The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-05-02
LENTZ ON
TAX BILL
Hnery Measure IN the Interest
Of the Average Taxpayer
and viii Lessen Rates.
HIGH VALUATION NO HARDSHIP

AAA0@A f&AA~ - = = - -
Major Carl Lentz, of Essex county,
paid his respects to the critics in that
county Friday evening, showing some
Of the falacies that have been put forth
in regard to the HilIery bill, of which
he is a strenuous advocate.
Coming to the passage by the Legis-
lature Of the Hillery tax bill. he said I.
sThe reason for the passage Of that
4 bill is this. that it brings all property
in valuations up to one standard, an
even rate throughout the State, and
is necessary for this reason. that to OBJ
tain the necessary revenue the valu-
ations will have to beso arranged as to
produce the necessary results at a much
lower than the present tax rate. |
have heard it said, and have read it,
that, this was a maximum tax rate,
and that it was in violation Of the
principle of home rule. Those who
make thatassertain evidently have not
taken the time to read the bill, or else
they have not the ability to read it
and understand it, or else they wilfully
desire to misrepresent it. There is no
maximum rate fixed. Maximum rate
means the highest limit. This bill is
unlimited. The tax rate in this city,
it says, shall be S.1.70; in Others S1.50,
but the taxpayers or the voters Of any
municipality can vote and increase the
rate to any amount that they may
choose to do, so that it brings the fl
nancial affairs of the city right close
TO the people.
e / think the idea of this bill meets
the old England idea of a town meet
ing to talk over the municipal matters
and affairs, and to vote such appropra-
tions as may be felt necessary for pub
licpurposes. or course, our cities are
too large for town meetings, and there-
fore the law makes a provision that
the taxpayers may meet in their dis
tricts, election districts, and vote a
higher rate of taxation if they SO de-
sire ! have read in the papers that
MI. v oil lJuJl It's dlO q AA1CCJ1l4A VI ul1C
Board of Trade, stated that / was at
variance with the present Governor
4 on that subject. 1t is hardly neces-
sary for me to say that when Mr., Van
Duyne made that statement he abso-
lutely misrepresented me. am abso-
lutely in harmony with the view that
the Governor takes on this question,
as | am in harmony with the COM
mission that recommended it to the
Governor, and it is by no means a new
subject.
The law is in operation in large
number of municipalities in this coun-
try and works very efficiently, and
what is remarkable in this case, the
objection that have heard to the bill
so far has come only from those people
whom this law evidently will affect
and who in the execution OF the law
will be compelled to pay more taxes
than they pay to-day. / am free to
say to you gentlemen that, in my judg-
ment, eight-tenths of the present tax
payers of the city of Newark, with a
lower rate by almost fifty cents than
what they pay now, will pay less taxes
under the new law than they pay un-
der the present The Constitution Of
this State protects every property
owner when it says that no man shall
be compelled to pay taxes on more
property than he owns.
1t has been stated that the real
estate in Newark will have to be
raised. There is no question about
that. The value of the real estate Of
the city will have to be raised but
what difference does it make if the
value is higher and the rate is lower I?
One balances the other. If, as it has
been stated to me, the needs Of the
city viii require larger appropriations,
the city would have to raise the valu-
ations anyhow or else increase the tax
rate to meet the further requirements
Of the public expenditures.
Now there is a large amount Of
personal property in Newark and Es-
sex county that is untaxeed, and am
making this statement adyisedly.
have goneto the tax Offices of Newark,
Of the city Of East Orange and of the
city Of Orange and | have made in
vestigations into the assessments Of
certains individuals whom / know to
be worth all the way from $500, 600 to
81 100000, and lind that they pay
less taxes on personal property than /
do. That is an affair, gentlemen, that
Is not right have no bonds, nothing;
have my furniture, my library, and i
pay on a valuation Of SIS, 900, and have
for a good many years | depend on
what make every day for my living
| have no accumulations of any kind. n
The Frank a. Robbins show gave
two performances Of unusual excellence
in MQrristown on Monday Two rings
and a stage were used and a large num-
ber OF performers kept things lively