The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-12-29
NEW BOARD OF APPEALS
Politicians Waking Up to
the Need for
Action.
COUNTY CLERK MLAUGHLIN TO ACT.
Justice Davis Will Help. Him
Collector 0'Neill's Views
on the Subject.
COUNTY CLERK MLAUGHLIN TO ACT.

lin mas determined TO remedy the evil so
far as it is in his power.
Johnny German is bigger than the
men who made him. He is too big for
his clothes. We want Board of Appeals
and think that we will get it." said
County Clerk Mclaughlin to me last
night.
1T Is all nonsense" he added, "for
three men to act as Tax Commissioners,
levy the assessments and then review
their own work as a Board of Appeals.
Some remedy must be obtained and that
just rs quickly as possible. l am the
prime mover in this plan to secure a
Board of Appeals. In my opinion it is
only just that such Board should
be appointed. and / intend doing all
in my power to secure the passage of a
bill which will provide for the creation of
such Board. That the Tax Commits
sioners have caused widespread diSsatis-
faction is well known and dissatisfaction
in such an important branch of the city
RovernmenJ is very hurtful to the party
in power. The Tax Commissioners levy
what they consider an equitable asse S.
ment and at Il glance one can see how
nonsenscal 1t is to apply for reduc-
tion."
do you think the present incumbents
should be bounced?
ION that subject have nothing to say.
l want Board to review the work of
those gentlemen, however, and you nave
just beard me say that German
was bigger than the men who made
him and That he was also too big for his
Clothes"
The County Clerk did not seem inclin-
ed to continue the conversation further,
but from reliable sources 1t is understood
that the present Tax Commissioners are
not too highly thought of by him. The
County Clerk Is on the warpath and it is
probable that a bill which he has himself
drafted, creating Board of Appeals, will
60 through the Legislature with bells.
OTHER OPINIONS.
A short time after my conversation
with County Clerk McLaughlin, was
approached by an old Democrat.
Its pity said he, "that a rotten
Board like the Board of Tax Commits
sioners should have ever caused any
words between Justice Davis and Collec-
Tor O'Neill. What does Johnny German
know about valuationss What does
John Prigge know? All three men, in
quickly as possible. They have
caused more trouble than all other
officials put together, and it is just be-
:ause they don't know anything about
a the werk they -ttre supposed be dp.-THE
JERSEY CITY NEWS showed what a rotten
by its omissions and values, was enough
to condemn them. Their incompetency
was discovered a short time after they
commenced making their assessments.
rhe work was badly done. and am glad
that County Clerk Mclaughlin has de-
termined to create ~ Board Of Appeals.
! have heard it stated by responsible per-
sons, too, that Mr.. Mclaughlin wants
tile present Board knocked out, and
hope he will knock it out.
It It. wi viii n.rtD be "a "a good odoa thing thing
for the people. Johnny German has the
swelled head. Justice Davis is behind
him, as everybody knows. and he has
made him too fast. German knows it
all, he thinks, but IL am not mistaken
be will learn IN short order that he Is not
ln it. He knows so much that he knows
nothing. Jimmy Connolly, the clerk Of
that Board, knows more about valuations
than all three members put together,
want to see that Board knocked out and
competent men appointed"
COLLECTOR O'NEILLs VIEWS.
City Collector O'Neill was not disposed
to discuss the matter when first met
him, but he finally sald:-
II am with County Clerk Mclaughlin
in this matter. l have nothing to say
against the Tax Commissioners, but eau
. say truthfully that they do not
hear one-Quarter of the complaints that
do in my capacity as collector. People pay
their taxes under protest rather than lose
the rebate. Ii a person will LOOK into this
whole business the great difficulty
will show itself on the face in
these assessments. When they complete
their work they make an affidavit that
the valuations are correct, to the best of
their knowledge and belief. That part
of it Is all right. but when appeals
come In another affidavit shows itself
10 Aff. l~at 20 kha haef Df ,Ak
Knowledge and belief a reduction of $500
or 81 900 should be made. What q pecu-
liar light it places them in. That it makes
their actions Inconsistent Is an assured
fact. This continued nowl from taxpay-
ers will have a good effect, and think
that bill creating q Board of Appeals is
just what is needed. That will give every
person an equal opportunity TO be heard,
and If bill providing for the creation OF
such Board is presented, will support
II, because / believe 1t will be for the pest
interests of the taxpayers and the Demo
cratic party"
Johnny German is tine target for nearly
every politician, and upon his shoulders
the blame for the present difficulties is
thrown. One and all say that be will
not listen to his friends. but in that pig
headed manner, which is one of mis- chief
characteristics, he mas plunged into mat
ters which were entirely too much for
him.
The intimate friends of County Clerk
Mclaughlin say that he is determinedsto
have Germans scalp and the prospects
are that he will get1t, as Justice Davis
is almost alone in his fight for German.
JUSTICE DAVIS WILL HELP.
tDo you favor the passage OF a bill pro-
vidipg for the appointment of a Board of
Appeals?" / asked Justice Davis.
II really have given the matter no
thought" he replied.
"You know that Mr. Mclaughlin is out
for such BILL"
"Weil, if Mr. Mclaughlin favors such
a bill, guess he will get it, l am quite
sure l do not care how the legisla-
tors vote. They can Legislate
every man out of office they want TO and
you can rest assured that it will not
cause any trouble between myself and
Mr.. Mclaughlin. He has been too good
a friend to me for any such move to
cause a rupture in our friendship.
II never knew man who owned dis
trict, and never held more thans one
political position at time in my
life. do not believe that tine
present Tax Commissioners are incon-
petent. One thing must be remembered
and that is this: the tax budget
which was made up for this year was
given to the Tax Commissioners. 1t was
their duty to raise the sum of money re-
Quired and they did it. The Increase was