The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-08-25
In 1907, it amounted to 81, ,18o, 1856, IT.


These figures compared with the
figures for 1905, show the great increase
in the taxation of second class railroad
property which Injured directly to the
benefit of the localities wherein the
property was located. The falling off
in the amount of taxes between 1906
and 1907, was due almost entirely to
the reduction in the tax rate in Jersey
City from s2.49 in 1906 to Sl61.8 in
1907. This reduction in the rate ap-
piled to the s39 100000 of the second
class railroad property located in Jer-
sey City, accounts for almost all of the
difference.
Nor is this all the benefit the tax
payers received. Under the former
system of taxing the main stem, at
the rate of one-half of one per cent, the
amount of tax received therefrom was
1850, ,991.21 in 1906. In 1906 after the
passage of the Perkins Act, the
amount of tax levied against the main
stem, including the franchise and per-
sonalty, amounted to SO, ,5O3, ,529.70, and
in 1907 to $3.254, 73496. The increase
was thus three and one-half to nearly
four times, varying slightly according
to the changing of the tax rates.
Under the old system, then,
The tax on the main stem
was ABOUT. t.............s...T 940, 900
I'm ClC0nn ass nrnnQrtU
ABOUT. Observation-Disclosures. 1900
Total. ...S1 ,595, 900
Under the new system, TAX
ing 1907 as basis, the tax
on second class property
was ABOUT. .A.... Sl lS0, 600
Main stem. .................. 3,254, 900
Ioudl. .........'.....S S4 ,434, ,OUO
This shows an increase in the taxes
of the railroads that goes to the ben
eht of the state and individual tax
payers of so 1885,, 900. To this should be
added about S35O,OO0 additional, the
reduction caused by an unwarranted
cut in the tax rate in Jersey City.
Taking 1905 as basis. with the tax
on the main stem over SO, 500, 900 and
on second class property over $780,
600, making a total of $5, ,080, 600, the
increase in taxes paid by the railroads
amounts to SO, ,485,O00 Taking the fig
of 1906, which are little high, and of
1907, which are, as explained above, be-
low the normal, and averaging the
two, the yearly increase in the rail
road tax figures about $3,165, 900, an
ADDITIONAL ANNUAL SUM for distribu-
tion to the taxpayers of the State due
to the Republican legislation.
The taxpayers have not as yet felt
the full benefit of this increased rev.
enue from the railroad, due to the
fact that all of the tax on the second
class property has not been paid owing
to litigation, and none of the tax on
the first class property has been paid
in time to make its distribution prac-
ticable.
This year, however, the taxpayers
will receive two years of the taxes on
the main stem of the railroad, that of
1906 and 1907 After deducting the
one-half of one per cent. on the value
of the main stem to be reserved by the
State for State uses, this leaves for
distribution, a total Of 81, 1856, 376.45.
The total local school tax Of the en-
tire State for this year is 81, JAP, 174.33,
so that the distribution of the rail-
road monies, which, under the law
must be used for current school ex-
penses, will pay over sixty per cent.
of the local school tax of the State
and should reduce the local tax rates
correspondingly In some districts the
sum received is sufficient to more than
pay the entire local school tax for cur
rent school expenses in the district,
and in such districts no local school
tax should be levied at all. These re-
duced tax rates, due to the increased
taxes paid by the railroads, will great
ly benefit every local taxpayer in New
Jersey.
The Republican party stands on its
record in this chapter Of legislation.
Petition Addressed.
The following petition addressed to
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