Bridgeton pioneer., 1906-09-13

the law now stands all terminals,
switches. stations and railroad property
of every kind outside of the main stem,
which in no case exceeds 100 feet in
width and in some cases not sixty feet.
is assessed locally at the local rates for
the benefit of the localities wherein
the property lies. The main stem, now
reduced to the property lying within
the 100 foot limitation and extending
through more than one city or town
ship or county, is taxed at the average
rate of the state for state uses, and by
a special enactment all of the proceeds
of this tax over and above one-half Of
/ per cent upon the property is given
directly to the support of our free pub
lie schools, and the one-half of / per
cent is, as now, left to the discretion
of the legislature to be used for the
same purpose. In addition to that, the
franchise is also taxed at the same rate
as the real estate of the main steam,
and the proceeds likewise distributed
This franchise tax at the same rate as
other property is paid by the railroads
. in addition to their other taxes, so that
in this way they are taxed more than
individuals, and help reduce the
amount that individuals would other
wise be compelled to pay. Under these
laws the revenues of the state and
municipalities should be largely. in
creased and a corresponding reduction
made in the tax rate to the benefit of
the local taxpayer. In order that the
taxpayer may receive the benefit of
this increased revenue on railroads and
other corporate enterprises, the legis-
lature provided that the tax rate
should be gradually reduced from year
to year until it reaches a maximum
amount. This will prevent municipal
extravaganza and benefit the taxpayer
accordingly.
This legislation was promised in the
Republican state platform of 1904, as a
reference to that platform will show.
1t was outlined in the inaugural ad-
dress of Governor Stokes in January,
1905, and recommended in his first
annual message last January. 1t was
In its conception, in it's deliberation and
in its execution wholly Republican
legislation, as the records indubitably
show, and was the natural evolution of
Republican policy conceived two years
ago. The credit belongs, therefore, to
no individual or individuals, but to the
Republican party as party
Limitation of Franchises Also Brought
About.
Until the present year there never
was any limit on the power of a munic-
ipality to grant public service fran
chise in perpetuity. Until last year the
policy of such grants was never seri-
ously brought in question. But the
sentiment of opposition existed in the
minds of men who gave some thought
to the rights of future generations
The legislature of 1905 appointed a
special commission to investigate the
subject 1t reported in favor of limita-
-tion. Governor Stokes, in his annual
message last January, devoted chap
ter to the subject, recommending a
limitation of time for such franchises.
The first bill introduced in the senate
fmmunities In the way OF taxation. AT
that time taxes upon all kinds of prop
erty were much lower than in the pres
ent day. The railroads made possible
the marvellous development of the re-
sources of our state. Cities and towns
sprang up and grew rapidly and the
needs of this denser and congested
population required an increasing
amount for, the support of municipal
and state government. This increased
taxation on all kinds of property, real
and personal called atte1Aion to the
difference in the methods of taxation
as between railroads and other kinds
Of property and resulted in the agita-
ton of this question, so that in 1884
a Republican senate and Democratic
house enacted railroad tax law that
about doubled the amount of railroad
taxes, but came short Of equal taxa
ton. The first break in this law was
in 1897, when the legislature gave to
the taxing districts all the income
from the second class railroad taxes,
amounting to about 100000 annually.
In 1904 the Republican party, true to
its policy, took hold of the railroad tax
question again and declared in the
state convention for immediate legisla-
tion for the taxation of second class
property at local rates, resulting in an
increase of local taxes to municipalities
of about one-half million dollars and
declaring for the submission of the
question of taxing the main stem to a
commission for consideration and re-
port upon that subject. The legislature
Of 1905 passed an act introduced by
Assemblyman Duffield, the Republican
leader, providing for the taxation of
second class railroad property at local
rates. The legislature of this year took
up the question of the so called main
stem Of railroads. The first bill intro
duced in the house of assembly was
introduced by Mr.. Perkins, the Repub-
lican leader. 1t was an equal tax
measure. For weeks the various meth
DDS Of reaching this end were discussed