Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1922-07-20
SILzER SPEAKS ON TAX
PROBLEM; TUTTLE
FOR DIRECT PRIMARY
SiIzer Says He Will Make
Fight Against Peoples
Heavy Tax Burden

Judge George S. Silzer, of Metuch-
en-. and State Banking and Insur-
ance Commissioner William e. Tut
tie. Jr., of Westfield, the two Demo-
cratic candidates for the guberna-
torial nomination spoke before Nor
ris county Democrats at meeting
held in Morristown last night. Judge
Silzer elaborated upon his proposed
/ fight against the heavy tax burdens
to be found at present in the state
while Commissioner Tuttle spoke
strongly in support of the dlrect
primaries.
Judge Silzer confined his remarks
entirely to the question OF taxatlon'
telling of the increase in taxes our
ing the past few years and explain
ing the measures which, he pelleVes,
will bring relief. The judges speech
follows
I'm NV letter of June %. an
rcuncing my entry into the gubef-
natorial contest, l said, among other
things:
state expenditures have in rev
years risen from six to sixteen mill
lion dollars.
"Our municipal taxes have become
hurdensome, and in some cases al
most confiscatory. -
"State moneys are expended IN
lavish amounts without just re-
turn to the state.
II desire tonight to elaborote
briefly on one of these SUGGESTIONS
There is no one in New Jersey
today, who isn't laboring under
his, tax bill. To this is added In
NEST cases an income tax ana III
manv cases a. New York state IN
come tax.
1T is our duty to relieve the tax
naver of this burden, if it is pos
sible to do so.
.'The pressure comes from three
sources. viz: the municipality, the
county and the state. Each need
serious study and attention, but to-
night / shall deal only with one
phase-the municipality.
"In 1914, the lowest tax rate IN
the state was 0.S5 and the highest
3.12. the average tax being 2.O24.
This year the lowes< is LII, the
highest, 9.374, the average being
G.5e1. A 500 per cent increase IN
the high rate, and rs per cent on
average rate.
There must be some reason for
this. We all know of course, that
all costs are higher, and wages ana
salaries have advanced, and that IL
cense fees are no longer available.
These account for much of the in
crease. :,
eve also know that we have all
become accustomed to more law
ish expenditure of money, and that
this applies as well to officials OF
municipalities.
an our personal spending, how
ever, we are all curtailing. for we
have found it necessary to do so.
This is not true of municipalities.
There is nothing easier than to
spend other peoples money.
I'm this we have gone far enough.
1t must stop; the taxpayer must
have relief.
Il recently received a letter from
Hoimdel. Monmouth county, in
which the writer said: Can you
come and talk to us on taxation
The backs of the farmers are being
broken with the burdensome taxes
ard something must be done
zone way of relieving the tax
payers is to cut down municipal ex-
penses. instead of permitting them
to grow. If we do not do this no
one knows how high our taxes will
go In our national government,
Senator Borah has called attention
TO this tendency, and l purpose do
Ing the same in our state.
There is no way that l know of,
that we can go into a municipality
and say to its officers, You must
CONTINUED On page p