The Jersey City news., 1906-03-15
Within Hall An Hour It
Was Recalled, Amended,
Repassed Reoonsidered and
Sent to the Senate
FIRST MADE CONSTITUTIONAL
IT is GENERALLY THOUGHT THE
SENATE WILL NOT PASS IT,
BUT WILL OFFER 4 sUBsTI-
TUTE
(specisl g t.The Jersey city News.,,

that the Senate would not pass the Fer
kins equal tax bill with the Martin
amendment. which the Attorney General
decided made it unconstitutional. Leader
Randolph Perkins decided yesterday that
1t would be better to recall and elmin-
mate the Objectionable amendment than
allow the Senate to adopt a substitute
measure
The adoption Of an equal tax law
bearing a legislators name is an honor
that any man may feel proud Of, and
nobody realised that more than Mr.. Per
kins. He did not want the Senate to
deprive him of an honor which he sought
and which he believed he deserved as a
reward for the many weeks Of hard work
he had put in in framing bill that
would be acceptable to the majority. He
also. fc.t that with the Martin amend
ment eliminated his bill was as nearly
perfect as it could possibly be made to
meet all requirements
For over two hours the House Judici-
airy Committee. behind clceei doors. DIS
1eussed whether tile Perkins bill should
be recalled from tie Ssnate, 50 that the
Martin amendment, enboasing the prin-
ciples of Tue Duiiielu act Of last year,
for the taxation of second-class railroad
property, could be taken out of it. OF
whether the Senate should be allowed to
present a substitute.
Mr. Perkins strenuously advocated the
recall of his bill, claiming that the peo-
pie expected the House to pass a con-
stiturional bill and then submit it to the
Senate. Ee said that the people had
been promised law taxing the main
stem of the railroads. and they should
have it, but it should not be a measure
which the railroads could take into the
courts and have set aside. The bill
should be made constitutional by the
House before being sent to the Senate,
he contended, and everything done to
make it one which would give the people
what thes were promised.
Mr. Barber, of Mercer, another mem-
ber of the committee, supported Mr.. Per-
kins and argued that the bill should be
made constitutional before beng sent to
the Senate.
Assemblyunan Me- tin, the Colby lead
er, strenuously opposed the recall Of the
BILL The Attorney-G General. he said, had
declared the Duffield act constitutional
and the Perkins bill WAS believed to be
constitutional, and he thought the courts
would uphold it.
It was suggested that the Attorney
General be invited to appear before the
committee and discuss the matter with
the members. This was agreed to and
in response to the invitation Mr.. McCar-
ter appeared. He reiterated his opinion
that the Martin amendment made the
Perkins bill unconstitutional. Then the
committee adopted resolution to recall
the bill from the Senate.
Amendments were drawn up and ap-
proved by the Attorney General. who
said that if they were adopted the Per-
kins bill would be constitutional and with
the Duffield act Of last year would give
the State a complete system of equal
taxation.
As soon as the House met Leader Per-
kins offered the recall resolution and it
was adopted without any discussion. The
resolution was also unanimously adopted
by the Senate.
When the Perkins bill came over from
the Senate, Leader Perkins Immediately
moved that the vote by which it was
""S P"ScSu pS s7So4ietus u tu. AAlS WAS
carried unanimously. Perkins then moved
that the bill be put back to second read
ing for amendment and that too, was
carried.
Then Mr.. Perkins offered the amend
ment striking out the clause referring to
second class property, which was Mr..
Martins amendment. He said he was
strongly in favor Of making his bill con-
stitutional and compelling the Senate to
say whether it would stand BY the admin
istration or not.
Mr.. Bierek, Of Hudson, offered sub
stitute for the bill. It was Mr.. Arrow
smiths equal tax bill, which the Judic-
iary Committee had held up and refused
to report, although IN the estimation Of
all experts 1t provided a more equitable