The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-01-16
STOLE COLBY'S
TAX THUNDER
Leader Perkins Secures the
Right to Introduce the
First Bill Which Provides
for Equal Taxation On the
Lines Laid Down By
Colby
GOVERNOR BACKS MEASURE
ASsEMBLYMAN MARTIN PRE-
SENTS CoLBY's BILL AND De
CLAREs HE WILL FIGHT FOR
IT TO THE LAST DITCH GAL
WIN PUTS IN AN EQUAL TAX
BILL TO BENEFIT HUDSON.


TRENTON, Jan. 16, 1906.--In their
efforts to prevent the Record Colby
forces in the House from receiving any
honors that may be given to them for
taking the initiative in securing legisla-
ton which WOULD compel railroads TO pay
more tax on main stem property, the
administration or State House ring, led
by Leader Randolph Perkins, last night
introduced the first bilE of the session in
the House. 1t was an equal tax mea-
sure drawn along the lines of the bill
drafted and agitated by Senator Colby
and his henchmen. 1t was said last
night that the bill bears the Governors
30. K.,n and that if any equal tax legis-
lation be enacted at this session it will
be this bill, which will be pushed
through both Houses by the State
House ring.
No sooner had the House settled down
to business and Speaker Robbins called
for the introduction Of bills when Leader
Perkins ssprang to his feet and clannored
for recognition. Assemblyman William
p. Martin, leader of the Colby forces in
the House. was also on his feet about
the same time. Whether or not the
Speaker saw the- latter is not known,
but he Immediately recognized Mr.. Per-
kins and thus gave him the honor of in
Producing the first bill.
Mr.. Perkins's equal tax bill provides
that on or before the first day of March
of each and every year, the railroads
and canal companies in this State shall
make returns to the State Board of AS
SCISSORS showing the length and value of
the main stem property owned by them,
also the length of such main property in
each taxing district as it existed on the
first day of january preceding. This
may be shown by a map accompanying
the return, together with the number,
character, location and value of the de-
pot buildings used for passengers and
specifying the character and value of all
the tangible personal property used for
railroad purposes The returns shall also
show
(A). The amount of capital stock au-
thorized and the number of shares into
which such capital stock is divided; (B)
the amount of capital stock paid up;
(C) the market value and if no market
value then the actual value of the shares
of stock; ID the total amount and the
details and particulars of all indebted
ness.
The bill provides that such statements
or schedules shall be made in conformity
with such instructions and forms as may
be provided by the State Board of AS
SCISSORS and requires the president or two
officers of such failroad TO make affidavits
as to the correctness of the statements
or schedules so presented.
'.On or before the first of each and
every year., the bill reads, the State
Board of Assessors shall value and as
sess the property described by the rail-
roads, and upon the completion Of their
valuation and assessment, shall proceed
to compute the tax upon entire assessed
valuation of the property of each rail-
road company and upon such valuation
each company shall pay TO the State for
general State purposes, a tax at the aver
age rate of taxation TO be computed by
the State Board of Assessors and which
and the aggregate of said total taxes so
shall be certified to the State Comptrol-
ler.a
The bill then describes how the aver
age rate of taxation shall be computed.
1t says:
"on or. before the first day of October
in each and every year the assessor in
every tax district in the State shall pre-
pare and forward to the State Board Of
Assessors a certificate under his hand
and seal certifying to the State Board of