors the tax
ing Of second class railroad property
by the state board of assessors at full
local rates solely for the benefit and
use Of the locality where such second
class property is situated In respect
to the main stem, franchise and per-
sonal tax, it says that the subject is in
tricate and difficult to solve and re-
Quires most careful consideration
and investigation. 1t declares In favor
of conserving the interests Of the peo-
pie of the state. 1t declares in favor of
awaiting the report of the tax commits
sion of 1904 in order that it may have
facts and figures on which to base flu
ture action as to taxation of main
stem, franchise and personal property
The Republican party is in favor Of
equal taxation and declares in favor of
the taxation of all property at full
value, 1t does not believe in promising
more than it can perform, and it is in
favor Of being sure Of each step before
it is taken.
The Repu lean party recognizes that
under the present system the state can
do and does three very important
things for the local taxing districts:
First, it appropriates $4,000 as a di-
rect dividend to taxpayers in reducing
the local school taxes; second, it ex-
ponds $250,000 for the building of good
roads, thus saving the counties so
much money, and, third, it gives $780,
600 extra to care for the insane pa
tients of the counties, thus decreasing
the burden Of the taxpayers. 1t be-
lieves that these things are of direct
interest to the taxpayers Of New Jer-
sey and that the greatest care should
be taken in managing the states reve-
nue. so that it shall not be necessary to
withdraw any of these benefits from
the taxpayers or'to impose state tax.
The Republican party is in favor Of
continuing the plan Of distributing sur
plus revenue direct to the taxpayers.
The Figures In the State.
The following table will show com
parison, taking the state at large Of
railroad property with other properties
as to taxes, amount of property, amount
Of money paid per acre, etc.:
Area, excepting railroad real
estate ........................b ,232, 800 acres
Area railroad, main stem, about 5000 acres
Area railroad, second class. 6,054 acres
Assessed value, 5,232,9 acres,
with improvements. ........... $S77, 1852, 027
average, Sl67 per acre.)
Assessed value, 2500o acres,
main stem and franchise, .... l59, 157 800
average, Sc. 1866 per acre.)
Assessed value, 6,054 acres, sec
ond class real estate and inn
provenents ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1886 097
average, $7,075 per acre.)
Per cent whole area used for
railroad purposes. .59-100 OF per cent
Per cent whole value placed on
railroad area................1S7- 10 per cent
Total burden Of taxation all
real estate. ...,.........,.-....... $50, 1856 67a
Percentage OF total tax paid by
railroad real estate. per cent
Each acre OF railroad real es-
tate pays taxes In proportion
to each acre Of locally as
sessed real estate. ............a as II is to /
Average tax paid per acre by
locally assessed real estate,
including improvements........ 1851