The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-09-13
A FOURTH DISTRICT KICK.
THE PROPERTY HOLDERS AssO-
CLIFTON OBJECTS.

First, to the Tax Valuations; and, SecOnd'
to the Conduct of Affairs Generally
Under the New Charter Government.
AT the regular monthly meeting of the
Fourth District Property Holders Asso-
citation held at Kessler's Hall ON Central
avenue last evening, some animated criti-
cism of the Board of Works and other
departments of the city government were
rather freely indulged in by the bare
quorum of fifteen members.
After the routine business of the even
ing was disposed of. Mr.. Martin Logan
opened fire on the city authorities and the
press simultaneously, by suggesting that
pamphlets of the proceedings Of the meet
ing be printed to supply the defective re-
lacked the courage to stroke the fur Of
the city bosses the wrong way.
KICKING AT THE VALUATION.
He read to the association q paper Civ
ing the assessed valuation of real prop
erty in the six wards of Jersey City, that
showed that, while the aggregate increase
in the five wards, excluding the Fourth,
was only about S5Oo, 200, the increase in
the Fourth ward, in the present tax levy.
was 81 ,0S1 900.
This" he said, II say boldly and fear
lessly is due to the incompetency of the
present assessor for this district, who was
not appointed for his ability. but because
Of his incompetency and his pliancy as
the tool of a ring. And we are now suf-
fering the penalty they mean to infiict ON
us for not giving our consent to the adopt
tion of the new charter. / would sugges-
that we follow the example of Harrison
and Hoboken property holders, who re-
fused to pay taxes on an unfair assess
ment of value. and bring the matter be.
fore the courts by writ of certiorari.
know that improved property, the value
Of which is $4,000, has been assessed at
the value of a vacant lot; while other inl-
proved property has been assessed at its
full market value. This is due to political
pull"
A motion was then carried authorizing
the chairman to appoint committee OF
three to investigate the matter of the
rateable value of property for taxation in
the Fourth district, and Messrs. Logan,
Aldersly and Christian Weber were
named, with instructions to report to the
association at their earliest convenience.
Some sharp criticism of the work OF
the contractors who are paving Grifith
street from Central to Milton avenues
was then made. Mr. Muir said he had
seen attempts to use material there
which was a fragrant violation of the
specification and which the inspector
who was in charge of the work would
have permitted to be used, had he not
been watched. He was satisfied that
material which was inferior to that called
for In the specification was being used
in this work.
Mr.. Logan, who was bent ON having the
courts redress the wrongs of the op-
pressed property owners, was again on
his feet with his universal panacaa OF
the law.
AN INSPECTOR OF THEIR OWN.
"If the property owners are satisfied
that the work is not being done accord
ing to specification, he urged, ''let them
refuse TO pay the assessment. That will
throw the settlement on the city and q
certiorari will determine the rights OF
the matter"
This brought young Mr.. Weber to hi:
feet with pertinent and practical sug
gestlon.
II am opposed" he said with deter
mined emphasis, ito any more fooling il
this matter. If the property holders are
satisfied that the work is being done inn
properly, and that the inspector cannot
be relied on to see that it is done accord
| ing to specification, let us hire an in
| spector to see to it ourselves. When we
show them that we can successfully
| thwart their crookedness in one instance
we shall have settled it for all the others
| Suppose we have to employ man at 50 @
| day for fifty days. That will be 500
| Surely an organization of $50 members
| could raise that sum of money in a com
| mon cause"
To this an objection was made that the
association should not be assessed tc
| benefit the property owners in a particu
| lar locality whose pecuniary interest in
the work should prompt them to see that
| it was well done.
| Mr.. Muir said that if the burden OF the
| expense was thrown on the shoulders OF
| the property owners it would not be seer
to- The association should offer some
| assistance for the common good.
A motion of Dr. Allen that meeting
| of the owners of property on Griffith av
| enue should be held on Thursday, Sep
| ternber 10, to discuss the matter, was
| then carried
| WANTED, MORE WATER POWER.
| Mr.. Muir complained that the city haG
| taken no steps to supply sufficient force
| to have the water reach the upper floors
of the houses in the district. This seri
| ously affected the renting value of the
property. The chairman said that bill
| to provide power by meaus of @ Worth
| ington pump was III the hands OF the Cor
| poration Counsel.
''Yes," broke in disgusted member,
"and Hudspeth has pigeon holed it, an6
when the Board of Works is asked about
the matter they only shrug their shoulder.
and say:-Well, Mr.. Hudspeth will act OF
the matter when he sees fit; we cam
| hurry Mr.. Hndspeth.
! A motion was then carried to have
| committee wait on Mr.. Hudspeth and ge
him to report on the bill that is before hin
| for his action, to give the Fourth distric
! householders water on their second floors
| and relieve the landlords of the expens,
| of placing pumps in their houses to make
| them rentable.
| Mr.. Muir wanted the attention of tn,
| Police Department called to the fact tina
| many of the street lamps in the Fourtl
district were regularly left unlighted.
| The meeting was then adjourned.
| THE CIGAR WENT OFF