The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-03-13

from, at least during this session. Nei-
ther the Republicans nor Democrats will
give it any consideration and they will
not advocate any of its provisions. This
viii be hard blow for Mayor Pagan
and his equal tax followers. At the be-
ginning of the session they had strong
hopes that some Republican member or
at least one Hudson County member,
would stand sponsor for their carefully
prepared equal tax bill, but when they
found that no member would handle it
they undertook to force the judiciary
Committee to adopt it in place Of the
Dufield bin as committee substitute.
This the committee unanimously refused
to do, and as result the Pagan bill
win die natural death without being
formally introduced or the lawmakers
being given any opportunity to vote for
or against it.
This is undoubtedly a bitter defeat for
Mayor Pagan. but as the Democrats
claim it is nothing more than he deserves
for having openly supported Governor
Stokes last Fall when the Democratic
party, under the leadership Of Charles
c. Black, was arrayed in favor of equal
taxation, which it made the leading issue
Of the campaign. What Mayor Pagan
will now do under the circumstances is
a matter of speculation. 1t is generally
believed, however, that he viii support
the Democratic equal tax bill in prefer
ence to the Dufheld bill, since his own
pet measure cannot be acted upon in the
Assembly
The Dutield bill which has been made
caucus measure by the Republicans,
and which will undoubtedly be passed
by both Houses, provides for the taxa
ton of second-class railroad property at
local rates; such property to be assessed
by the State Board of Assessors, and the
tax thereon to be paid at the local rate
of taxation of the municipality wherein
such property is located for the benefit
of such municipality. The bill is in line
with the platform adopted by the recent
Republican State Convention, and such
recommendation was made by the Equal
Taxation Commission The main stem
of railroads is to be assessed by the
State Board of Assessors for the benefit
of the State, as at present.
The Democratic measure provides that
all property legally subject to tax shall
be assessed at its full, fair, market value
in each taxing district, and that taxes
shall be paid thereon at the local rate
to the taxing district wherein such prop
erty is located The bill further pro-
yides that property defined in law as
the main stem'' of railroads and canals
shall be assessed by the State Board of
Assessors at full, fair market value for
railroad or canal purposes, ana taxes
thereon shall be paid TO the State at the
average of the local rate prevailing eacl,
year in the several taxing districts
through which such main stem" ex-
tends Such part Of the tax colleeted
from each taxing district as equals one
per cent. of the assessed value of the
property assessed in such district shall
be retained by the State for State pur-
poses and the balance shall be paid by
the State to the several taxing districts
through which. such 'main stem ex-
tends, in proportion to the mileage Of
such main stem in each taxing district.
The bill further provides that that
portion of the main stem of railroad ana
canal property known as the terminal sta
tions, depots or the reception of passen-
gers and freight, ferries and ferry
houses, together with all docks. piers.
bnlkheads and wharves, and all lands
under water purchased from the State,
shall be included in the local assessments
in each taxing district and taxed at the
local rate.
"The franchise and tangible property
of railroads and canals excepting ferry
boats and other boats used exclusively
in any taxing district shall be assessed
by the State Board of Assessors at a
full, fair. market value: and taxes shall
be paid to the State thereon at the aver
age Of the local tax rates throughout
the State; one per cent. thereof shall be
retained by the State for State purposes
and the balance thereof shall be paid to
the collectors of the several taxing dis
tricts throughout the State. in proportion
to the assessed valse of property in the
several taxing districts"
The bill further provides that If any
taxing district, railroad or canal corpora
tion shall feel agrieved by the assegss-
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