The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-23
FORTS NEW BILL
ANOTHER SCHOOL
TAX DIVERSION
While Not as Radical as Leayitt
Measure, Would Take S226,-
600 from Education.
[Frpm. a staff Correspondent. |

TRENTON, March Ex-Governor
Forts bill, introduced at his request
by Assemblyman Austen Colgate in the
House last night, would, if passed, de-
prive the public schools of the State of
a lump sum of S226, 600 of the first class
railroad taxes of 1908 and hold up all
the school districts share of these
taxes, which is fixed at $2000s0O0, until
June 15 1910, whereas the money
should under the present laws be pay
able November / next
Governor Fort talked the bill over
with City. Auditor George Forman be-
fore 1t was introduced, and while he
would not recede from his determine
ton to have it introduced, he sent for
Colonel Colgate and the three inserted
a few amendments that made it a
much less harmful proposition than it
was at first. The bill appropriates
50. 100000 to be taken from the railroad
taxes of 1908 to schools, instead of per-
nitting them to receive the taxes. col
lected on account of 1908, with the ex-
ception of a sum equivalent to one
half of one per cent. of first-class rail-
road ratables, deducted under the 1905
act for State purposes.
Here is the comment of City Auditor
Forman, of Newark, on the bill and it's
effect:
On February /, 1869, the State comp
troller apportioned TO the several coun-
ties the school districts share. of the first
class railroad taxes collectable on valua-
tfons fixed November l. 1908. This is under
the present law to be. apportioned to the
school districts by the county superin-
tendents of schools on April 1, next month";
and to be. paid to the county collectors
on November /. 19O9 for the use of the
school districts for the fiscal year begin
Should Governor Forts bill, as intro
duced by Colonel Colgate, become Yaw
vember 7, next. and apportioned among
the counties February of this year would
not be payable until June 15, 1910, seven
and one-half months after the date now
fixed for such payments.
The bill has some features that make It
far better than the iniquitous Leavitt bill
which ts before. the Senate. Under the
Governors bin school districts will be able
to borrow money in anticipation of the
n sio as provded for IN the ae
of 1889. The comptroller apportioned the
whole S,2a6 oo. representing. the public
school districts share of the railroad
taxes, among the counties on February /.
Now. II the Fort-Colgate bill passes,
there will, have 10 be q reapport rtionment,
be exactly $1,000 600, instead of s2,226 900,
the State retaining 5226,0O0 for its own
uses. This is q gain over the proposition
of the Joint State finance committee to
take $4,000 from the schools and apply
it on account OF the alleged debt Of the
States permanent school fund to the gem
erai fund of the State.
The school districts would suffer q loss
Of about 10 per cent. from the funds on
portionment 'd mem Of Of last month. Then. toe. too the
money would be payable June Is. next
year. instead of November of this year.
There car be no question. no matter
what language is woven In or around the
bill, that 1t will repeal or nulify the act
of 1906, which gives the public schools
something over s2000,000 annually In first'
class railroad taxes.