The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-09-01
into consideration the amount the prop

into consideration the amount the prop
erty could earn in rentals
Mr.. Lawrence agreed with the State
Board, and then went on to say
that the local Board should have
the power TO send blanks to each
citizen ahd compel him to fill them
up with statements of his personal pro :
perty. He Thought there was enough
law on the subject If it was properly car
ried out.
LOOKING FOR EFFECTS.
In one or two cases MIR. Lawrence had
gone to the Surrogate's Office to look for
personal property. When he first went
into the Board he was in favor of taxing
the real estate of banks, but was advised
by the Corporation Counsel that this could
not be done. He divided bank stock
holders into three classes; those who re-
side In JERSEY City and are assessed here:
those who reside in the state, but not in
taxing district, yet pay taxes on the
stock in the State, and those who reside
cut of the State. Poll tax was assessed
only against property holders, but Mr..
Lawrence saw no reason why it should
not be assessed against every one and its
collection enforced. He did not think
that one-third of the personal property of
the city was assessed.
Mr.. Black said that in some counties
the proportion was as low as ten per
cent.
Mr.. Lawrence thought law compel
ling citizens to swear to the amount OF
personal property would be obnoxious,
but effective. He thought the valuations
in the Fifth district much higher
than in any other section of the city. He
also thought that the term of the as
SCISSOR should begin January l, and that
the Commissioners of Appeals should
meet before the assessment was con-
firmed. Mr.. Blaok said that the same
suggestion had been made at Elizabeth.
''The Board" Mr.. Lawrence went on to
about May l, and by the first Monday In
June it must appear before the
County Board of Equalization, and re-
turn the amount of ratables. 1t is i'm:
possible to make the assessment In that
time, and an estimate in many cases is
sent In upon which the county rate is
made. 1t often happens that the taxing
Board increases the figures.
KEARNEY'S ASSURANCE.
Mr.. Lawrence thought that all prop
erty should be assessed, as abuses creep
in where there are exemptions. A
church may have, some :. property
which it does not use for church
property, yet IL Is exempt. Mr..
Lawrence instanced cases where men
ions on several pieces of property under
the veteran act Railroads. public build
ings, churches, cemeteries, boule-
wards, parks and county roads
In Mr.. Lawrence's opinion are
the causes which are decreasing tn e
taxable area of Jersey City. At this
point Mr. Lawrence Immediately re
marked that the total valuation of Jersey
City this year was $81 1888. $50, of which
amount s60S3,950 represented personal
property.
Assessor Ellis. of Kearney, which town.
ship has appealed from the order of th 9
Board of Equalization ordering a reassess
ment, said that he had assessed property
at thirty-fve per cent. of It's value. This
somewhat astonished the Board and
they asked Mr.. Ellis il he knew that the
Constitution compelled him to assess
property at its true value.
Mr. Ellis said he had followed the
example set by his predeces sor
who was assessed fifteen years. Mr..
Black informed Mr.. Ellis that the
Board had authority to have the town
ship reassessed, which seems to dispose
of that appeal.
Mr.. Ellis said he had assessed the
Clark's Thread Works at s600.0O0, while
its true value is So. 10000 The assessors
of Harrison and Bayonne were also ex
amined,