The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-10-09
HAT THE EDITORS SAY.
Grubb as a Tax Jumper.

In considering the qualifications of
a candidate for Governor, the ques-
ton of highest Importance is, how has
he performed the duties of private
citizenship? Has he been Jealous in
public affairs; has he sought to inn
prove the public welfare of his neigh
borhood; has he borne his share of
the public burdens?
In the case of Dickey-Bird Grubb
none of these questions can be an
swered in the affirmative.
Inheriting a magnificent property
on the banks of the Delaware adjoin-
ing the town of Beverly, he has Occur
pied it during but a small part of the
year and then principally for pur-
poses of pleasure. With the people
around him he has held but the
slightest communication, holding him
self aloof as a person of superior
mould, and his interest in public al
fairs has never yet been developed,
except within the past year.
His record as a taxpayer is worse,
because it is afirmatively bad.
A low estimate of the value of the
mansion and grounds owned and oc-
cupied by General Grnbb, at Edge
water Park, would be from $50, 900 to
500, 600. And of the furniture, works
of art, carriages, horses, utensils and
other personal property, $50, 900 more.
In 1884 the tax return of e. Burd
Grub, for the township of Beverly,
omitted all of his valuable personal
property in the shape of bonds and
stocks; fixed the value Of his $50, 900
mansion and grounds at $1S, 600; rated
his personal property, which could
not be hidden at 81, 500-and from
this beggarly return of $16,500 de-
Quoted 500 as an exemption to which
he was entitled as a soldier. At the
rate of 81. "a ON the 500, the taxes of
this b~i-millionaire reached the enor-
nous sum Of $685. 80, which was al
lowed to go into default and was not
paid until 1885, after he had been re.
turned as a delinquent and a lien
entered against his property.
In 1886, the real estate was again re-
turned at $18, 900 and the personal
property was increased to 80, 900. But
the exemption on account of service
in the rebellion was increased to $500,
and the total assessment thereby de-
creased to $19, 200. The tax of $27C
was not paid until 1886, after he had
been advertised as a delinquent and
a lien entered against his property.
In 1886, the assessment of the pre-
vious year was continued, an exemp-
ton of $3.50 was claimed and the tax
again allowed to become and be adj
vertised as delinquent.
In 1887, the real estate was assessed
| at $t8, 900, the personal property at
So, 900; and exemption of $670 was
claimed and allowed, and the taxes
were for the only time in five years
| paid when due.
In 1888-just last year when Grubb
was beginning to shape up for the
Gubernatorial nomination-his prop
erty was returned at SIS, 1000; his per.
sonals at 50, 600; an exemption of $685.
was claimed and allowed and the
taxes of $3.50. so were not paid until the
30th of May, 1889. after they had been
returned al delinquent and a lien filed
against the property.
The result of these operations may
be fairly stated thus:-In the past five
years 4. Bird Grub has concealed
from the tax assessors $40, 600, 900 Of
taxable property, which has escaped
taxation; his visible property has
been under valued to the extent of al
least $500, 900; he has secured an ex'
emption of $3,025 worth of property
because of his war service; and he has
never but once paid his diminished