New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-20
DOUBTFUL "PROGRESS."

The progressive Republicans Of New
Jersey have unquestionably done much
good work and are entitled To q large
share of the credit for the important re-
| forms which have been effected In that
state in the last two or three years. "
| l. largely as a result Of their leavening
power eXerted upon the whole lump or
rot only the Republican but also me
Democratic party that New Jersey has
suddenly been transformed from one OF
the most conservative into one of The
most progressive and advanced states
| In the Union. But all change Is not
| progress. and there will he much regret
/ FIJI dissent. even among the friends ana
supporters of the progressive movement,
| from some Of the principles which were
enunciated in the platform which was
adopted by the progressive leaders on
Thursday night. when they formed their
party into = state organization.
one Of these is the demand that mu
inequalities shall he permitted 10 adopt
the single fax system at will. 1t is
not necessary at this time To discuss tn
general merits or dement's Of that plan.
But certainly il should occur 10 all. and
most Of all to the progressives them
selves. that uniformity Of taxation
| throughout the state is highly desirable.
That indeed. was one of the principles
upon which the New Idea movement was
organized. TO permit any county. city
or town TO adopt its own special system
of taxation would certainly conflict with
that uniformity. Moreover, this very
| platform. which calls for permission to
adopt the single fax, also calls for the
compulsory assessment and taxation of
all the tangible property of corporations
| Ii power houses, telegraph poles and
wires and the like are 10 he taxed. why
not houses and barns and workshops!
| And what becomes of the single tax on
! land values?
Another demand of the progressivps Is
that each municipality shall have power
to change its form of government at
will without the consent of the Legis-
lature. That. of course. is asked in The
sacred name of "home rule Yet many
of the progresSives themselves have been
urging system of uniform charters for
cities and have insisted that various
| important administrative functions. such
rs that of the merit system I'm the civil
service, tenement house and factory in
| Spection and what not, shall he per
/ formed locally by the state. i'm order 10
secure uniformity throughout all mu-
inequalities. II is difficult TO see how
that contention can he harmonized with
the demand that each municipality shall
be free 10 establish any sort of govern
nlent that il may desire The ma iority
of thoughtful men in the state, and
lamong the progreSsives themselves. are
likely TO hold that the wise provision of
| tie federal Constitution which guaran-
tees 10 each state Il republican form Of
government should have its analogue
| IN the state constitutions giving the state
government certain authority over mu-
| nicipal governments and making munici-
pal corporations. like all others, Great
! ureS Of the state.
These extreme demands of the pro-
gresSive platform WILL we believe. be
generally regretted and diSapproved
while the commendable features of that
| document. which are more numerous
will command support and will in time
he enacted into law. as has already been
done with various items of the progrps-
sive creed