Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-10-24
SOUTH AMB0Y.

connection with the Public Service
corporation tracks through the bor-
ough. He stated there was no troll
ley track in any of the n~eighboring
towns in so dangerous a condition as
the one in South Amboy and that
something must be done; that he had
written to the New Brunswick and
Newark Offices, but they had paid no
attention to his communication.
Councilman A. M. Gordon offered
a resolution that fifteen days notice
be given the Public Service corpora
ton to remedy the conditions and
place the road in such condition as
their franchise specifies or the mayor
will proceed in the matter of repairs
as specified in the condition of the
franchise. 1t was adopted.
Counsel Pearce did not seem to
think this was hardly the proper
manner of notifying the Public Ser
vice corporation stating the proper
way was a writ of mandamus com
polling the INTO do it. : 1t was, how
ever, decided that Counsel Pearce
should serve upon the Public Service
corporation whatever notice might be
deemed proper.
Under the heading of streets there
were some lengthy discussions as to
the conditions at the foot of David
street. After a great many argu-
ments the street committee said they
would look into the matter further
and make another report on the sub
iect. i
Councilman J.. H. Gordon stated
there was a great deal of talk going
around as to taxes and some of the
leading citizens were remarking as
to the unfairness of the same, etc.
Counsel Pearce was requested to ex-
plain the matter. After stating it
was a good opportunity to make a po-
litical speech and say a few remarks
about the republican legislature but
owing to the audience he would re-
frain from any such criticism, he
remarked as follows: There was an
act passed in the last legislature, in
troduced by a gentleman named Hill
larry, which provided that in order to
make equal taxation unequal in al!
municipalities the tax rate of the
present year, of the year 1906, should
not be greater than the year 1905:
and then the law goes on to state that
where the tax rate is under $500 on
the thousand it shall be reduced each
wear at the rate of five cents q year
until it is to $1.75, and in the mu-
inequalities where the tax rate is over
$500 it shall be reduced each year
ten cents per year until it is down to
s1.75 and all taxes in excess of this
tax rate shall be void and uncollect-
able. Now of course that act has
never ben construed but the general
consensus of opinion is among those
who have studied the matter, where
it says the tax rate shall not be great
er in 1906 than 1905 Is only intend
ed for those municipalities where the
tax rate was over $1.75 the year be-
fore; and as South Amooy s tax rate
was S1.5S last year and ii is rot this
year $1.75 we will not come within
the prohibition of that law; SC the re-
suit Of rat is, according to the best
view | can give, and 1t is nor my w
opinion, it is various peoples opinion,
and | understand the attorney gep
eral has rendered an opinion upoHit 1t,
that this act will only apply 80 far
as the tax rates of the present year
are concerned to municipalities whose
tax rate was overr$1975 last year and
If therefore would not affect us. This
is only any opinion, not a decision,
only a fafr reasonable construction OF
the law.