Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-01-19

tax rate is willing to come out of hiding
and subject itself to reasonable and fair
rate. The result is that more property is
discovered and added to the ratables.
The revenue under a small rate is really
greater than the revenue under rate
that induces property to concealment,
while the individuals contribution is not
larger than before.
Maximum Rate of Taxation.
The danger TO the taxpayer in this rem
edy lies in the fact that he has no assur-
ance that the low rate will be permanent;
that it will not be raised on the basis of
increased valuation. Here the state must
come to the rescue. If a maximum rate
for every taxing district in the state was
fixed by legislative enactment the rate of
taxation would be insured. and under this
aegis of protection property investors
would seek New Jersey as a safe asylum
The legislature of the state can very
properly consider the wisdom of such
legislation. The comptroller of the lar
gest city in the country says that a rate
of s1.50 hundred is sufficient to meet the
needs of any progressive municipality If
the maximum rate for every municipality
in this state were fixed, at the outside. at
81. 20 on the hundred or lower if possible
the difficulties of the burdensome tax rate
and municipal expenditure would be large
ly solved Every small property owner
would be assured of the contribution he is
to make yearly to the common good
Property would come out of hiding. The
taxpayers and investors in municipal Sc
curities would all be interested in en-
forcing economy in municipal expendi-
lures The public mind on the question
of individual taxation would be changed
from a state in which it now winks at the
dishonest evasion of taxes to one in
which it would insist upon their honest
payment. The gain in public morality in
this connection cannot be overestimated.
MsappIication of States Surplus.
l would go even further than this. In
1898 the legislature passed an act proyid-
ing that the surplus money in the state
treasury might be appropriated for the
purpose of reducing the burdens of local
taxation. For the first year or perhaps
the first two years the distribution of
this sum reduced the tax rate and light
ened accordingly the burden of the tax
payer. At the present time the $970.00e
distributed from the state treasury for
this purpose is used My municipal author
tiles for increased expenditures, while
the taxpayer is called upon to contribute
as much if not more than before. I would
amend this act and would provide that
this distribution be limited to those tax
ing districts where 1t was uSeu not as d
means for increasing expenditures, but as
a means for reducing the tax rate pro-
portionately to the amount of the con-
tribution from the state. In this way
economy in state expenditures. the in
crease in state revenue and the growth
of the state surplus could be made to
lessen the taxes of the property holders
of New Jersey and attract home builders
to our commonwealth.
Dependents.
The work of the state in the care of its
dependents grows in magnitude as it
grows in Importance. 1t is a duty which
the government cannot neglect with JUS
tice or safety. Involved in this problem
are questions of health, morals and
finance. Detectives are objects of pity
and sympathy they are helpless and must
have care. They are also dangerous to
society, and their increase must be pre-
vented if possible.
This work entails spon the state a vast
expense, amounting each year to 80 per
cent of the states disbursements. Ten
years ago the expenditures for this pur
pose amounted to only Is per cent of the
total expenditures. In 1895 the expenses
for this purpose were s424, 377. IS; last year.
sS75, III. so. an increase of more than 100 per
cent This does not include the growing
expense of our prisons and reformatories
The state is now caring for 4.SS9 insane
patients. 377 feeble minded, 1888 blind-a
total of 5000. In twenty years the num-
Der of insane has increased more than 1870
per cent. while the population of the state
has increased only Sc per cent. Our Hos
pital For the Insane at Morris Plains has
today a population of more than 1900, the
limit of its capacity. In four years more
at the present rate of increase, it will have
more than 1000 patients. The hospitals at
Trenton has population of 1,249. and the
limit of its capacity is $40. These condi-
tions prevail. 1t must be remembered, not
withstanding the fact that we are building
county asylums for the relief of our state
institutions.
The situation confronting US in connec-
ton with this problem is appalling. This
work must be continued in the interest of
humanity and for the safety of the state
but some system should be devised by
which present results can be more eco
nomically obtained or the burden will soon
overtax the capacity of the state.
Individuals as well as the common
wealth have duty in this connection