Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1868-12-18

bereu, l. ., 4. s, Z. and and gore, also assessed
those lots TO Mr.. Mahan, and such assessment
numbers 4, and s. and the gore we're the same
lots which were. during the same years, also as
sessed to John NJ. Provost.
Mr.. Mahan is to pay the taxes so assessed for
the years 1865, 1866, 1868 and 1865, which wiz re-
lieye them from any legal tax sale, but the lots
are still advertised to be sold for the unpaid tax
es which were improperly as: essed to John NJ
Provost for the years 1s6b and 1907.
There are but three of large number of SINH
lar cases which have been brought before your
Committee in which the taxes improperly as
sessed have been cancelled land which are enron
eously described remitted] and there are
doubtless many other cases not yet discovered
a large number of vacant lots which have
| changed owners, once or more, during the past
few years, are twice, and sometimes oftener, as
sessed to different persons, but one OF whom Is
owner, andis liableto pay the taxes; this not
| only creates an apparent deficiency upon the he
ceivers books of taxes unpaid, but also increases
| disproportionatelY with the rest of the county,
! the amount which the city is required to pay to
the bounty and state taxes, and which, although
charged to and paid by the city, cannotDe collect
from the individuals Improperly assessed
This improper assessment Is not, IN most cases
at least, the fault OF the Assessor from the large
amount Of vacant lands in most of the wards tits
almost impossible for him. in the absence of pro-
per maps. TO ascertain definitely the exact loca-
tion of considerable portion OF the vacant lands
and when he reviews each year the books oil the
preceding Y ear he cannot, in many instances. as
owner, without an examination OF the records IN
the County Clerk g office, such an examination.
even if it would with the general descriptions
used, give him the requisite information, would
occupy too large part OF the time within which
the assessment must be made.
Besides the amount lost to the city by the i'm
proper charge upon it for county and state taxes
as afo-e said there is considerable quantity Of
vacant lands in the city which has escaped taxa
ton, and thereby further amount has been and
continues to be lost to the city,
hos otFila hf,tu hlf npa 70 n
making assessments for taxes, and OF keeping
the records thereof, il radically defective, and
that an immediate and thorough remedy is neces-
sary.
The difficulties would, in great degree AZ least
be removed by adopting in part the system en-
ployed in Jersey City and other places of using
maps of the city upon which ZACH lot, as occupied
or owned, is laid down and designated Dy Il mum.
ber and the assessment for taxes and for i'm
provements is made with reference to the num-
Der of the rot on the map, the owners name be-
ing, when known, also used In the assessment
list.
The City Surveyor has already prepared such
maps for number of the sewer districts, and
street improvements, and it will be necessary
for him in few years to prepare them Tor other
parts OF the city in which sewers and other i'm
provements are to be made; and with those and
other surveys recently made it would not be diff
ficult or unreasonably expensive TO make the re-
quisite maps for the whole city, and will at least
but anticipate by few years the work which will
be requiredin making assessments for improve
ments.
To carry into eff sct this or any other substantial
reform an amendment to the city charter will be
required, which should be prepared by persons
acquainted with the present system and with the
evils TO be remeded.
Your Committee therefore recommend the
adoption ofthe following resolution;
j. IL. GRAY,
w. TENNEY.
Resolved, That the taxes assessed in the
Third ward to Winthrop Sargent. for the year
1866, 1867 and 1868, on lots on Pine, Bond and
Division streets to John Turner, for the
years 1866 1867 and 1865, on Pine, Wall and
Division streets. and to John M. Provost, for
the years 1866, 1867 and 1868, upon lots num-
bered 2 A. 6 aud 8. and gore between Broad
way and Mechanic street, be and the same
are hereby cancelled, and the Receiver OF
Taxes is directed to mark the same ON his
books as cancelled, RS the said taxes We're
Illegally assessed to them, and have been
legally assessed to the actual owners OF the
land.
Resolved, That Joseph Award, William +.
Day and Oliver Pierce are hereby appointed a
Special Commission, and are requested to re-
port to the City Council such plan or plans
for making assessments for taxes and for
street and other improvements in the city OF
Elizabeth, and for keeping the records there
of and for collecting the same, as they shall
deem best for the interests OF the city, to-
gether with such other matters and recon-
mendations relating to the tax and assess
ment laws as they shall advise, and to pre-
pare such an act TO be presented to the Leg
lature as shall be necessary to enable the Clty
Council to carry their recommendations into
effect.
Resolved, That the City surveyor is hereby
directed to prepare map of the city OF tiiiz-
abeth divided into such sections as shall DE
most convenient for practical use, on when
each lot in the city as occupied or owned
shall be delineated and numbered, and tse
Dimensions thereof given, with such other
particulars as he shall deem advisable, or as
shall be determined by the City Council; and
for this purpose this City Surveyor Is author
lied to employ such assistants as shalt be
necessary. and at such compensation as shau
be determined by the City Council,
Which was received, when Councilman
Green called for division OF the question on
the adoption of the resolutions.
The first resolution was read and adopted.
The second resolution was read and lost by
tie following vote
ffirmatiye-president Wiley and Council
man Barry, Buchanan, Gray-4
Negative ouncilmen, Budd, Cowell Green
Lyon, Marvel, Price Robinson. Schanck,
Schultheis and TCnney--l0.
Councilman Tenney moved that the vote
whereby the resolution was lost be recon-
sidered.
Which was carried.
The resolution was then referred back 10
the Law Committee.
The third resolution was then read and
ADOPTED.
Onmotion Of Councilman Buchanan the re-
port was ordered published in full in The
minutes.
The same Committee to whom was referred
the communication Of the Committee ON FL
nance relative to the assessment OF the cost,
damages and expenses of various improve
ments, as follows:
The assessment of the cost, etc, of con-
structing sewer in Broad street, from the
north side of the Mills house to the point
where the same interseets the Broad street,
Morris avenue and Mill lane sewer.
flo be concluded tomorrow
WANTED,
TrpST f,T ASc AMERICAN FARMER ~