Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1922-12-21
WOULDF0RCE
TAXRATECU
Stokes Says Municipalities
Should Have Reasonable
Tax Rate
AND CUT EXPENSES
State League at Newark Con-
ference Discusses State
Taxation System

NEWARK, Dec, 21--'The policy
Of a municipality living beyond its
means does not spell improvement.
or progress. it spells bankruptcy.
such was the pronouncement or Tor
mers Governor Edward G. stokes
Republican state chairman, SPEAK
ing today at the Robert Treat no
tel here before the executive COM
mittee of the New Jersey State
League of Municipalities. at its cor
ference to outline a campaign ror
q. reduction of taxes in New ser
sey. "Bolshevising" the assets OF Us
citizens, was what the former Gov
ernor called the action of nfunici-
palities not keeping their expenses
within an income produced by
reasonable tax rate.
"Such municipality begins to ap-
propriate the property itself by e1-
cess taxation" said Governor Stokes'
Commenting on the fact that
average tax rate. in the state was
3.6l, Chairman Stokes declared tnat
such a rate was not living Idee
and he drew attention to the iact
that there were ten taxing dlstricts
in New Jersey in which the ra.e
was over 900 and 500 d1stricts IN
500. The taxpayer, said Stokes,
cannot pay some of the tax rates Oh
the state on an honest yaluation'
because the income from his prop
erty does not warrant II.
.If our municipalities cannot op-
erate on a, lower rate OF taxatioH,
asserted Governor Stokes, tnen W.
ara forced to the confession tnat
confiscation of property is neces-
saw ~ raise enough money TO cary
nm our municipal governments. H0 -
other conclusion can be reacneu'
The sneaker continued by SAVING
,bat there must be found way ~
escape this result or INDUSTRY a
enterprise and agriculture wou -
have to leave the state IN oIuet
escape destruction. IL was saiu ~
a municipal government IT,, a
asora HE tax rate will pr oduce eA-
ces,t for such permanent puplc lnl-
,,,.pvenent as will add to the cap,
;taI assets of the municipality anu
.s,t,ich are provided for by bond Is,
s,,as Even with bond issues saIu
the former executive, discretlon
should be used. ,, nroh-
The solution Of the taxing prop.
~, mist be based upon an honest
Naiuation of property. said S!okSs'
and he characterized as a GOOD ruie;
dhat Formulated by the State Boara
~ Taxation and Assessment wnicn
decreed that an honest vaIuation :,
was a price fixed by a wliilhs sei-e-
to willing buyer. ndi-
"The way to keep down eApsmu
ture is by force SAID a;saa
Ssnkes sand that can be exercisso
thpnuel, q United tax rate with a
raferendum provision in the ease @
of necllad unusual expend ture. me
succession of a referendum by stokes
is snnarently the approval of Demo
cratic Goyernor-elect Silzer's piah
urho came out some time aGo
IN favor of a compulsory Limitation ol
the appropriations of any mnhct-
raIity having a tax rate in excess VI
s50 with a, referendum required N
Ease the municipality wishes TO eA-
ceed the proposed limit. Governor
stokes' original plan of forcibiy nm
iting the tax rate had no provision
for a referendum on expenditure.
ssThe moral effect or TINS, su
stokes. alluding to the reIerenuuiu'
sis that it Is al ways a Wdrnins ~
the tax spenders-a stop loon Il
listen sign. 1t promotes cautloh. ~
rrsyents carelessness. it makes eA-
penditurs difficult instead OF easy
r. the lawful tax rate is to be eA-
caeded. the taxpayer wants to know
whv and the tax spender must eA-
Stokes said such a law. known az
T. The Hiliery Act and providing I9r !:
raferendum was passed n 1905 Du.
fhe tax spenders gradually mooinel.
the acs uI,il 1t beraaic' IN oloAeS
parlan ., "a CORPSE.
st never heard OF any coihpia''''
from any taxpayer" ne saiu.
forner governor claimed In
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