The Lambertville record., 1906-09-12

tNli'lHNtlNeiN 1T lubHt utdTluSS HUu Ill
debates upon the floor and after Il free
and open discussion of weeks the house
and senate. without dissenting voice.
declared that the hill introduced hy Mr
Perkins. the Republican leader. was
the best measure that had been offered
upon the subject. and il WAS therCupon
enacted into law The party pledge
had been faithfully kept. The lcglsla-
ture. however, did not stop here The
Republican party is progressive. 1t
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
reclassihed railroad property and which
Increased the second elass property hy
taking from the 50 called main stem all
of the rairoad stations and appurte-
nanees 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 mau stem,
which in no ease exceeds 100 feet in
width and In some eases not sixty feet,
is assessed locally nj 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 aud extending
through more than one city or town
ship or county. is taxed at the average
rate of the state for state uses and 10y
special enactment all of the proceeds
of this tax over and above ne-half OF
| per cent upon the property is given
directly 10 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 he used for the
same purpose. In addition Ia that, the
franchise is also taxed ut the same rate
as the real estate of the main steam.
and the proceeds likewise distributed
This franchise tax at the same rute rs
other property is paid by the railroads
in addition 10 their other taxes, 50 that
In this way they are taxed more Than
individuals. aud help reduce the
amount that individuals would other
wise be compelled 10 pay. Under these
laws the revenues of the state and
municipalities should be largely in
creased and a corresponding reduction
made In the tax rate To the benefit of
the local taxpayer. In order that the
| tn \ nf
this increased revenue on railroads aud
other corporate enterprises, the legis-
lature provided that the tax rate
should be gradually reduced from year
to year until ii reaches maximum
amount This will prevent municipal
extra vagance and benefit the taxpayer
accordingly.
This legislation WAS promised III the
Republican state platform of 1904, ms Il
reference To that platform will show
! 1t wns outlined in the inaugural nd
dress of Governor Stokes in January
1903. aud recommended in his frs
annual message last January II wa
In its conception, In its deliberation ant
In It's execution wholly Republican
show, and was the natural evolution Vi
Republican policy conceived two years
ago The credit belongs, therefore, tG
no individual or individuals, but 10 the
Republican party az II party.
Limitation of Franchises Also Brought
About.
Until the present year there never
was any limit ON the power of II munie
ipality 10 grant II public service fran
chise in perpetuity. Until last year the
policy of such grants was never scri
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 n
special commission to Investigate the
subject. II reported In favor of limita
ton Governor Stokes In his annuuI
message last january. devoted chap
ter 10 the subject, recommending n
llmltalion Of time for such franchises.
The first bill introduced In the senate
ut the last session ot. Jan II. Was by
senator lIllery of Morris county, IN
act limiting public utility franchises tC
twenty yenis. As finally passed it per
United Il vote of The people 10 eXtcIo
the time to forty years. the maximum
to bc allowed by the law. As viii III
seen, this law WIS of Republican con
ceptioH dclibcration and execution.
As TO overeapitalization.
For years complaint has been made
throughout the country of the oyercap
itallzaii5n of public utility corpora
tons In accordance with the suggcs
tion In the governors message m nc
preventing such oVereapitnlzation wa
passed 10y the Republican legislature,
End of the Fee System.
The final abolition of the Zee system
IN county offices effected this year wa
the elimination of Republican policl
begun in the state Offices where th'
fees of the cbancery and supreme cour
clerks mggregatng last year S12 600
were turned into the state treasury
by the abolition of fees in all the couu
ties Of the state the public incomes o
these counties are increased by nearli
half II million dollars annually
Conserving the Water supply Of th
State.
Perhaps the most important legisla
ton enacted under Republican part,
control during the last two years II
that designed TO conserve the potable
water supply Of the state With on
rapidly increasing population, th'
future demands of growing municipal
tiles for an adequate water supply
must he given consideration and atten
tl0n as n matter Of craftsmanship
Such legislation was recommended b.
the governor IN both his inaugural ad
dress and his first message. Steps have
been taken and are being taken that
will prove of great benefit to future
generations. The preservation of til,
forests of the state presents one of th,
most important aspects of the stu