Perth Amboy evening news., 1905-01-17
FOR EQUAL
TAxAT|ON N.
Jersey City's Mayor Starts in
Atlantic City Personal Cam.
paign in Its Favor.

Atlantic City, Jan, l1:--Mayor
Mark Pagan, of Jersey City, disciple
Of equal taxation, began in this city
Saturday what he intends TO he the
greatest personal campaign Y 81 waged
in the state in support OF his belief
that the railr Dads should be forced to
pay over to the municipalities
through winch their lines pass an
assessment proportionate to their
holdings as compared with that OF
other corporations and individual
holders Of property.
He arrived.here u~nheralded, and be-
gan his mission, which, according to
his own statement, was begun and
will be O rwarded entirely on his OVID
responsibility, and is not backed by
any of the men who attained promin-
ienoe in the last campaign by their
advocacy of the creed as 4 political
issue. The work will be carried no
entirely in a personal manner, Mayor
Fagan's Wow being that equal taxa.
tion can only be brought from a
theory to an established fact through
tho arousing of interest in the leading
business men and prominent citizens
of every city and county Of the state.
His work here Saturday consisted Of
interviewing men of mark in the
business and political life of the city,
| Mayor StoY being one of the first to
! whom he paid q visit, armed with
statjstIos bearing directly on the pro.
posed law Of equalization now sure
10 be brought forward in the coming
legislative session in the interest OF
Mayor Fagan's own city aud other
municipalities, which he claims are
burdened by ownership of properly by
the railroads.
IN an interview at the Hotel Strand
Saturday night Mr.. Pagan gave the
fullest detail Of his plans as at present
outlined, and told of bis hopes o.
Arousing q personal interest through.
out the state that would nullify all
influence Of the railroad interests
against the equal taxation measures.
The mayor said:
81 believe that ouly by bringing TO
the direct attention OF t he people Of
the state the Importance OF legislation
to curb the power OF the railroads and
force them to pay taxes IN proportion
to other property owners can equal
taxation become a fact instead of o
theory. While the Importance eli the
national issues in the last campaign
appear to have overshadowed the grent
tax question confronting the cities OF
this state for the time, | nm assured
that n campaign waged in its inter.
ests by men who have the wisdom ami
nerve to act for tie best interests Of
themselves and their fellows vould
make equal taxation an issue which,
would sweep away all opposition and
give to Jersey City as we'll as other
cities aud counties All opportunity &c
force tile railroad companies to ray q
proper rate for their iarRu and con
stautly increasing holdings OF proper
ty.
MY plan, begun in this city Satur
day, is entirely my own, and as Ia
as / know only two men, Edgar B
Bacon. head ii the tax commission 0
Jersey City, and George r. Record
corporation counsel, were aware o
my intentions until the subject wa
broached to members Of the Atlanti
City Board Of TRADE and men vel
known in the business OF Atlantic
City to-day.
81 had hoped" he continued, ST
make at least a start III my work be
fore counting a publicity which viii