The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-21
Inquisitorial and Dietatorial
Powers for the Gen.
trail Board.
HARD ON STOCKHOLDERS.
They May Be . Wiped Out" by
Summary Sale for Tax
Arrears.
CAPITAL TAXED TWICE OVER.

The following is an exhaustive synopsis
of the new tax bill, prepared by the State
Committee on Taxation and introduced
in the Assembly last week. 1t is known
in its present state as Assembly bill No.
24s; but its formal title is "a General
Act Concerning Taxes" Here are all its
provisions in detail, merely stripped of
the formal verbiage:-
LA board for the equalization, revis-
ion, and enforcement of taxation" con-
sisting of three members, is to be ap-
pointed by the Governor, subject to the
approval of the Senate.
The terms are to begin on the first Mon
day of April, this year. and to last five
years, except in case Of removal by the
Governor. All subsequent terms are also
to be five years.
The members are to be citizens of the
State, are to file oaths OF office and are to
receive $500 year salary.
Two are to be quorum, and they are
TO have power to employ clerks and other
necessary assistants, and pay them at
rates approved by the Governor. The
Board is 10 keep full records of its pro-
ceedings.
DUTIES AND POWERS.
The Board Is to have power to make
''rules, directions, orders and regula-
tions' for the proper discharge of its own
duties, those of its assistants, and "the
duties Of assessors, collectors. finance
boards, or other officers or boards what
soever charged with the assessment and
collection of taxes" in any municipality
or taxing district, and also to secure the
equalization, revision and enforcement of
the taxation imposed by the act.
IL also has power to compel the attend
.E Tu4n raf
books and papers, and such power may
be delegated TO one member or the
Board
The Board is to use certain returns
provided for further on. but If 1t deems
them inaccurate or insufficient it may as
certain the fact in any other way, the
members using their personal knowledge
and Judgment.
The members may conduct examina-
tions under oath, and may require per-
sons to sign affidavits, and may eC pdrte
apply TO Supreme Court justices for or
ders compelling persons to submit to ex-
animation. Failure to obey may be pun
ished by the justices as contempt.
Il is the duty of the Board to cause
local taxing officers to assess all property
within their districts by uniform rules,
according TO its true value.
IL is also the duty of the Board TO rem
edy inequalities Of valuation and as
sessment, and to correct the action OF
local taxing officers or boards of review.
The Board has power TO increase or de-
crease the assessment OH any property
when they think injustice has been done,
or where it is necessary to secure uni
formity.
If necessary the Board may oblige local
taxing officers to make partial or complete
reassessments according to rules winch it
is to establish. If the taxing officers fail
or refuse to comply, the Board may ap-
point somebody else to do it, and the
assessment so made on confirmation by
the Board is TO prevail in the district that
year.
The Board, when it chooses, may make
the reassessmeut itself, and may add to
any tax list any person or property
omitted from it.
PERSONS AND PROPERTY SUBJECT TO
TAXATION.
ia pOol tax not exceeding 81 Is to
be levied on every male inhabitant Of
twenty-one or upwards
IIL-All real and personal estate with
in the State, whether owned by indi-
viduals or corporations is to be taxed at
its true value at the time the levy is
made.
The rate per cent is to be such as to pro-
duce the sum required plus ten per cent
Of such sum for contingencies.
The term real estate" is to include all
lands, buildings and fixtures, all water
power, all wharves and piers including
the right to collect wharfage, all dry
docks, ferries, terry slips, mines. quarrIes.
clay and mari beds, fisheries and all pipe
lines of whatsoever material.
The term personal estate" is to mean
everything subject to ownership and not
specified as real estate.
EXEMPTIONS.
The following property is exempt from
taxation:-
of the United States.
or the State of New Jersey.
nit fOtt
borougbs and other divisions of the State
within their own limits and used for pub
lie purposes and not otherwise.
Personal property of the value OF 500.
Buildings actually and exclusively used
for colleges, academies, public schools,
schools where no charge is made for tut
tion. public libraries or for religious wor-
ship or charitable purposes. Also the
ground upon which they stand and the
furniture and personal property used in
them. But If such building or property
is rented for such purposes. it is not ex-
empt
Cemeteries and graveyards, but not
lands or lots held for sale for burial pur-
poses and not the stock of corporations
organized TO deal in such lands or lots.
DEDUCTION OF DEBTS
IV.-No deduction is to be allowed by
any taxing officers from either real or per-
sonal estate excepting for debts Of record
ia this stale.
ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUALS.
V.-An assessments are to be made as
Of he first Monday of April of every year;
but assessments will De lawful II made ut
any time between that date and the first
Monday of June, or such further time as
the Board may order in special cases.
VI.-Real estate shall be assessed at its
true value, the assessor actually viewing
it, and from the best possible information
setting a figure on each lot or tract with
out the buildings and improvements and
noting it on his returns in duplicate, and
then setting figures on each building aud
is then to be carried out as the true value
OF the whole parcel of property.
In rural districts, the acreage OF arabic.
meadow and woodland and the mum Der of
That tired feeIngst Is entirely overcome BY
Hood1s sarsanarifla which gives a feeling of