Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-01-09

the state of a little over 1851 900. If the
average rate of the state were applied
this class of property, instead of paying
1851, 900, would pay, subject to equalization
Of valuation, about SO, $780, 600, within $780,
900 of the present total state income from
all sources. The railroads now pay taxes
Of over 81, 400 300 a year, which is turned
directly over to the municipalities, so that
this would make the total taxes paid by
railroads for all purposes about "a, $40, 900,
or nearly e per cent of the total taxes
now paid by all the property of the state.
Methods of Distribution.
The distribution of the tax derived from
the main stem is a separate and distinct
proposition from the method of taxation.
The state might retain a portion of the
tax and distribute the balance to the mt
inequalities through which the main stem
passes, according to the proportion of the
main stem lying within each municipal
ty. This tax might be devoted to the
school fund for a permanent investment
for hat purpose or might be distributed
by the state under the act of 1900, as now,
to the various taxing districts for the
payment of school taxes and the elimina-
ton of the state school TX. This would
reduce the tax rate in every taxing dis.
trict TN points. The present amount re-
ceived by each district would of course be
proportionately increased. Hudson coun-
ty now receives from this source $189. 07o;
it would receive about Sis, 466. Jersey
City now receives from this source $780,
563; 1t would receive about $340, 1898. Es-
sex county now receives from this source
1926, 45S; 1t would receive about 1896. $40.
Newark now receives from this source
$163, 348; It would receive about $500, 722.
Monmouth county now receives from this
source 54,022; it would receive about $685.
2S3. Mercer county now receives from this
source S52. 0S5; 1t would receive about $780,
9l6. Trenton now receives from this
source $40, $685.; it woul receive about sl54,-
4S. Pasaaic county now receives from
this source 1854; it would receive about
S2SS, 81. Paterson now receives from this
source 81, 1913; 1t would receive about $685.
636. These Illustrations. subject to equal
ization of valuations and to changes in
local tax rates, and not purporting to be
accurate to the dollar, might be multiplied
to cover every community in the state.
They are based upon the assumption that
the increased revenue would be distribut-
ed, as now, for the benefit of our taxpay-
ers and schools. A portion of it, how
ever. might be devoted to the development
Of our system of rood roads. Schools and
good roads are vitality important to the
welfare of our commonwealth. and both
OF them are necessarily dependent for
uniformity and effectiveness upon state
aid and state care.
The merits of these two systems-taxing
the main stem locally or by the state-are
purely questions of policy.
Preservation of the States Revenues.
Consideration of the interests of all the
people of the state argues for care in
preserving the states revenues. A state
tax will never be welcome. Our policy
should look to the future. Revenues that
are ours today may disappear tomorrow.
The great business companies now incor-
porated in our state, from whom we re-
ceived last year 81, 422, S46. are likely in the
near future to seek Incorporation under
national laws. Their interests lie in this
direction, and the trend of thought led by
the president and the United States COM
missioner of corporations points this way
also. The agitation for the Incorporation
of life insurance companies under ma
tional laws has already begun and is but
a question of a few years. The loss of
these revenues would mean a state tax
unless we have sources of revenue pre-.
served to meet the emergency Greater
demands upon our income are made with
each. recurring year-demands that can.
not well be avoided. There will always
be great public burdens beyond the capac-
ity of any municipality to carry, to the
support of which the state must contrib
ute. Wise forethought therefore win safe
guard and increase the states revenues
for the benefit of all of its people.
Limited Franchises.
The development of electricity as a mo-
tive power has Introduced upon our high
ways a method of travel at once con-
~venient and inexpensive and made them,