of Jersey City had given it, railroad taxation.
The railroads tried to keep it down. Governor
Murphy appointed a commission to inquire into
the need of a change in railroad tax methods,
but the Republicans nominated for Governor
Edward C. Stokes, who resigned a directorship of
a branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad to run, and
the issue of the campaign was the Jersey City
issue. And Stokes was elected, but he had had
to promise, and public opinion and the outrageous facts forced from the commission a
report for some change. And “some change” was made; enough to relieve Jersey City, but not
enough to hurt the railroads.
The people of Jersey saw that the railroads drew that law, that the railroads dominated still their state government — the railroads and the Public Service Corporation. For, besides the railroad legislation, the Jersey City men continued their franchise tax fight. And, meanwhile, Tom McCarter had aroused the people of Essex County to resist his perpetual franchise “grabs” in the Oranges. Jersey City wanted to tax franchises; Essex reformers were for limiting them. Record saw that they both were fighting one enemy and he advised a union, and, because he was wiser than the Essex leaders, he and Fagan took up their neighbours’ less
