The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-08-07
VETERANS MAY FIGHT.
This Time 1t Is the Tax
Gatherer They Are
to Go For.
THEY WANT THEIR EXEMPTION
Firemen and Militiamen May Join
Them in Contesting Mr.. Ed
wards Opinion.

1t was to be expected that Counsellor
William D. Edwards opinion to the
County Tax Board that tax exemptions in
favor of firemen, veterans and militia
were unconstitutional would raise rum
pus among those affected by it, and it has
to a certain degree, and not only in this
county, but in other parts of the State,
for If it be good law here it is good every
where. His point, 1t will be remembered,
was that the exemptions applying to
classes, are an offense to the constitu-
tional requirement of equal taxation.
Some of the Grand Army men of this
city are disposed to fight for their exemp-
tions, against Mr.. Edwards opinion in
the courts. and veteran assured re-
porter of THE JERSEY CITY NEWS today
that movement was on foot to collect a
fund to pay the expenses of the contest.
MR.. EDWARDS BACKED UP.
"But," said a lawyer who is high up in
Republican circles, to the reporter, II
don't believe the contest will be success
full think the opinion is sound one
The Constitution directs that property
shall be assessed for taxes un-
der general laws, and by uni
form rules according to its true
value. To exempt fireman, or militia
man now, is to exempt a class. And
when. the exemptions are permitted.
where is the line to be drawn? Exempt
butchers and exempt dry goods mer-
chants might as well follow in the line;
and there would be an end of taxation. !"
But" said Commander e. Sands, of
Van Houten Post, "the veterans have
won the right to exemption, and there
seems TO be no other way OF extend
ing it to them, save through the medium
of special laws / do not know" he
added, ',that the veterans have taken any
action. MY Post has held no meeting
since the opinion was rendered. and so
has had no opportunity for official action
on the subject"
GETTING ON TO THE LAW.
Sohn McCutcheon, himself veteran,
and long an attache of the City Collec-
tors office, says that not over
two hundred OF the veterans claimed
exemption last year, probably because
the existence of the law was not gener-
ally known. But the Deputy Collector,
Miles McCarten, declares that they are
getting on to the law, and that the num-
ber seeking occupation is apt to be in
creased.
the Board of Finance, it was said. had
refused to permit this exemption, but it
was declared in other quarters that the
Board merely set up the rule
that those seeking exemptions should
have applied to the Tax Commits
sioners and had the reduction made there.
At the same time when a veteran claimed
an exemption from the Commissioners of
Appeals, he was required only to show
his discharge papers. Could he produce
them, the $500 deduction from the assess
able value of his property was made.
At City Clerk Scott's Office. Chief AS
sistant Mi Fenny told the reporter that
the numbl of firemen claiming exemp-
aion unde the law Is very small. II
think he ,aid, "that / made out less than
ten certificates for exempt firemen last
year"
The militia men are as little particular
as O body in asserting their right to the
exemptions as are the other exempt
classes. But they step up to the captains
office once in while and claim the re-
duction