Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-01-30
HILLERY LAW
is ATTACKED.
George |. Record Says Il Was
Passed for The Benefit of
the Railroads.

l.. Record, r~epft-fntlng Jersey City,
and Senator Th<mas j.. Hillery. of
Morris county. featured the c%ontinu-
alton yesterday in the assembly
chamber of me hearing by the judi
ciary comntttee on the Martin re-
pealer for TIC Hillery maximum tax
rate law.
Mr.. Record said hat he looked up
on the Hillely law as the most un-
iustifiable pi4ce of legislation enact
ed in the pass ten years. so far as
| understand. this act was introduce
ed at the instigation of the railroads.
! believe that Senator Hlllery intro
duced it honestly and in good faith
and is in good faith defending it.
This law" Mr.. Record continued,
was drawn to suit the railroads,
and was passed to counteract the eff
feet of the Dufield act of last year
increasing the tax on railroad second
class property"
Mr.. Record attacked the motives
or the republican party in passing
the bill in the closing hours OF the
last legislature, and said 1t was put
through by cracking of the party
whip.
AT this point, Assemblyman Bar
Der, of this city, said: 81 object. Mr..
Record, to hear you villify the mo-
tives of members of the legislature
who voted for this bill. voted for
it in good faith and am prepared to
vote for its repeal this year, If you
can show any good reason for my
doing so. But / object to sitting here
and allowing you to castigate MEM
bers of the former house of assembly,
| being among the members
I'VE must assume that the last
committee considering this measure
was honest, and work from that
point" said Chairman Perkins, as he
ordered Mr.. Record to continue his
argument.
Arguing on the Hillery law, Mr..
Record said that the only sentiment
that could be found behind it was
based upon the popular understand
ing that there was widespread munic-
ipal extravaganza.
II thought so myself until | be-
came connected with a city govern
ment. | found III differently as
soon as | had experience, and | be-
lieVe that municipal extravaganza is
growing less and less. know that
when we make up the budget in Jer-
sey City every year we nearly sweat
blood to keep down expenses. We do
nnt hnun noplyc nnn,tph .av ,,n1,oD
O fire protection, nor any public
thing, according to the peoples
ideas. Municipal extravaganza is
small in the cities of New Jersey"
Mr.. Record attacked the referen-
dunn attached to the Hillery law, say
ing there should be no referendum,
except to admit or change a principle.
Mr.. Record said that the workings
of the Hillery law would be to de-
crease the taxes Of the railroads, be-
cause when the tax board of Jersey
City certified to the state board of
assessors that the rate was $40,
the state board would at once apply
that rate to railroad property.
William Williams, of West Or
ange, said that if the Hillery law is
to stand every piece of property in
his municipality would be assessed
doubly to raise enough moneys This
means that the legislature will be
forced to give up and others permits
sion to spend more money, ''for you
must give us permission to spend our
own money" concluded Mr.. Will
liams.
Senator Hillery, in defending the
law bearing his name, said Mr.. Rec
ord was unjust in his accusations of
the motives of legislators. He be-
lieved that a committee hearing was
an improper place to make a politi-
cal speech, but he asked the commit
tees indulgence to reply to Records
accusations.
Senator Hillery said the suggestion
of the Hillery law was contained in
Governor Stokes speech accepting
the nomination for his high office.
and that if Mr.. Record would consult
his friend, Mr.. Black, of Jersey City,
he would find that Mr.. Black advo-
Gated it years ago.
Senator Hillery said he drew the !
bill with the assistant attorney gen
eral and hat in it's tearing apart and
amending, the Legislature practically
drew the bill. He said no railroad
suggested the measure, that Mr.. Rec
ord was most unjust in his accusa-
lions.
Answering the statement that he
was the only man standing on the
floor defending the measure, Senator
Hillery said that the advocates of the
measure were the poor owners of
property, who were most unjustly
taxed, while the extravaganza cities
could send their hired representa-
tives TO fight for a chance to continue
the extravaganza.
Might Fave starved to Death.
TOLEDG, o., Jan. 3o.-surrounded