Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-08-02
REPEAL THE AVIS BILL.
From Trenton True Am, rieanl

For 25 years the Democratic party il this
state he's been proclaiming its belief in siich
alterations Of our tax laws as will more
equitable distribute the burdens Of taxa
ton In 1884 Leon Albeit pressed the
subject upon the Legislature, and secured
the first measure looking towards the de-
sired end He got not what be wanted, but
all that Republican Senate, dominated by
the railroads, would permit him to have. 1t
was a step in the right direction, but only
step. and very short step. From that
day to this in season and out Of season, the
Democratic party has insisted on the com
pletion of the work begun in 1884
The Colby movement arose in the Repub
lican party about one year ago, and achieved
distinction by joining the Democratic
chorus, and SO impressed itself upon the
last Legislature that the Republican ma
chine saw the necessity Of making bluff at
acquiescing in the Democratic party's de
mands for quarter OF a century. The
sscond-class property of the railroads was
given oyer to the municipalities for local
assessment and taxation for local uses, and
a law was enacted for the texation of rail-
road main stem property at the average
taxing rate of the municipalities Of the
State. Recognizing lack of uniformity in
the taxation of other property in the vari-
GUS taxing districts and the unfairness OF
the principle of the Perkins law to the rail-
roads, another scheme was eoncocted, the
aim of which was to SO lower the tax rates
of the various municipalities Of the State,
and, consequently, the average rate, as to
prevent the railroads tax bills from going
higher.
Is was alleged that it was unfair to assess
railroad property at full value, and tax
it by an average tax rate laid on other prop
erty assessed below full value. The Re-
publican machine erred in imagining that
railroad property is assessed at full value.
The United States Census Bureau reports
that New Jersey railroads are assessed SO
per cent of their real, commercial value.
But politicians employed by corporations
TO protect their interests are not over-scru-
pulous about matters of this sort, SO the
deception went, and the Avis bill resulted.
Now the Avis bill is passed on the assuml-
tion that all property throughout the State
should be uniformly assessed. Indeed, SO
long as the State is charged with the assess
ment of one class Of property it is essential
that it should assess all, but while the
County Boards for the Equalization Of
Taxation, appointed by the State are fore
ing local assessors to place the true valua
tiop on private property, the States other
assessors, known as the State Board Of As
SCISSORS, haye made no move towards making
like increases in the assessed values Of rail-
road property.
For this reason there is howl from
all over the State against the new order Of
things. The machine newspapers argue
that the people are opposed to real and
equal taxation. The charge is false. The
people are quite as insistent as ever shat all
property shall be assessed for taxes under
general laws and by uniform rules, accord
ing to its true value.
The Avis law denies to municipalities
that management of their own affairs to
which they are entitled. It adds s4 officers
to the list of political appointments within
the gift Of the party in power and it con-
fers upon these county boards prerogatiyts
that enable them, if they so desire, to cor
ruptly use their officers for the reward of
their friends, and the punishment Of their
fees.
"All property should be assessed and
taxed where it is found" This is old
Democratic doctrine. The Avis bill con-
templates the assessment of all property
but main stem and personal railroad prop
city by State officials, and all other property
by local assessors, subject to revision by the
county board.
Because of the merelricious argument
upon which it is based. and the unfairness
to private property which it creates, the
people all over the State are demanding the
repeal of the Avis bill.