The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-09-26
Tne s.a,e TAX Question.

by the last Legislature 10 frame a Dill 10
edualizc taxation throughout the State
and present the same to the next Legis-
lature, met in Salem on Tuesday, in their
round of the State to hear suggestions
from the different sections as to what is
needed in this direction. The Commission
is composed of Barker Gummere, Attorney
General Stockton, Senators Gardner and
Everett, and Assemblymen Voorhees, and
Marsh, but nom ofthem appeared, though
they were represented by one Of their
counsel, Gen. W. f. Albeit, son of Gov
ernor Albeit, and a stenographer, Mr..
| Clarence Sackett. A number Of the as
SCISSORS from different sections Of the coun-
ty were present.
Rev. Chester Bridgman, of Woodstown,
wa the first one to appear, and he asked
relief from what may be termed double
t~axtion. That is in taxing securities
held for loans made outside of the State
when a tax is paid on the full value of the
property where located. He claimed it to
be unconstitutional, unjust and uncalled
for. 1t is hard for those who make the
loans, many of whom are ladies, not COM
petent OF calculated to do business and
therefore are dependent on lawyers or
agents to look after their affairs, who. as
the easiest thing to do, place it for them
in the Lombard. or some other company
at 6 or : per cent, with the understanding
that the tax is paid where the loan is
made. Now if those persons must also
pay tax where they live, very likely in a
city. where the rate is some SEQ per thou
sand, cutting down the income one-third,
it becomes a serious question whether such
persons can afford to live in one OF our
cities or larger towns, which they would
naturally resort to. 1t will tend to ruin
the rate on securities outside the State and
so make it burdensome on those who bor-
row the money, many of them in remote
parts or on the frontier. 1t is calculated
to drive capital, or capitalists, out of the
State. Persons residing in our sister State
Of Pennsylvania pay only what is called a
State tax of 3 mills on a dollar on such
securities, which would be a partial relief.
G. II. Sinnickson, Esq, called attention
to the fact, by reason of the full valuation
at which all kinds Of property are assessed
in this county, that Salem county pays
more money for State School Tax than we
receive, while several other counties, by
reason of a low valuation, pay less than
they receive, by which method our people
assist to educate the children of these lat
ter counties, a form Of charity that
our tax payers regard burdensome
and exceedingly unfair, and demand
relief along this line. AS a cure
for this state of things a State Board
of Tax Equalization was suggested by
Gen. Albeit, with power to correct such
inequalities, and he thought a provision
for such a body would be a part of the new
bill to be framed by the commission.
Mayor Richman, of Woodstown, who is
the Assessor in Pilesgrove, thought that
the real estate throughout the country was
assessed to its fun value, and gave instan-
ces where property was assessed for more
than it was bid 10 at a public sale, and he
thought that the valuations in this county
are much higher than those in adjoining
counties, where the land is just as valua-
bic and productive. In answer to a ques-
ton, he said he did not regard a sworn
statement from each taxpayer as essential
in this section. He favored a State Board
of Tax Equalization, and thought it best
to elect assessors.
Assessor George Morris, of Salem, sug-
gested that there is a good deal of tax lost
by a failure to get hold of bank stock in
the hands of the holders, and it was sug-
PeSleu DIS Il ltIiituy lbT bulS tldJ DdUk SbOck
be assessed at the bank, and the amount of
the tax deducted from the dividend or
value Of the stock, and the amount paid to
the collectors of the localities where the
stock is held, on the basis of the local tax
rate. 1t was suggested that bank stock
ought to be taxed at its selling value.
DIR. Edwin Chew, OF Salem, called at
t~enti0n to the Five County Act which
was passed during the time when special
legislation was permissible, which act ex-
empts certain counties from tax on per-
sonal property for the benefit of the State,
and he thought that every county should
bear its part of the burden Of taxation for
State purposes, 4 suggestion that surely
none will question; and the new bill will
no doubt correct this matteras fara as needs
be.
Assessor Gray, Of Upper Pittsgrove,
mentioned two or three farms that were
owned by religions organizations in his
township, which had always been taxed,
until last year, when, by reason of a re-
ported decision of the Supreme Court the
tax had been RENTED. Gen. Albeit
thought they should be taxed how ever, the
same as other property, as the proceeds
went to the payment of the PASTORS salary.
Appleton unbleached muslin has always
been counted the best of all the heavier
weights of sheeting, but there il one made
now that claims to be better, being made from