New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-17
TAX EVASION MADE EASY.
THE ALLEGED BAD EFFECT OF PROVISION

THE ALLEGED BAD EFFECT OF PROVISION IN
7 SERTED IN THE TAX LEVY FOR NEWARK, NJ J.
/ During the last hours of the session OF the
New,Jersey Legislature, provision was inserted IN the
Newark tax bill which, it is asserted practically repeats
yrhe act previously passed. imposing severe penalties
upon all persons who evade the payment OF their just
taxes by creating fictitious Indebtedness. Under the
law Just passed the amount OF individual Indebtedness
NAV be deducted from the real property valuation thus
restoring the system which was adopted two or three
years ago. In their presenment TO the court last Jan
airy, the Essex County Grand Jury concluded their
remarks on tho subject OF tax evasion ana
tax evaders, BY suggesting that If the law
did not make il crime for persons TO cheat the commu
nifty by tax evasion practices law making 1t such
shoud speedily be placed on statute books To carry
out this suggestion, the Hon. julius c. Fitzgerald, men,
Der of the Assembly from the City Of Newark, Introduced
a bill into the Assembly which, among other things re-
CURED the person claiming deduction for personal in
debtedness make affidavit THAI no part OF such lndeD
eness was created for the purpose OF reducing the taxes
OF such individual and that any person guilty OF wif
and corrupt swearing in taking oath required by THIS
act should held guilty of perjury and punished accord
ngly The bill the House and went 10 the senate
On Tuesday hast April 6. the bill passed the Senate and
was returned to the with the following amend
ment:
SECTION And be enacted That in all cases when the
provisions of this act and tie act to winch TINS If sup
plemcnt and all relating thereto are bona tde
complied with, deduction shall be made from the per
sonaI and re; of every person assessed for al
deos fde owing TO creditors residing III TINS
state that all parts OF acts INCONSISTENT mere
with are hereby repealed
The bill was taken up in the House az amended ana
the Speaker declared that the amendment was lost as
sufficient number OF members had not voted for IT, MI
Kirk Republican OF Newark moved reconsideration Of
the vote which was concurred and his motion the
bin ~ amended was passed by the House ON the same
a n ,ng e e xaS u STATE sent certed copy Of the
same to the Board of Tax Commissioners OF Newark
lte W l.
wealthy landowner or the SPECTATOR IN rea est'e W
evade in wholesale way the payment TI St io of
this law will be 10 increase the rate OF axaton III new
ark IL will affect the revenue OF this city NJ least
500 600 which must he made good by increasing the
tax rate Last year the rate was 81 ~ on SlOO ana he
Tax Commissioners felt confident that this year they
could considerably decrease the rate but III the mean
time this law has been passed when dsalIshIgs an
their calculations. The bi as introduced IN the house
by Mr. Fitzgerald with the heaaty approval OF the
Tax Commissioners. When they received the csrlned
copv of law they very much surprised 20 see
the nterpolaed third section, which defeated the entre
object for which they aa been borng ana the euesoh
naturally as to who was respohsloe.
tive of The TRIBUNE recently called on the non J0hh
W Taylor, President OF the senate the lion o. =, t7
gerald of the Assembly, who introduced me original D
the Tax Commissioners, and several Others 81,
The Tax Commissioners were u.lii a M AZ dotor
denunciation of the bill Ihey exlres-eu 'nelI ueol
minatiOn scrutinze closely all tax returns and pos
ble Illustrate much OF the possible Trong c onn S
that the new law would exempt some w w @
of real estate taxation which would nave 10 DE- met
by Increasing the TAX rae anu T bt th new law would
cause ncalcuabe harm. The Hon John J" Taylor saia
that April ., he received letter I0m joseph
OF Newark, containing the interpolated section
Mr. COult represented that Mr., Fitzgerald, Inc
mover OF tie original bill had the sec
on and was entirely satisfied with 1t, and wished MI
Taylor 10 introduce it III the senate as an amendment
TO the original bill Mr. Taylor said he accordingly IN
PRODUCED the amendment in the Senate on tuesday last
He supposed from Mr.. Coults PRESENTATIONS tlat the
Tax commissioners had been consulted and that they
were perfectly satisfied with the amendment MT ttz-
gerald said that he introduced the original bli az Whlc
fine the Objectionable third section was 81 WI him, ana
he directing it, IL not introduced IN the H0use
fart M. mo of
no hand in It's introduction. He knew nothing OF tle
introduction Of the amendment and was IN no"lse re-
sDon gibe for it, The bill amended passed the senate
on Monday afternoon, and when 1t reached the HOuse
Mr. Fitzgerald not present