The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-11-15
HEARING TAX APPEALS
The Excellent Work the
State Board Of Taxa
ton is Doing.
PPlassPEssRIHG The FIRST ANAuAL REPORT,
u Will Recommend . Change in
the Exemption Laws and Make
Other Suggestions to the
Legislature.

Many people throughout the State have
been inclined to look upon the State
Board of Taxation which was appointed
by Governor Albeit under the law passed
by the Legislature last winter as a
purely ornamental body and
one which would not be pro-
ductive of any beneficial result
effecting the most important subject Of
equal taxation. The Board nevertheless
has worked hard during the eight or ten
months Of its existence and have accom-
plishea much which win benefit the tax
payers Of the State.
or late the Board has been considering
appeals. Il has met once week and
continued from day to day until the APP
peals have been disposed of. Some weeks
the Board has set all the week. In speak
ing OF this branch of the Boards work,
Mr.. Charles G. Black, Chairman OF the
Board, said Yesterday:
WHAT THE BOARD IS DOING.
The most beneficial feature Of the Act
Of 1891 will doubtless prove to be those
sections in which right of an appeal to
the State Board for unjust taxation is
given to the Individual taxpayer, land
the section which provides for the equal
jzation Of taxes by the State Board as
between counties on school and county
tax, and between townships and taxing
districts in the same counties. This
provision OF the law seems to have
been drawn with great care, aud il is
capable In its practical application OF
producing substantial equality between
the various taxing districts. This is
remedy never before applied 10 New
Jersey, aud the State Board thinks it
VIII accomplish permanent and snbstan-
tiai good in securing uniformity OF tax
alton.
arhe appeal by individuals can be
made under this act to the State Board
without first appealing to the local COM
mlssiOuerSy and the rule adopted by the
been, so far as practical. to have them
heard uDfettered by technicalities OF pro-
eedure aud on substantial business prin-
cipies. hearing them as soon as filed and
deciding them as the evidence granted
without delay.
LARGE NUMBER OF APPEALS.
1.-THE result of this has been that up to
the present time there has been a large
number Of appeals filed by private indi-
vifnals aud they have all been heard and
disposed Of except such as have been filed
slice November 10. The Board will be-
gin to hear appeals again November "a
aud continue the nearing until the cases
are all disposed of. All appeals are heard
III Trenton except where there are
large number from one locality. Then
the Board acts In that locality.
There have been two classes OF these
appeals; one in which it is claimed an
Injustice has been done by reason of the
property being assessed at figure above
It's true valuation under the constitution.
This class is easily disposed of. The sec
ond class is chat in which it has been
alleged that the property has been. as
81 reIo 1v iOh al n
similar property similarly situated, but not
IN access of its true value. This class or
cases IS difficult to deal with under the
present statute, because the Board is
positively prohibited from increasing any
individual assessment or appeal
sThis should be remedied, and the
State Board will recommend TO the Legis-
lature that the Board be given power in
such cases to increase individual assess
menfs This would increase the practi-
chi efficiency of the Board In securing
uniform assessments.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE.
Tine Board is busy preparing and COM
piIing facts, showing the work that has
been done by the Board during the past
wear for its annual report to be SUBJ
lnitted to the Legislature next winter.
As yet they have had little time to give
consideration TO the Recommended
tions which we propose to make to
the Legislature But one Important
ana imperitive consideration is that the
fine for making the assessments and
their completion, and the time when
taxes should become lien on the prop
ertv should be one and the same in all
taxing districts throughout the State.
.s'rhis would give persons aggreived an
opportunity to procure evidence OF in
ifistice In the assessment and other rec
Concentrations covering specific points
viii be submitted ia the report.
4 q'he report Will also show that the
amount of exempt property which
under the present law escapes taxation,
and the Board will recommend that the
rowed in its application to such property
as there IL good reason for its exemp-
ton"