The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-01-09

city or county, but extends through the
various counties and municipalities of the
state. Its patronage Is derived not from
one section, but from all sections of the
state, and the interstate traffic, which
adds greatly to the value of our railroad
highways, cannot be claisned by any one
section, but by all sections of the state
The revenues out of which the taxes are
paid are either contributed by the people
of the state or derived from source in
which they can all claim equal right. IN
deed, the authority Of the railroad to do
business is granted By the legislature
representing all sections of the state.
Equitable considerations therefore would
seem to regard this class of property as
a source of revenue for all the people of
the commonwealth. If the main stem
should be taxed in this way the appKca-
tion to this property of the average tax
rate of the state would seem to be logical
and complies fully with the requirements
of equal taxation
The average tax rate of this state is
about per cent. The main stem, includ-
ing franchises which are figured in the
value of the main stem, together with the
personal property. produces a revenue to
the state Of little over $951 900. II the
average rate Of the state were applied
this class Of property, instead Of paying
1851, 0OO would pay, subject to equalization
of valuation, about $500 900. within $780,
600 of the present total state income from
all sources The railroads now pay taxes
of over $1140.000 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 Is 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 portion Of the
tax and distribute the balance to the mu-
inequalities through which the main stem
passes, according to the proportion of the
main stem lying within each nlunicipali-
ty This tax might be devoted to the
school fund for a permanent Investment
for that 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 tax. This would
reduce the tax rate in every taxing dis
trict 177k points The present amount re-
ceived by each district would of course be
proportionately Increased. Hudson coun-
ty now receives from this source $1S9,070;
it would receive about $71Si466 Jersey
City now receives from this source $780,,
563: it would receive about $s40,SsS Es-
sex county now receives from this source
$2S6. 45S; 1t would receive about $8sS,540.
Newark now receives from this source
$16S, 34S; 1t would receive about $500, 722.
Monmouth county now receives from this
source s54022: It would receive about sos, :
2SS. Mercer county now receives from this
source s520S5: it would receive about $197,
gl5. Trenton now receives from this
source S4066S; it would receive about s154,-
ASS. Passaic county now receives from
this source S75.8T4 1t would receive about
$2SS. 321. Paterson now receives from this
source $a437Ss 1t would receive about $685.
6s6. 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 distrlbut-
ca, snow. 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 good roads. Schools ana
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~-tax King
the main stem lpcallS or nv the state are
purely Questions OF posle}
Prsssrv alton Of the Skates RevsnAes,
conslderation Of the INTERESTS Of sll the
people Of the state AR ues for cars
preserving the states revenues a4s
tax win never ~ wsl me. es llrs