The Penn's Grove record., 1910-02-11
The LEGISLATURE At WORK
oca, ootion Bills introduced

~ " An
introduced their bills, the Anti-Saloon
League had their local option bills pre-
sented. Senator Gebhardt, OF Hunter
don, introduced n in the Senate, and
Assemblyman Ridgway introduced one
in the House. They are the same as
those introduced last year by Senator
Plummer.
Governor Fort gave two surprises on
Monday night. One was a special
message urging the Legislature tofayor
the adoption of the Sixteenth Consttu-
tional Amendment to the United States
Constitution, allowing an income tax
to be levied. The other was the APP
pointment of George E. Halsey, OF Es-
sex. to be member of the State Board
of Assessors to take the place of David
Baird, of Camden, who has held the
position for many years. Ii is partly a
sinecure position with a salary OF $2,5oo
a wear, Baird had much influence in
South Jersey politics and his position as
assessor of railroad properties gave him
great power. He practically controlled
the Camden delegation and because the
Camden Assemblymen voted against
some reform bills last year thai Cover
nor Fort wanted passed, Mr.. Baird was
not re-appointed last spring and he has
been holding wei ad intel i'm.
THE INCOME TAX.
Governor Fort declares il is the most
just and equitable tax that can be levied.
1t imposes the exactions of govern
ment upon the citizen in proportion to
his ability to bear it, and upon the basis
of wealth which under the laws of the
country he has been able to accumulate.
1t is evident that the burden of general
taxes is not proportionately borne by
all upon whom the burden rests. The
citizen of moderate holdings, whether
real OF personal, usually does not escape,
Oh attempt to escape, the prompt dis
charge of this obligation. The property
of which he is possessed, 10y reason OF
lis very meagerness, is easily found by
the assessor, and when the tax is levied
it is satisfied. This can not be SAID,
however, of those who are essentially
rich and whose holdings are large. 1t
has been stated, with semblance of GER
tainty, that over so per cent. OF all the
vested wealth of this country is owned
and controlled by 5000 estates, corpora
lions AMI individuals. 1t is obvious
that so per. cent of the annual taxes
levied is not borne by the group just
mentioned.
An income tax is a tax which is sure
to reach all classes of property, real and
and personal.
The United States should possess the
unquestioned power to tax incomes. IL
may not be necessary to use the power,
but if emergency should arise which re-
quires it, the right TO tax should exist.
FREE AUTO PASSAGE
The first bill to pass the House was
that of Leader Edge to allow aut0ists
to come into the State three times a
year for five day tours without paying a
license fee for that privilege, and with
out the necessity of registration.
This bill is favored by all the State
auto clubs. 1t amends the Frelinghuy-
sen law and if enacted will do away
with the Colgate statute of last year,
which required a license fee of 81 for ali
eight-day period. Minority Leader
Sullivan urged the bills amendment so
as to provide for registration.
Mr.. Edge answered this by saying if
registration is required the dollar license
fee might as we'll he continued. The
autoists, he said, do not mind the dollar
fee, but do object TO the delay occasioned
in securing a license or in registration.
Several of the members took a fall
out of the leader ON the proposition that
it cost New Jersey a lot of money 10
construct and m intain good roads, aud
if the owners of automobiles from other
States come in without paying it would
be unreasonable and unwalranted dis
elimination against those Of this Stat e
who pay. 1t would be impossible also
to keep correct watch upon the non
residents and compel them to take out
licenses after the expira ion of the pro-
posed periods of five days in which they
are to have sway under tie bill.
These points were presented by MI.
Matlhe WIS, of Hunterdon, and Myers, of
Sussex, while several other members de
clared that if the bill becomes a law it
will cost the State many thousands of
dollars a year i'll the license money it
now collects from the owners. Demo-
cratic Leader Sullivan declared that the
present law fixing the nominal dollar
fee aids in identifying many violators of
the speed laws who will thus be enabled
to escape.
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATOR.
At the hearing in the Senate on the
bill making Industrial education apart
from school cirriculum, tie preponder
ance of evidence seemed to come from
the teachers of experience, who said that
this work could not be made apart from
the school course. The Trenton men
present were Director Fredericks, of The
School of Industrial Art; Judge G. W.
D. Vroom and Professor Jas. M. Green,
all of whom seemed to agree with the
proposition as put forth by Director
Frederics that manual training belongs
to the schools and is a part Of The work