Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-02-16

much higher rate than the corpora
tiOnS.
Mr.. Gibson evoked a laugh when
he said that he is sorry he is not in
corporated so that he would have to
pay tax of but $40 or Whereabouts
on his residence in Newark, accord
ing to the two per cent tax levied on
the earning capacity of corporations,
instead of the tax of nearly 500
which he pays at the rate levied up
on individuals property. He said
that these matters of taxation prob
lens are shaping themselves, and
referred to the obvious injustice of
private property being raised in val
uation because of it's earning capac-
ity, and railroad property not being
thus handled. He said that railroads
should be taxed by the boards of the
municipalities through which they
pass and certain small part of the
tax be given to the state; or the state
should levy the tax and let the large
share be rebated to the municipali-
ties in proportion to the railroad
property. He believes equal taxa
tion will again be an election issue.
Limited Franchises.
Regarding the limiting of fran
chises, Mr.. Gibson said that fran
chises should be limited and he show
ed how under the franchise tax act
of several years ago, the corporate
interests could get franchises almost
perpetual, no absolute limit being
fixed for the extension of the fran
chises beyond twenty years by popu-
lar vote except that they be not per-
petual. He said that the question is
one which must be considered with
fairness to both the corporations and
the people. He said that franchises
should be limited so that at their ex-
piration, there could be competition
and it would not be so easy to shut
out rival companies, and the munich
palities could ascertain the actual
capacities. Mr.. Gibson told
Of the deplorable traction service in
Newark, and said that he hopes to
see the time when such conditions
will be impossible. He was contin-
Iously applauded at the close.
President Barnes then introduced
Judge Lyon as toastmaster.
Judge Lyon referred to saying
hat many of New Jerseys famous
men come from Sussex county. He
said that the Chamber was honored
)y the presence of two sons of Sus-
sex county. Mr.. Gibson came from
Sussex county, although now of Es-
sex. The other son of Sussex county
was Rev. Mr.. Northrup, who was
hen introduced. Judge Lyon said
hat Mr.. Northrup would speak ex-
emporaneously.
Mr.. Northrup Speaks.
Mr.. Northrup extended greeting
o the guest of the evening and he
old the story about Joseph Chamber
in, which states that Chamberlin
vas once asked if he would speak at
hat moment or would he have the
guests allowed to have a good time
or Il while longer. Mr.. Northrup
laid that ne wished he had a grip
IN municipal questions, so that he
night speak of them intelligently.
He congratulated the Chamber of
Commerce upon the interest it takes
n city affairs, streets, sidewalks, and
he Amboy bridge and other matters
If Improvement.
Mr.. Northrup's remarks relative to
he bridge were very witty. He said
lie does not possess a clear under
standing of the circumstances sur
'ounding it. He said that when he
lad been in this city only a week he
heard someone mention the bridge"
There was stiffness. The next time
le heard the bridge" referred to
here was laughter. He made inquir-
es about it, but could get no definite
He wondered whether it was jest
II perhaps a prophecy. "Ah! thought
>" said Mr.. Nortnrup last night,
that is right in my religion, this
aith in things unseen
He went to his dictionary, he said,
md looked up the word bridge,
which was defined as a structure OF
wood, iron or stone, eXtendingover
from bank to bank and
.ffording continuous highway from
me bank to the otner." He went to
he site, he said, and found that we
lad everything except the continuous
highway.
The other day, Mr. Northrup said,
le read that former President Grover
Cleveland had said that he would
ather have his only son, seven years
Id, grow UP able to build Brooklyn
ridge, than be president of the Unit
ID States. He said that the hope
aIne to him that young Cleveland
night become famous bridge build
II and come down here and finish the
1mhoy bridge and that perhaps the