The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1913-05-03
Jersey City Solved Duluth's Problem
But Rents Went U p---There's a Reason

: Jersey City has undergone the same ,
experience with relation to it's rail-
roads that Duluth Is now and has
been for many years experiencing.
Five great railroads have their ter
mini in Jersey City. They control IN
Immense amount Of land and their
i t&X rate was about one-half of tat
: Of other landholders.
George I. Record, for six years city
attorney Of Jersey City, started a fight
against this unfair discrimination in
favor o. the railroads. He was Re-
publican oitice holder. The Republic
oAa boss took him up ON the noun
tain and told Record what would be-
come OF him II he kept up his fight
against the railroads. Record was no
child and continued in the game un-
TIL he compelled the railroad compan-
les to pay more than double the taxes
they previously paid.
In referring to the right where rail-
road tax reform in Jersey City, Mr..
Record said in a speech at Cincinnati
the other night:
Was Corporation Attorney.
For six years I represented jersey
City as its corporation attorney. We
found that the Ave: great railroads
that had termini there had: special
privileges, whereby they paid one-haH
of the rate Of taxation that everybody
klse paid.
This was done at a time when We
1were all very busy attending to our
Town affafrs; the railroads were GER
3tainly attending to theirs. Jersey
City was very poor and needed money.
&Finally we went to work to change
that law. We were taken up on
$high mountains by the "boss'' of the
7 Republican party and we were told
&what would happen to US unless we
stopped.
I'VE concluded to let it happen and
We rebeled against the political pow
ers. Finally, after four or five years,
we now have the railroads paying to
Jersey City 100000 annually and to
the state over $2,000,00O. We thought
this a great achievement and wure
pretty proud of it. We had elected
/ our mayor three times and at the
fourth election we took the stump
with great confidence. We had low.
cred taxes every single year. '>ur
campaign was conducted on the
streets in a democratic way.
a. The Man I'm the Street.
| e II was Dragging Of these achieve
! ments one evening when fellow in
J the audience asked II would an
ever . question. He said: 'Mr. Re-
cord. don't doubt that what you say
ID true, but work in New York for
SIS a week; have a wife and two
children and We 1--we In fiat in Jsr-
ssy City. During ali these l1ve years
you ray you have reduced taxes. my
rent has gone up. Now, what do /
set out Of this?'
had not thought must about that
Fl md I found it extremely awkward to
apSwer his question. I think you can
tnagine the effect OF that question on
the listening mob. knew from the
- moment tho question was asked that
We were Doomed to a most crushing
i dsaeat, a. 30 per cent Of the voters
q jersey City were living under the
Sumo conditions.
lay I'VE were Defeated. At a dinner
s4ven us aftsr our defeat, some prop
srty owners condoled with US: they
SPOKE on tho 1ngratitude Of the PEG.
pie. Ono Of them said: Why nv
taK bills have been less each year.
xsked him what kind Of property he
owned, and he answered he owned
"A t6nements; these he rented out to
italians; sometimes ono family Of siz
or more attained to the dignity OF
zone whole room to themselves. ]
asked him what he did about renau
when the takes were reduced, and he
& Il answered th1t he increased them. II
seems that previously he had rented
sst tie rooms at 81 each; at the time we
ss were talking he. was getting 81 for
trio same room. THIS incident rave
me the point Of view of both sides
the punched" and the "pinching."
For the Fellow Who Pays Rent.
1--WE have to get good government
9f the fellow who pays theSren I,
up vsll As for the man who owns the
koperty. unlsss w can finally spo1
something for the man VINO Hvss n
tkA tsnements, we will have NOTHING
.ns0fSs than periodic outbursts 81
righteousness with very little gain.
$Ths experie nce Of Jersey CITY make.
tcIeHr one fact at least. It 10 thai
every in.pr ovement In 81 government
which falls short Of taxing the rental
hansB III land Tor Bile pufpos,