Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-01-11

source Si066S; 1t would receive about Slb4,-
439. Passaic county now receives from
this source s75,S74: 1t would receive about
s2SS, S21 Paterson now receives from this
source S44373; It would receive about M68,-
e36. These illustrations, subject to equal
ization of valuations and 10 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 thu assumption that
me increased revenue would be distribute
I'd, as now for the benefit OF our taxpay-
ers and schools. Al portion of it, how
ever, might be devoted to the development
of our system Of good roads. Schools and
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-taxing|
the main stem. locally or by the state-ara
purely questions Of policy.
Preservation Of the States Revenues.
Consideration of the interests of all the
people of the state argues for care in
preserving the states revenues. A state
tax will never be welcome. Our policy
should look to the future. Revenues that
are ours today may disappear tomorrow.
The great business companies now incor-
porated in cur state, from whom we re-
ceived last year 80, 422 S46, are likely in thu
near future TO seek incorporation under
national laws. Their interests lie in this
direction, and the trend of thought led by
the president and the United States COM
missioner Of corporations points this way
also. The agitation for the Incorporation
Of life insurance companies under ma
tional laws has already begun and is but
a question of a few years. The loss OF
these revenues would mean state tax
unless we have sources Of revenue pre-
served to meet the emergency. Greatef
demands upon our income are made with
each recurring year-demands that can
not well be avoided There will alwaya
be great public burdens beyond the capac-
ity of any municipality to carry, to tho
support of which the state must contrib
ute. Wise forethought therefore will safe
guard and Increase the states revenues
for the benefit Of all Of its people.
Limited Franchises.
The development OF electricity as a mo.
tive power has introduced upon our high
ways a method of travel at once con-
venient and inexpensive and made them,
as a rule, the roadbeds of our trolley sys-
TENS. The right of way upon the streeta
for this purpose is granted by the various
municipalities They have the power to
Of the franchise and the number of years
which it shall continue in force, whether
it shall be ten. twenty, fifty or unlimited.
The trolleys have proved important fac
tors in the development of our state. The
public has welcomed this means of con.
veyance, and little attention has been paid
to the length of time for which the fran
chises have been granted Population has
increased, and the use of the public
streets for these purposes has proved to
be concession of great value. The mu
inequalities, however, hampered by per
petual franchises, have not been able to
take advantage of these changed condi.
TONS II the highways are to be used fol-
business purposes the people, who own thu
highways shoAld be in a position to de-
mand an increased rental as their proper
ty becomes more valuable, Just as thu
owner of the business block is able to
raise the rent thereon in proportion az
increased trade and traffic center about it.
This of course cannot be done If the
streets are leased for an unlimited term
Of years, but if the lease or franchise Ii
limited its expiration would permit new
terms to be made in proportion to the in
creased value of the grant
How far the power of municipalities II
grant franchises to public utility corpora.
tons should be limited should be deter
mined solely by the interests of the ;peo-
pIe Their interests will not be served
oy ues.lucuse ply ,s.,s tla4 49,,
pc oerlveu uiioel iws - iisa .,
prevent me
from when lne leveilue nuss ps,a 80
e qusslioi ~
pc consluereo onoel w : = ~.
lions ne~ anu iiAe 10
pee WItI inose nuulhs $3.50 & ~
rsstIlcteu llaiisailses sx,st ~ -
Iorgotlen tnat Terms sls,s t;a,,,". ~
the investment u Sapl.a. ~ .ll y poga
iated eenters Wouiu ~. seinps ! ~ ui.ue'
veiopeo secIlons. Inc colnnl, !. ap
po,h'e1 ~ e,'s y. ~ a.
sa.s .s -,e ,,,,,rsc;,saI offic;aIs
I.atlon y .sls 1870, - ,,,s,lin ,,+I,stias
~ ~ ,.le.44ass, ~ rss+-;a+ -.
80 Inns tr ,.,,,.,
. ..l y ss.,,iaad tha+
ols.rices y nns. De 4las,sise -, L.,
oroinance sas.a. !. :. should
sel plou .iis,n ,,.;ts
De supmi,eeu 70 vo.e " u,e $500, W. -
z limitation as y 2 A'Sa 'i''u'i' - = =
years ,, u. n,,h,;a;tr
rIosls.on silouiu salsi s tat,, r.,iti,
IN lne sIantis =. - r,,,i,.a
Iesa1u ~ ZIG 81 ~ -. -. ~ 49, =