Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-09-12
ON TAXES
IN WARREN COUNTY
Candidate Also Discusses Mu-
nicipal Home Rule in One
Day Tour.
IFrom = Stan correspopdent.I


PHILLIPSBURG, Sept. 12.-Acting
Governor Fielder wound up
strenuous days campaigning in War
rem county yesterday with plain,
vigorous discussion of State business
that invoked the rapt attention of
crowd of over 1000 people who
crowded around the speakers plat
form that had been erected In front
of Parochial Hall.
Governor Fielder said. in part:
II have always been a consistent
advocate of home rule for munich
palities. 1t has always seemed to me
to be absurd that there should have
been the need of SO much municipal
regulation from Trenton. Each year
many hours of the sessions of the
Legislature are taken in the discus
sion of bills affecting municipalities.
and 1t has become necessary for
municipalities to send representatives
to each session of the Legislature to
guard their interests In the passage
of bills affecting them.
Home Rule for Cities.
Municipal home rule, however,
while 1t has been much discussed
subject, has never been seriously dealt
| with until the adoption of the Walsh
| commission government act and be-
lieve that government under this act
| will tend in a great measure to ac-
complish home rule. / am watching
with great deal of interest its opera
| ton in the municipalities where 1t has
been adopted and 1t seems to be work.
ing very satisfactorily.
while it may not be generally
known, New Jersey occupies rather
unique position among Its sister
States of the Union. In so far as
have been able to ascertain, 1t is
the only State of the Union that is
| without a permanent debt. This Is
due largely to the system in vogue
| in this State of limiting all expendi-
| lures as nearly as possible to the
amounts appropriated therefor in the
annual and supplemental appropria-
ton bills.
Talks of Taxation.
There seems to be general ten
dency to increase tax rates from year
to year throughout the municipali-
ties of the State. I have observed
everywhere @ dissatisfaction on the
part of property-ownersw with the tax
rate and the method of taxation.
Surely there must be solution of
this problem, but 1t requires serious
and concentrated effort. I find the
disposition of property-owners to be
fair. They are willing to bear their
share of the public burden in return
for the privileges received, but they
insist that the burden be fairly and
equally distributed, and that 1t be
distributed at reasonable rate.
Those in charge of the administra-
ton of municipal affairs should con-
slider with great care the compilation
of the budgets and that the affairs of
the municipality are economically adj
ministered. There are, of course,
times when conditions call for extra
ordinary expenditures. We all I'M
derstand and know that then we can
expect an increase in its rate of tax
alton"
The speech at this town was pre-
ceded by a tour of Warren County.
which turned out to be another day
of great satisfaction to the Governor.
Twelve stops were made in all. the
bigger towns visited being Hacketts-
town. Hope, Blairstown, Belvidere
and Washington.
There were twelve automobiles in
the touring trip, and among those
who went with the Governor were
Senator Thomas Barber, former Sen
ator Johnston Cornish. Prosecutor
William Striker, Sheriff Henderson.
ex-Sheriff Barker, ex-senator Isaac
Barber, County Clerk Mutchler,
Chairman Howard Creveling, of the
Democratic County Committee, and
many Others