The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-02-03
Commission Meets in Tren-
ton To-day in An Effort
to Agree on a Re-
port.
LITTLE HOPE OF lJNANIMlTY
Charles G. Black Likely tc
Present a Minority Report
-Ex.Governor Werts's
Document.
tspecial to ,srhe Jersey city News. y

Especial TO II ne JERSEY NllS 1Nctf9-
TRENTON, Feb. 3, l905.-The Equal
Tax Commission appointed by ex-Goy-
ernor Murphy to investigate the tax laws
the State capital today, with view OF
the State capital toady, with view OF
uniting, if possible, upon a report TO be
presented to the Legislature,
Ex-Governor Werts has prepared a
rough draft of a report, which he is hope
full will be acceptable to Commissioners
Charles G. Black and Chandler W.
Riker, who, rumor says, are not in ac-
cord with the views of the majority.
Just what his report contains ex-Gov-
ernor Werts will not state until it is
acted upon BY the Commission. When
the report is submitted to the Legislature
the public will know all that is necess-
sary," was all that Mr.. Werts would
say.
From another source it was learned
that majority of the Commissioners
Governor Werts. Major Lentz and ex-
Sheriff west--favor the tax laws as they
now exist, with few amendments. One
of the recommendations to be made will
probably be that all second class prop
erty Of railroads shall be taxed at local
rates by the State Board of Assessors
and that the municipality shall receive all
the revenue derived for taxes on such
second class property less one per cent,
which shall be paid into the State treas
ury. The main stem of railroads shall
be taxed by the State Board Of AS
SCISSORS as at present. the report viii
probably further state, but the munich
pality through which it passes shall only
receive a percentage of the taxation reve-
nue.. the balance to be paid into the State
treasury.
An equalization court, to whicl. either
the municipalities or the railroads may
appeal will also probably be recon-
mended. The creation of such court
was suggested by Governor Stokes in his
inaugural address.
Commissioner Black was seen in Jer-
sey City this morning before he left for
Trenton. When asked if he would sign
the majority report he said that as yet
he did not know what the majority fay-
ored and until he had read the draft Of
their report he could not tell whether or
not he would sign it.
IT is possible he said, chat / shall
present minority report because 1 do
not think that the majority is in accord
with my views regarding the equal tax
problem" Mr.. Black declined to state
what recommendations he thought the
report should contain.
At the conclusion of today's confer
ence, Ex-Governor Werts viii be instruct
ed to prepare the majority report, which,
it is expected, will not be placed in the
hands Of Governor Stokes until the latter
part Of next week. In fact. it win be re-
ceived too late for presentation to the
Legislature until Monday, Feb. 13.
Senator James F. Minturn, Of Hobok-
en-, has prepared an equal tax bill, which
he viii present as soon as the tax COM
mission has presented its report. The
outlines Of his bill have already been
published in the News.
L provides for the taxation Of all sec-
ond class property-franchise, personal
property and real estate--at the exist
ing local rate to be paid to the municipal
ify in which such property is located.
less one per cent. TO be paid to the State.
The main stem is TO be assessed by the
State Board Of Assessors for State pur-
poses less one per cent. to be paid to the
municipalities.