The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-09-11

10 sdDOui pJNVsOOO It&tiiQttlAf
In 1904 the Republican party, true t.
Its policy, took hold Of the railroad tax
/ question again and declared in the
/ state convention for immediate legisla-
| ton for the taxation Of second class
! property at local rates, resulting in an
1 Increase Of local taxes to municipalities
Of about one-half million dollars and
declaring for the submission Of the
question Of taxing the main stem to a
commission for consideration and re-
port upon that subject. The legislature
| of 1905 passed an act introduced by
Assemblyman Duffield, the Republican
leader, providing for the taxation of
second class railroad property at local
rates. The legislature of this year took
up the question, Of the SO called main
stem of railroads The first bill intro
duced in the house of assembly was
introduced by Mr.. Perkins, the Repub-
lican leader. It was an equal tax
measure. For weeks the various meth
DDS of reaching this end were discussed
exhaustively at public hearings and in
debates upon the floor, and after free
and senate without dissenting voice,
declared that the bill introduced by Mr..
Perkins, the Republican leader, was
the best measure that had been offered
upon the subject, and it was thereup0n
enacted into law The party pledge
had been faithfully kept.' The legisla
ture, however, did not stop here. The
1 "A tho, sfrx fes
passed an act providing that second
class property should not only be taxed
at local rates, but should be assessed
locally. 1t then passed an act which
reclassified railroad property and which
increased the second class property by
taking from the SO called main stem all
of the railroad stations and appurte-
nances outside of the right Of way.
A decision of the supreme court had
aided in the development of this policy
by an Interpretation limiting property
heretofore included in the main stem,
and increasing to that extent the
amount of second class property As
the law now stands all terminals,
switches, stations and railroad property
of every kind outside of the main stem,
which in no case exceeds 100 feet in
width and In some cases not sixty feet,
is assessed locally at the local rates for
the benefit of the localities wherein
the property lies. The main stem, now
reduced to the property lying within
the 100 foot limitation and extending
through more than one city or town
ship or county, is taxed at the average
rate of the state for state uses, and by
a special enactment all of the proceeds
of this tax over and above one-half OF
! per cent upon the property is given
directly to the support of our free pub
lie schools, and the one-half of ! per
cent is, as now, left to the discretion
of the legislature to be used for the
same purpose In addition to that, the
as the real estate of the main steam
and the proceeds likewise distributed
This franchise tax at the same rate as
other property is paid by the railroads
in addition to their other taxes, so that
in this way they are taxed more than
amount that individuals would other
wise be compelled to pay. Under these
laws the revenues of the state and
municipalities should be largely in
creased and corresponding reduction
made in the tax rate to the benefit of
the local taxpayer In order that the
taxpayer may receive the benefit of
this increased revenue on railroads and
other corporate enterprises, the legis-
lature provided that the tax rate
should be gradually reduced from year
to year until it reaches a maximum
amount This will prevent municipal |
extravaganza and benefit the taxpayer
accordingly.
This legislation was promised in the
Republican state platform Of 1904, as a
reference to that platform will show
1t was outlined in the inaugural adj
dress Of Governor Stokes In January,
1905, and recommended in his first
annual message last January. 1t was
In its conception, in its elaboration and
In it's execution wholly Republican
legislation, as the records Individually
show, and was the natural evolution of
Republican policy conceived two years
ago. The credit belongs therefore, to
no individual or individuals, but to the
Republican party as party
Limitation Of Franchises Also Brought
About
Until the present year there never
was any limit on the power of munic-
ipality to grant a public service fran
chise in perpetuity. Until last year the
policy Of such grants was never seri-
ously brought in question. But the
sentiment Of opposition existed In the
minds OF men who gave some thought
to the rights Of future generations.
The legislature Of 1905 appointed
special commission to investigate the
subject. 1t reported in favor Of limita-
ton. Governor Stokes, In his annual
message last January, devoted chap
ter to the subject, recommending
limitation Of time for such franchises
The first bill introduced in the senate
at the last session, on Jan. is, was by
Senator Hillery of Morris county, an
act limiting public utility franchises to
twenty years. AS finally passed it per-
mitted vote Of the people to extend
the time to forty years, the maximum
to be allowed by the law. AS will be
seen, this law was of Republican con-