The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-03-17
It's Fate In the Senate Is So
Uncertain That It's Friends
Suffer From Anxiety
MAJORITY FAVOR AMENDMENT
GOVERNOR HEADS THOSE WHO
THINK THE PERKINS BTLK
CARRIES OUT EVERY PLEDGE
MADE IN THE LAST REPUBLI-
CAN CAMPAIGN.
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Especial to HThe Jersey City News y sl,c
TRENTON, March II, 19oe.-The
fate Of the Perkins equal tax bill as
amended and passed by the House, last
Wednesday, is probIematicai in the SEN
ate. The general opinion is that the
Senate will pass it next week, but there
are many shrewd men who say that if it
is passed at all it will be materially
amended
1t is said that thirteen Senators, ex-
elusive of the Democrats, have agreed TO
support the Perkins bill as it stands,
while several Senators, in fact clear
majority, including the four Democrats
led by Senator MintBn. their leader,
still adhere to the contention that the
only solution Of the equal tax problem il
the taxation of all classes Of railroad
property In exactly the same form as all
ether property locally at local rates.
Against this argument Governor
Stokes and State Treasurer Briggs. the
latter acting as chairman of the State
Republican Committee, insist that the
Perkins bill as now amended with com
panion measures. making it operative.
embodies what was pledged by the Re
publicans at the last State convention.
and is exactly what the people demand
ed on that occasion.
| Furthermore, they point to the unan-
unity with which the Assembly has on
I two occasions passed the bill as indieat-
ing that it is the only measure which
meets the views of the members Of the
popular branch of the Legislature, and
that any attempt on the part Of the Sen
ate 10 alter or amend it now might Ss re
scented and possibly prevent any legisla-
tion at all this session.
This. it has been intimated, is what
the railroads hope to accomplish. Mr..
Briggs has indirectly made that state
ment by asserting that high infueaee''
is being used to bring about that result,
and one rumor had it that he referred to
Governor Stokes
This is denied both by those interested
and by the attitude of the Governor HIM
self. who had the original Perkins bill
prepared and repeatedly urged It's adopt
ion, while admitting that he would sign
any other equally as good measure that
! might be passed.
At the conference of the Senator's last
Tuesday regarding the equal tax bill, an
informal poll showed that a majority.
leaned to the Scovel bills, which Presi-
dent Bradley caused to be introduced.
These men, however, were inclined to ad-
nit that the argument based on the unan-
imous action of the Assembly WAS one
deserving consideration. Thirteen Sena-
tors, it is said. acting on that idea, in
formally agreed to support the Perkins
bin rather than be charged with the re-
/ spansibility of further delay. Their only
insistment was that the companion meas
ure, which provided for distribution Of
the revenue derived under the equal tax
| bill, should be advanced with equal d1a-
patch. The Senators who are pushing
the Perkins bill through the Senate
agreed to this, and the probabilities are
that next Monday evening the House will
pass the Perkins distribution bill.
The two Perkins bills. one redefning
''main stem" property, the other arrang
ing distribution of the anticipated in
creased revenue, may be reinforced by
another bill re-enacting the Dufield act
of last year on lines that viii leave its
constituticnality as free from question as
the Perkins bill.
The formal opinion of Attorney-Gen-
erai MeGarter, holding that the Perkins
bill with the Duffield act included was in.
valid and the latter alone would not
stand, does not remove the doubt existing
in the minds of Governor Stokes ana
others as to the statds Of the DuAield
act. The opinion of the Attorney Cen
eral upholding it was expected. as the
act IS now in court and the Attorney.
General, whose duty ii isto defend. could
hardy be expected to prejudice his case
Dy admiufng tnat the act was even open
to question.
{ Thesrailroads have not abandoned the
! fight although realizing that they might
as well do so. Prosecutor Frank ].
Lloyd Of Camden, who is recognized -
the representative Of railroads, while in
sisting that all his clients want is to be
treated the same as all others, is NOT
ready to accept the local tax at local
rates idea until such time as all othaE
classes of property are assessed al the
sane ms, yaluatiea as railread property Hs
objects to the Perkins bill because, in
the method provided for attaining ths
average rate, the railroad property as
sessed Is not included
An effort to make that change in the
Senate will probably be the last attack
of the railroads, but it stands liffk
chance of success with thirteen Senators
| pledged 70 vote for the Perkins bsll Al
/ it stands