New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-28
EQUAL TAX ACT PASSES.
~. J. TRUNK LINES HIT.
Governor Indicates That He WI
Sign Perkins Bill.

forces OF reform. Limited franchises was me
hrst All through the night there were CONFER
ences IN and ont OF the State House The judi
cisrv committees Of the Senate and House We're
with the Governor until after midnight Inc
railroad representatives focked by themselves
but practically gave the fight up before daylight
When the Senate met it was generally under
rtood the Perkins biH would be ready for the
Governor before recess was taken
The bill which the Governor indicates ne VIII
Kfrn. affects al the railroads that enter New
Jersey II has been fought tooth and nail by
ne railroads powerful lobby. Its provisions
win mean the loss Of millions in the aggregate
n increased taxes
Senator Minch took the chair. and President
Bradley. Occupied a seat on the floor The Per
)zins measure was taken up at once. Senator
Alderman spoke in behalf Of HIS amendment
eliminating franchises from the bill He said that
franchises should not be considered as property
FOR. the purpose Of taxation under the bill Colby,
IN opposition. said the amendment, II adopted
vvould be q step backward. Mintun also OPP
POSED f. He said the courts all over the country
had decided that franchises could and should
be faxed by the state. Senator Hillery explained
MS views upon the difference between steam
and electric franchises. When vote was taken
m fbe amendment everybody voted IN the mega
1--WE except Alderman.
Senator colby. in speaking upon HIS amend
Fnent which was the Arrowsmith bill introduced
h. the House. said that he would vote for the
Perkins biIl bu. he felt that the Arrow
smith Hill wac more sound and better equal
szed the taxes Senator Hillery in opposition
N the Arrousrith biz sa.- he thought that it
Eras Unconstitutional. IN reply Senator Colby
Stated that the Arrowsmith bill was the only
pne Of the equal tax measures that had the ap-
sroval of ths Attorney General as tc constitu-
sionality.
Senator Minturn supported the Arrowsmith
biz. as IL embodied the essentials Of his own
amendment These both provide for local taxa
Ii0n at local rates and the payment Of tax as
that upon individual property. In speaking upon
TIE ErTOwsmith measure he also explained his
Own amendment. He characterized the state sys-
TEN Of railroad taxation as a special class Of
legislation as embodied in the Perkins bin. Sen
Rtor Mckee touched on the effect upon many Of
the smaller counties If railroad tax should be
paid locally. He contended that II the
Of the whole state that gave the terminals their
value. He held that the Arrowsmith and Min
turu amendments We're not fair TO the rest OF
The state.
DEBATE OK THE BILL.
Senator Hutchinson touched upon the const-
sutton and the powers u the state in the matter
Of taxation. Senator Bradley said he favored TO
some extent the Arrowsmith amendments. but
his own, which be presented, covered points not
fn the Arrowsmith amendments. Senator Min
Turn in reply 10 Senator Hutchinson said it was
very kind OF the Senate to give the people what
they wanted.
Senator Lee questioned a remark Of Senator
Afinturn that "a power interviewed between the
Legislature and the people" Senator Lee stated
that no railroad or corporation had iu any way
tried 10 influence him. Senator Nintun said
that he had asked about intervention" for in
formation as 10 why the people did not get the
equal tax they demand. Senators Avis. Hutchin-
son and Mckee said the people OF their counties
are satisfied with the Perkins bill Senator
Homer said that be felt that the Perkins bill
was wanted by the greatest number Of people
and that 81 is just. He held that the main stem
Of railroad should always be considered a
state asset Upon the continuity of main stem"
matter Senator Colby said the main stem was
divided by the State Board OF Assessors IN 1855
for the purpose OF arriving at the value Of the
main stem. The Arrowsmlth amendment was
lost.
Senator Bradley said that for years he had
wondered wnv railroad property should not be
taxed Tie same ms nIs. He referred 20 the states
i n california. Georgia. Florida Louisiana, Mary
n l6Ho, Maine and N7T York, which assess rail-
soad property locally and for local purposes As
~ - continuity he said that trolley companies
y telegraph. telephone and other companies are
10 assessed continuously. and thar railroad
ot MS arnrrdme-r which provides for taxation
or me franchise upon gross receipts which
would enable The state 10 increase IT'S revenue as
1-' .'-9F 'I me STATE require He said equal
taZatiCu would be- before The legislature every
year until real equal tax bHl is passed. which
No'-l he To Tax railroad property the prop
er-T NJ The individual was taxed Senator
Nase.e7 SAID The continuity idea was q fauacy
H-d rh7t no mind could conceive the value of the
le.l-f wanna Railroad entirety from
'a'lafE fa Jersey City. He said he considered
The Pe--..s hIl fhe best because the people
ana then salf-c1ustirured guardians, the news
papers. had heral555 the Perkins bin as the
equal tax hi'' ' and that any Senator who voted
64aiHst 81 would be considered as opposed 70
The Nirtuu amendment was lost by a vote Of
- m B. Senator Bradley withdrew his amend
ilent covering the same grounds An amend
1nent thar The franchise tax should be paid for
INC building uf public roads and schools, offered
by Senator MiHrurn. was also lost The bill
t1en passed second reading
senator Hilery moved that the rules be sus-
pended and The Perkins bin be placed on third
reading. Senator Hillery. I'm speaking for equal
taxation. said he believed that the Perkins bill
best covered FL, and reviewed all railroad tax
legislation since 1880 He said a bin was now in
fne House defining the main stem and distribu-
non ~ taxes, which is 81 accordance with the
policy ri the Republican party. and that the
LeeIs-atur" would not adjourn until this bill IS
also passed President Bradley resumed the
chair
SENATOR MINTURN'S BARRIER"
senator Nintun referred to the mild sensa.
ton h. had created when he spoke Of the barriel
between The Legislature and the people
i cast no aspersions," he exclaimed "upor
ANYBODY but # is well known that there is z
POWER that intervene. We simply DO not Tel
what it is. but Il exists"
Bradley said that the vote on tho amendment
and the vote sure 10 bs cast for the bill showeS
thai the barrier could rot be the railroads. 10
they appeared 40 have no influence to-day Brad
ley and Alderman withdrew their amendment
before the bin went 10 thiTd reading
The I've votes for the Bradley amendment vyer
cast bg Bradley. colby, Lee, MintUTn and Wake
Ice. T-e Perkins HIN ragSad nv a lCse n ~ Il