The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-01-19
wiz compel the railroads 10 pay more

WIZ c0mpef the fallroaus 10 pay more
taxes than they are now paying
IN many quarters an impression pre-
walls that the Duffield bill was drawn BY
railroad lrwyers and that Dufield as
leader Of the Republican majority in the
House stood sponsor for it at the request
Of the authors. 1t is pointed out that the
railroad lawyers in their argument be-
fore the State Tax Commission advanced
the same views regarding the taxation of
second class property as is contained in
the Dufield bill. viz: that the railroads
should make known all its second class
property should be assessed at rate
State Board Of Assessors and that the
property should be assessed at a rtae 10
be fixed by The State board after the 10
cal assessors have fixed valuation or
tax rate on other property in the munich
pality.
It win be recalled that Counsellor
Charles Corbin representing the Erie
Railroad favored such scheme of tax
alton before the State Tax Commission
and the Dutiield bill if it should become
a law win undoubtedly satisfy the rail-
roads. These corporations claim that
they are now paying more money on
their second class property in many in
stances than it IS really worth. For in
4 stance the unimproyed land lying under
water in New York Bay owned by the
New Jersey Central Railroad is now
taxed at rate far beyond its actual
value, the railroad company claims. and
under the Dufiield bill the taxes on this
property will of necessity be reduced.
Another reason that railroads favor
the Duhield bill is that the second-class
property owned by them is not worth
one-half of the valuation that the local
assessors would place on it. If the State
Board Of Assessors were given power to
fix the caluation it would be considerably
reduced
The State Tax Commission is expected
to submit a report to the Legislature
next week regarding its findings. Runor
has it that Major Lentz, who has taken
a ,,,a.vI. "a ;,+o,-,e+ =; 49, -. ;l,,oe5. L,.
prepared a report which will be signed
by ex-Gov. Werts and Tax Commits
sioner Henry J West Of Camden. What
this report will be nobody seems to know,
but it is generally accepted that it viii
favor scheme Of taxation which will be
accspfa5is q FKe faiiFoads.
It is believed that Major Lentz' report
will be an interesting document and when
it is made public the Republicans who
favor equal taxation win stand aghast
That the railroads will receive the ben
eft Of every argument that has been ad-
vanced before the Commission is not
doubted by the most earnest advocate of
equal taxation.
Mr.. Charles c. Black, the recent Dem
cratic candidate for Governor, it is un-
derstood, will submit minority report.
based upon his own ideas regarding equal
taxation. 1t is safe to say that his re-
port will show the railroads no quarter
but that he will recommend that the rail
roads should pay their just and equitable
share of taxes on all second-class prop
erty to the municipality wherein such
property is located.
Ex-Prosecutor of the Pleas Chandler
W. Riker of Newark, another member Of
the Commission, it is rumored, win also
submit a minority report. In many re-
spects, it is said, he agrees with Mr..
Blacks views regarding equal taxation,
but in others he disagrees with him, and
for that reason he will prepare his own
report.
Asselnblyman Hamill. leader of the
Democratic minority in the House, has
drafted an equal taxation measure which
he viii introduce as soon as the State
Taxation Commission has presented it's
report. The bin win be similar to the