Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-03


We reduced the rate. We also aban.
doned a rebate of IL per cent, 1oi
early payments.
! Mr.. Nugent in opposing MI. brao-
hers bill, stated the basis of the sys-
lem of taxation He told me that bill
would cause Newark to suffer re-
duction of 100000 in ratables. IL
Iersev City It would not be so bad
we would lose 100000.
Il have studied the tax question by
personal investigation. by letter AND
Hy reading. 1 have found the New
ark system far ahead of any other
Ind l have so much respect for that
system that / am going to install II
IN Jersey City. It's assessors are
trained in a wonderful way. Tney
are a most efficient and businesshke
lot of assessors. Every man has
scientific knowledge and it is admir-
Able.
j "The difficulties we have in assess
Gag q personal tax must be Newark
also. An assessor can go into a shop
or office building and assess what ne
sees there. The property is tangible
and visible. The law should De
amended so that assessors can go
INFO nrivate houses In order to make
assessments.
s1,0O An Arbitrary Figure.
MY objection to this bill is that
81 600 is an arbitrary figure. 1t ID
too high and the Legislature might
reduce it. The expense Of assessing
and collecting the tax might cost
more than the city would gain"
Chairman Magnus Bredenoe< sug
gested that his experience shoWeo
that in small communities where S2oO
covered the total personal properties
Of many citizens no tax at all would
be collected. Mr.. Rays Thought that
to be true, he said.
The committee adjourned after a
session that was, in effect, public
hearing without polling vote on the
tax bills.
The situation in the committee Is
said to be very acute. Assemblyman
Lawrence McCabe. of Essex. has de-
tiared he will not stand any inter
ference with Newark's system OF as
sessment and taxation.
+ Assem- bIyman Leonard. OF Union, Is
Understood to favor all three oills.
Assemblyman Bredenbek may favor
The exemption of less than $1,000 per-
sonal tax.
1.-THE burden rests upon Assembly
man Kays. Democrat, of Sussex, ana
Assemblyman Dalrymple, Republican
Should they oppose all the bills New
ark objects to they will not be re-
pprted favorably by the committee.
Would Make csucuses Illegal.
Assemblyman Carlton Godfrey, of
atlantic county. electrified the House
last night with a bill making all eau
euses illegal and the participators in
them guilty of conspiracy. The bill.
however. is said to have no chance OF
passing the House. 1t refers not only
10 the LEGISLATURE but to every gov
erning body in the State.
City and town councils, boards or
commissioners under commission OF
government, boards of freeholders
and committees are affected.
The bill grew out of the caucus OF
the Democratic majority in the House
last Tuesday uniting to vote down
the california plan" resolutions put
forward by Assemblyman Walter L.
McDernott. of Hudson. Mr.. Godfrey
and practically all the Republican
members had held some sort of meet
ing and decided to help along the re-
cess plan. That was believed to be a
caucus, but could not have been II
MIR. Godfrey held the same opinions
tiien, it Is pointed out.
EsAssemb1yman Godfrey's bill pro-
hold a. caucus or meeting of MEM
bers of any party or any number of
Iiersons. The object being to obligate
or compel persons who attend to vote
fnr or against any measure proposed,
or confirmation or rejection of the
name of any man proposed for once.
Provisions of Bill.
tAIl persons violating the provisions
OF the act shall be guilty of con-
spiracy. The act provides:
fpIt is my idea of honest legisla-
tire" Mr.. Godfrey said later. every
Legislature body in the State is af-
fected, city councils, city commits
stems, boards of freeholders and com
rnittees. The model way of conduct
ing meetings is for the entire body
to study the question, every man be-
ing consulted, whether of the major
ify or the minority.
iSome of the very best thoughts
cbfne from the minority.
.ssWhen the majority caucuSes and
Is bound by a majority of itself you
often have a very small minority
the whole Assembly or
faeeting.
svThere is a movement noticeable all
over the United States to abolish
caucuses. This bill does not affect
meetings of whole bodies"
mr.. Godfrey caused all the sensa-
+ non in the House last night. In adj
dition to his caucus bill he submitted
sr, amendment to the rules of the
House. to be known as rule No. 10,
and ii provides that each member
Submitting a bill shall, when he in
reduces it. submit a brief, setting
forth the reasons for introducing the