New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-02
new JERSEY NOW
FACES DIRECT TAX
democrats Puzzled How to
Meet S2.3OO,O00 Deficit
in State Finances.
MUST FIND WAY TO
RAISE MORE REVENUE
Economy Commissions Plan to
Save Money Not Expected to
Produce Needed Amount.

.,.-,,. ssT CorTcsron3out Of The tribune
80, Feb New Jersey will soon
W : direct state tax unless the Demo
-,.i, leaders here are able 20 ind ways
- ,,.sns ~ taking care OF the threat
80 seaclt o. s.. 10000 in the state Treas
ury. 49,. bean
mat the situation is serious has oee"
,-,,hss,zed by state Controller Ed"aTus'
,ro declared that unless the most s'F'"-
-. ocoDor,v is used by the Legislature
and new WAYS o. raising revenue are W
covered. nothing will prevent '"o ne
deficit named above.
-sst the Democratic leaders here are
worried by the seriousness OF the sl'U"
$50, and the consequences o. a u''e0'
.,s,. tax is shown by the many re'e"'
.o,f,-ercos on state finances MahH
.,,,-. have been advanced 20 increase inc
,e,enue. but fatal objections nave ''''
found 10 each one.
A.. instance Of this was the proposal 10
...-.ssc the automobile license iees !"
g horsepower. This would orlns I'D go.
,oo .1si,ioral 70 the state. and II looAee
--.,,v z Cd until committee OF au'o
.,ohiis,s came down 20 the Legislature
"a ,sised such protest that the spon-
COS for the plan got "cold feet ana oe-
cided not 20 press II.
Much is expected from the report OF
-. Efficiency and Economy Commission
which has been going through the depart
mn with q fine tooth comb for the last
Two wears. This report Is expected Wi'iln
Two weeks. and. while 1t is certain that
. comprehensive scheme for greater en-
etercv and more economy IN handling
.re states business viii be recommended
the most enthusiastic economist does hot
believe that the saving proposed VIII
come anywhere near meeting the dcncit
the state is now facing.
Tho commission viii recommend the
viplne out Of some departments and the
Consolidation Of others. together With
reduction in salaries. but IL these recon-
mondarons arc carried out only SooQc at
he most Will 10 saved.
With no means Of increasing the state =
revenue in sight the only way that d
direct state tax can be avoided is by
repeating an the acts making mandatory
arp. oprations 20 departments and turn
r- an moneys collected by tho state into
The treasury. 70 he appropriated as the
legislature sees NJ This. Of course
poul include the taxes on first class rail-
road property. which now 20 TO the
coils after the state dcducts one-half
.f per cent OF the assessed valuation
-or us OWL use If this act were repealed
tho state could deduct a much larger
amount for its own use.
of course. this would only be an indi-
rect way of taking the money from the
taxpayers. but 10 would avoid direct
state tax About five years ago. when the
state was threatened with deficit. Gov
err p Fort recommended this very plan,
but so much agitation Was stirred MP
against II that comparatively few Of the
legislators had nerve enough TO vote for
Z
The D. and Game Commission is am
other place that = is purposed To- 20 TO
for money This commission gets about
ssn"0 wear in cunuers' license fees,
which mandatori'y goes 10 its own use.
Controller Edwards wants II turned into
the state Treasury. and II the Appropri-
alton Committee secs ut 10 turn it back
10 the commission. all right.
The cause Of the threatened deficit is
rot hard % explain. The revenue Of the
state has not increased proporuonately
with the increase iu its expenditures.
When the Legislature meets tomorrow
night Senator Pierce will renew his fight
for publicity for tho calendar of bills 10
come W az each meeting Of the Senators.
bis resolution provides that At the close
o. each legislative CIV. the secretary
shall cause 20 DO posted on the bulletin
board Boo Tho corridor the calendar of
bills ON third reading for the next sue
,ecdns legislative day
The object OF tho resolution is to bring
about publication Of measures foo the
newspapers so that the public will know
just What bills arc t. be- considered.