Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-04-11

Ht6nEn tHAEc-stFHi tFS N'Sss.'
With a tax rate of $4.37 per 800 valuation, folks, how
do you like it?
Foolish question. You don't like it at all.
Well, what are you going to do about it?
Kick, for one thing. That goes without saying. But
merely kicking won't get you anywhere.
This tax rate is thirty-one cents higher than last years
rate. And there is a chance that your valuation has been
raised, too.
Usually the valuations are raised to bring the tax rate
down. 1t really amounts to the same thing no matter which
way it is done, but it doesn't seem so much when the tax
rate is low.
But to have valuations raised and the tax rate increased
at the same time is going some.
Of course, there is but one answer. Cut government
expenses. Cut state expenses. Cut county expenses. Cut
city expenses.
A few years ago there was no state tax in New Jersey.
To-day the total state tax amounts to forty cents on every
800 valuation.
If conditions were like they were a few years ago when
there was no state tax and the city and county expenses
should be just as high as they are now the tax rate would
be under $500.
Even that is too high for the average workingman's in
Uhe beginning of the state tax was to establish a system
e highways. This amounted to but a few cents. it
easy. Then a tax was added to pay the bonus that
gave of the ex-service men of New Jersey. Next
\yehcuar tunnel under the Hudson river and the
the Delaware river.
Plans are already under way to add on to this a state
income tax in addition to the federal income tax.
The state is also proposing to put a tax of one cent a
gallon on all gasoline sold in New Jersey.
This is only the state out after the taxpayers money.
Where is it going to end?
The next move on the part of the state authorities is to
Z add $40, O0O, 900 to the state debt.
At Trenton the state departments are honeycombedl
with sinecures and waste of all description. Big salaries are
paid for which no work is performed. Fat contracts are
awarded for patent pavements when thousands of dollars
could be saved by laying concrete roads, which are much
to be preferred.
What New Jersey needs is an executive of the Governor
Miller stripe; a man who will go to Trenton and slash ex-I
penses right and left, turning out of office hundreds of
politicians that they may go to work and earn an honest
living.
But the state is only one of the causes of increased taxes
In the county patent pavements at excessive costs have
been the favorite of the freeholders. High priced automo-
bnes for county officials to ride around in; two men to do
the work of one, and so on.
High taxes? Why shouldn't the taxes be high?
And, as said before, what good does it do the average
taxpayer to kick about it when the same men are returned
to office year after year by the very people who do the kick
ing?
Next we come to the city. Here is the greatest ex-
pense of all. The money needed for running the city alone
this year amounts to 1914 on every $500 valuation.
Perth Amboy has been generous to her employees. Wages
and salaries have been increased repeatedly. Nothing has
ever come down. The employees of the street department,
for instance, are receiving wartime wages whereas the
wages for day laborers has been greatly reduced everywhere
else. The city could secure any quantity OF able-bodled men
TO sweep the streets and do the work of the department.
for almost half what is now being paid. The average tax
payer has to work for less money these days, why not city
employees?
Then. certain of the faithful have to be cared for and
H Jobs are created for them. Once on the citys payroll they
seldom get off.
The situation in the city is almost chaotic.
With a tax rate that amounts almost to confscation;
with the city almost up to its bonded debt limit, and with
vast projects facing the city such as grade crossing elimina-
ton, bridge approach, parks and other essentials for an up
fo-date city, what's the answer?
There is but one answer comprehensive city plan.
II the Board of Aldermen really want to help the peo-
pe carry this awful tax burden and at the same time show
them a way to secure the improvements they desire, they
win abandon much Of the things they now have in contem-
nlafiou. get behind the City Plan Commission in its en-
deayor to secure a definite plan for the chy's growth for the