Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-03-10

TRENTON, NJ March 1.-Business
men from many parts of New Jersey
attended a public hearing on the Hen
nessy-Hammond tax bills before the
Taxation Committee of the Legislature
at Trenton this afternoon. These bills
propose to encourage manufacturing
and agriculture by exemptingimprove-
ments and certain classes of personal
property from taxation.
George l.. Record, of Jersey City, a
candidate for the Republican nomina-
ton for Governor, said that the pro-
posed change would reduce the cost of
living, encourage business, and make
employment for idle capital and idle
men. He advocated a home rule pro-
vision giving the msjority in each mu-
nicipality the power to exempt from
taxation buildings, farm improve
ments, machinery, Observation-Disclosures
and merchandise.
William II. Ingersoll, of Maplewood,
sales manager for Robert III. Ingersoll
q Bro watch makers, summarized the
benefits New Jersey will gain from re-
ducing taxes on improvements. He
cited the action of Pennsylvania in re-
ducing taxes on buildings in second
class cities, and showed that like steps
are being Ia ken in Rhode Island, Texas,
California aud Western Canada; the
great influx of Americans to Canada
amounting to 100000 annually being
largely due to prosperity resulting from
tax reductions.
Mayor Mark M. Pagan, of Jersey
City, urged the passage of the bills, in
order to benefit the cities of the State,
explaining that ample municipal rev.
enue can be obtained by taxing public
ly-created and values. 1.-THE mar who
builds upon property stimulates bust
ness, employs labor, and increases the
wealth of the town. He should be en-
Outraged by the exemption of buildings
and personal property from taxation.
If we could give out to the public that
we propose in Jersey City to tax no
man upon his house or factory, but only
at the rate of four per cent, on the fair
value of land he actually uses, the re-
suit would be an increase in the popu-
lation of Jersey City from homeseekers
and factory builders attracted by this
beneficial policy"
Albert j. Beckley, of the Beckley Per-
forating Company, Garwood, pointed
out that factory owners are punished
by taxation for increasing their plants
and building up the community. He
urged the ~untaxing of improvements as
a measure for securing permanent pros
perity, claiming that the employment of
all labor at good wages would me an
larger profits for manufacturers aud
merchants.
Edmund B. Osborne, president of
The Osborne Company, calendar manu-
ark Board of Trade taxation commit
tee, emphasized the fact that the pro-
posed tax reductions have been unani-
mously endorsed in convention by the
Manufacturers Association OF New
Jersey, after thorough study of the sub
iect by the committee. The Asso ,ia-
ton represents nine hundred concerns
employing 250. 900 people and paying
$3.50, OOO, 900 wages annually. He said
that not only new factories and people
will be attracted from other states, but
also that New Jersey will retain indus
tries other wise drawn to Pennsylvania
by more favorable taxation there.
"This legislation" Mr.. Osborne re-
marked, twill encourage ind ustry, re-
duce rents and make it easier to estab-
lish and maintain a business or a
home.n.
w. E. Walter, of Rutherford, a state
bank examiner, told of his recent visit
to Houston, Texas, which enjoys a
similar plan of taxation. The exemp-
ton of household furniture and other
personal property, with the assessment
of improvements at rs per cent. oftheir
value, has increased the assessment
rolls S33, 000, 900 and reduced the tax
rate from Ito to 1.50. 1t has caused a
building boom and the establishment of
many factories, increasing building
permits in two years from SO, $50, 468 to
) ,432, $50. The increased number of
buildings has caused a reduction of
rents and thus greatly benefited the
vast majority of the people.
James G.. Blauvelt, president of the