Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-01-23

owners DeIOfe maj CONTINUATION anu
that an appeal lie to the county board
from any proposed valuation, after
which the revised and corrected as
sessment lists shall be filed with the
taxing districts and the tax rate then
struck upon the valuations so fixed.
Appeals thereafter can be taken to the
state board, but only by those dissatis-
ted with the result of an appeal to the
county board. This plan should result
in securing a higher class of assessors,
assure a fairer, more intelligent and
equitable assessment and give relief 10
individuals and municipalities.
Repeal Maximum Tax Act.
l recommend the repeal of the Hill
lery maximum tax act. This act was
passed for the benefit of the railroads,
its object being to keep down local
rates so that the average tax rate of
the state, as applied to a portion of
the railroad property, would be low.
This law has so hampered municipali-
ties that it was found necessary first
to raise the maximum rate and later,
under certain conditions, to permit an
increase above this rate, and now the
act only partially accomplishes its de-
sign and Is obnoxious in principle. |
believe that even the railroads are not
now interested In 1t. In any event, 1t
is my judgment that municipalities
should be permitted to fix their rates
at whatever they please. Any munich
sza1tksr xrvht11 hnA.. 1xYaokoZ md -
travagance, fixes too high a rate will
surely suffer, and its citizens car insist
upon a new and more economical set
of officials.
The law governing the taxation of
shares Of banks and trust companies
Is most unsatisfactory. The banks are
investing their capital and surplus In
exempt securities, largely, it would APP
pear, for the purpose of escaping tax
alton, and, while the market value of
their shares has gradually increased.
the tax derived from this form of prop
erty has grown less and in some in
stances has entirely disappeared. The
money of depositors is seldom taxed,
and this money is the banks stock in
trade-the commodity N which 1t deals
and upon which it realizes large
profits for its shareholders. The banks
should not be treated MS individuals
with regard to exemptions, and a plan
for taxation of its shares should be de-
yised which would make this property
bear a fair share of the tax burden. Ii
is my intention to refer this subject
to the attorney general ut once for his
advice as to Il law to accomplish the
desired result.
Our primary and election laws, Oh
the whole, work admirably. The sys
TEN is beyond the experimental stage.
and its great superiority over any pre-
vious method has been completely
demonstrated. There should. however,
be an Improvement in the manner OF
selection of election officers. If the
men in charge of polling places are ig-
norant or corrupt we are bound to suf-
fer from their incompetence or vices,
and siuce we cannot by law make men
intelligent or moral we should exer-
else more care In the choice of those
who are to perform this most impor
tant duty. This car be done through
more stringent civil service examina
lions, and | would attract to these ex
aminations all state, county n munic.
ipal employees by providing that such
of them as qualify for election officers
shall be excused from their public
duties on registry, primary and cleo
ton days without loss of pay. Men
employed IN private business cannot.
as a rule, be released by their employ.
ers, and If my idea were adopted ar
intelligent class of men would be avail
able for this public work.
All political parties at their state
conventions declared for a preferential
system Of voting at the primaries, and
| therefore feel 1t unnecessary to more
than mention the subject and to ex-
press the hope that this will be one
of the first matters to receive your at
tention.
Teach Agriculture.
In my recent travels about the state
/ have been impressed with the impor-
lance of our farming industry and the
necessity of furthering progressive and
scientific development of agricultural
pursuits, not for the benefit Of our
farmers alone, but for the urban com
munities as well. There have been a
remarkable shifting of population from
the country to the city and an en-
croachment of our cities upon the farm
lands. / have see 1t stated that about
% per cent of the population of New
Jersey is rural. This means that a
great number of individuals must de-
pend upon the few to furnish the food
supply for all and that the few have a
diminishing number of acres upon
which to raise their produce. In order
that the rural portion of our state may
produce supplies for the balance, the
best and most modern methods of ag-
riculture should be at their command.
The State Agricultural college at New