The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-12-06
THEIR Kick over TAXES
The Fourth District Pro-
perty Owners Hold
Another Meeting.
SOME VERY FORCIBLE LANGUAGE.
A Contribution to the Fees Of a
LAWYER for Their
Case.


A public meeting of taxpayers. of the
tne Fourth district, under the auspices Of
the Fourth Assembly District Property
Owners Association, was held at Kess-
ler's upper hall, last evening. to take
action relative to the urgent discrimina-
ton against the Fourth district. in the in
creased valuation of property, by the
Commissioners of assessment, and the
consequent unjust increase Of taxes.
About one hundred and fifty taxpayers
were present, many of them being the
owners of small houses, and all anxious
10 express their indignation against the
injustice they claim has been done
them
M: Z. Merseles, president of the asso-
clatlon, called the meeting to order, and
was chosen chairman with A. a. Franck,
as secretary.
CONCERTED ACTION ADVISED.
of the meeting
We all agree" he said, that taxation
IS necessary, and is the only means by
which expenses of government can be
sustained. Ii taxes are levied Justly
and equally, taxed parties have no Just
grievance. But the citizens of this dis
trlct have just grievance. Fayoritism
marked the action of the Commissioners
of Assessments
ne valuation of property in the dis
trlcG has been increased $1,0S1. .913. an
amount nearly double that OF the remain
der of The city, while valuations in the
Fist and Sixth districts have been de-
creased. Our State constitution saws that
all property shall be assessed at its full
valuation. II this were done throughout
the city there could be no grievance,
because then each property owner would
pay proportionate share of the taxes. y
The chairman then urged the property
owners TO take concerted action to pro
tect themselves in the future against
similar wrongs and to protest against the
injustice done them.
ASSESSOR M'EwAN'S COMPARISONS.
Thomas McEwan, q former assessor
was called upon. He denounced the
action OF the Commissioners, and recited
several instances where property in the
tlstrlcG mad been assessed at more than
its real value, while few favored citi.
zens had their valuable property assessed
at nominal figures. He said
Ihe reduction of taxes on valuable
property and the increase on small hold
lngs is opposed TO every principle of JUS
tice and honor, for the reason that it is a
we'll established principle of Justice that
the strong should bear the burden Of the
the taxes, but am unwilling to pay one
cent more than my neighbor for similar
property y
He pitched into the commissions. saw
ing. that though the number of officials
had been decreased, the expenses for
running their departments had increased.
He denounced the discrimination against
the district as something worse than
highway robbery, ami remarked, "In the
latter case we may defend ourselves. but
in this matter of taxes we are at the
mercy OF the commissioners, who fix our
assessments and sit in judgment upon
our appeals from their action"
Martin Logan, Charles Weber and j. J.
Aldersley, q committee appointed by the
Property Owners Association, presented
the following
Whereas, The committee appointed by the
Fourth Assembly District Property Owners AS
sociation have ascertained from the records that
unjust discrimination has been made in levying
taxes; and,
Whereas, The Fourth district has been assessed
higher than other districts of the city; there
fore,
Resolved, That your committee recommend
that counsel be engaged to advise us as to ths
best method to be adopted TO the end that all
property in the city shall be fairly and equally
assessed.
LOGAN ON THE RAMPAGE.
The recommendation was discussed by
several speakers. Martin Logan referred
W a. LlCiC lIiG IlCGittltfi J0tt1It(LJ
denounclng The parties in the district OPP
posing the taxation as tkickers" and
''low mob, and said:-"I am kicker
against injustice, and for the rights OF
our citizens" He read his reply to the
article, published in the journal, with an
important matter left out, and then
turned his battery on the Commissioners
and President Lawrence specially.
He talked about the treatment hum
bic Taxpayers received when protest.
ing against their increased taxes, and
after giving incidents of discrimination
by the Commissioners said:-"Con-
missioner Lawrence owns certain houses
on Sip avenue. i will give him 81 600
each for them, but they are assessed at
$4,000 each.'
He urged the adoption of the reSolu-
tion, that equal taxation may be secured.
George McE,wan denounced the dis
elimination, and claimed the Commits
sioners were taking taxes from our
pockets and putting them in the pockets
of favored taxpayers" He paid severe
attention to the Commissioners, and
claimed that system whereby an appeal
against injustice is determined by the
parties from whose action the appeal is
taken is unknown in any civilized
community save in Jersey City, where the
Commissioners of Assessments are the
sole judges of their acts.
SUBSCRIBING FOR COUNSEL.
The committees resolution was adopted
and Chairman Merseles, after an address,
showing that the Fourth District is the
most desirable portion of the county for
residences. and that its present low rate
of real estate is due to misgovernment
and high taxes, urged the audience to
contribute to fund for the purpose of se-
curing legal opinion as to action in the
premises.
A number stepped to the table and paid
in their contributions in sums ranging
from twenty-five cents to two dollars, un-
til the sum of $50 was raised, and the
committee was given power to consult
counsel and report at the meeting of the
Property Owners Association next Thurs
day evening, to which all citizens were
invited.
A Rabbit stopped the Car.
MGreenville car No. a5S was bowling along
Grand street last evening on its way to the ferry