Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-10

1.-THE entire policy of the legislative
session, from majority standpoint,
from the first week until the end, has
been along the line of forcing meas
ures compelling the people to pay
more money for the privilege of living
in New Jersey--the direct Inheritance
TAX, the bank stock tax, the many
pension bills, the diYertlng of what
| has heretofore been local school
moneys for local use to general State
use. additional automobile tax, and
So on along the line. The entire ten
dency as stated, has been to tax, tax,
tax, and, on the other hand, sincere
efforts in the interests of economy
and efficiency and more businesslike
consolidation of State departments
have been juggled back and forth,
with no final enactments. Any at
tempt to blame the Republican
minority for the failure of these
economy bills is perfectly ridicu. ons,
when one stops for a moment and
realizes that the Legislature is Demo-
cratic In both Houses, and must be
responsible for final results.
SAYS Democrats Are to Blame.
Certainly, the majority were able
to pags their taxing bills under the
lash Of the caucus. Why, II sincere
for economy and retrenchment, didn't
they do likewise in the latter cases?
The Republicans in both houses
have constantly endeaVored to pass
these bills, and in the Senate, partieu-
larly, not one of them could be gotten
cut OF committee had single RepuD-
lican vote been recorded against 1t.
So any efforts to divert the facts
cannot be successful.
"Surely, when the Democrats are
given control of both branches of the
Legislature, they are not ready to
admit that they abdlcate the author
ity the people have given them and
blame the IN nority for their own lack
of accomplishment.
1.-THE only reason assigned for this
policy of continued taxation was the
vague announcement early in the ses-
sion that the State was facing a
deficit. This worked on the feelings OF
the people, and apparently accom-
pl'shed its purpose not to retrench,
but to burden the people with add
tional taxation. AS the session of the
LEGISLATURE went on, however, 1t began
to be discovered through constant
questioning on the part of the minor
ity, that this so-called two million
deficit not in reality exist, and
that there was no good reason for
imposing these additional burdens on
the people, rather that some retreneh-
ment should be practised.
More Income This Year.
ut was demonstrated by the comp
troller's statements that the income
for this year was estimated to be
twenty-five per cent. higher than the
income of last year, and when it was
admitted by Senator Hennessy, chair
man Of the appropriation comm ttee,
on the floor of the Senate, in debate,
that the deficit was computed by con-
sidering the appropriations from the
standpoint of what the departments
had asked for, instead of what they
were finally to be allowed, it was
plainly evident to any intelligent man
that a real deficit Of moment id not
exist. It would be remarkable that
the contemplated deficit was as low
as two millions, if the finances were
computed on what the departments
desired. 1t is q wonder that it was
not ten millions, as a department, as
q rule, is not very modest in it's re-
quests for appropriations. As q mat
ter of fact, with the incomes contem-
plated and the appropriations as
finally made, the much talked-of
deficit very rapidly disappeared and
the necessity for these additional
ta~o~ IN tho neorie is not apparent.
what will be the result of all this?
Well naturally, the imposition of
new taxes must increase the income,
and if the appropriations are kept
down. the state VIII show a healthy
balance, but it Is a decidedly ques-
tionable financial policy, if it is good
Judgment, for the sake of making a
showing in surplus to impose un-
necessary taxes upon the people.
Eyes, the prevailing accomplish
ment of the Legislature of 1914 was
the additional taxing of the people,
and it should and probably will go