Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1891-07-02
225A,.
FOR EQUAL TAXATION.
THE OBJECT OF THE BOARB
APPOINTED BY THE GOV
ERNOR.
The Meeting on Thursday HagkskF
Important TO the Township
and Ward Assessors.

and Ward Assessors,
The State Board of Taxation met af
the tHouseThnrsday morning, and
a number of the local Assessors of ths'
county were present. The Board is
A. Fl. Slape, 9. G. Black and Theo. p,
Hopler. The meeting was called t6
order by Albert Fl. Slape. He ss&ed
to the Assessors that the Board Was
present to carry out the section of the
law which was passed by the LegislR-
ture last winter.
Charles G. Black then announced
that the Board was present to looka
into the methods adopted by the local
Assessors
E r. ParviD, assessor from Deer
field township, was called and said
that his township was almost entirely.
agricultural. The total value of rea3
estate WAS $e6S,OOO and personal.
1892, 900. Farm land was valued at SSS
per acre. He did not assess the full
value, taking about four.ffths. To
Mr.. Parvin, Mr.. Black said that whena
a man claimed he had creditors and
claimed exemption, ne should be pay
ticular in notifying the assessor in the
township in which the creditors live
if in this county. If in other conn
ties, the State Board should be notified
He also said the property should be
assessed at its true value. Mr.. Back
further said that Cumberland county
received from the school fund, some
thing like $1,000 and other counties,
were complaining AID the Board de-
sired to know if there was any reason
why this should be. In answer to a
question by Nj Parvin, MIR. Black
said that ail buildings in the course
of construction should 'be assessed as
found on tue 20sh of May as an unfin-
ished building.
Henry Reeves of Maurice River, said
this was his first year as assessor. The
township was largely agricultural
There were several towns in the town
ship. The principal industries were
farming and oysteriug. The total
valuation of real estate was between
$500, 600 and 100000, Oyster beds ne
said were not assessed The highest
valuation per acre is SIS. Mr. Reeves
always endeavored to arrive at true
value.
During the shipping season the
average shipment of oysters from this
township were from one to six car
loads per day. The value of the oyster
industry in the county will aggregate
more than million of dollars.
Harry Mayhem, of Commercial, is
now 10 his first year as Assessor. The
majority of capital in the oyster in
dustry was local TIE township was
agricultural. M. Sack instructed
Mr.. Mayhem to adhere to the rnfe ~
laid down as to assessing to the fnl|
value and the affidavit OF all exemp-
tions.
G G. Foster, of Lawrence, has bseS
Assessor two years. There are seMS
40 or so boats in his township. Ths
total valuation of real estate is aboDt
$400, and the personal, $3.50. 00fa'
His custom Is to assess at true vain
alton. The capital invested in oYst En-
beds was not assessed. This was oW.-
ing to the uncertainty of the valuation
of the beds and the oysters planted,
Mr.. Foster said that it was safe to say
that there was over $1,0000OO invested
in the oyster business in the county.
Mr.. Black said that if q creditor iS' n
nonresident of the State, there can be
no exemption for the debtor.
Harris Ogden, of Fairfield, was in -
terrogated. The real estate was valued
at $476, 900 and the personal, $l9S, S,SOa
At this point general debate followed
on how to fix true value. Mr.. Beach
said that an assessor must have sound
Judgement and exercise that Judge
ment In the assessment. Mr.. Ogden
said that he had been an assessor. for.
30 years and knew his township. He
was asked his definition of true value
He said that when he goes to q farm
and finds Improvement going on, he
raises little in his assessment. He.
finds another farm running down and
the earning valuation lower, then the
assessment Is lowered.
j. N. Glaspell, of Greenwich, saidhe-
had been an assessor for two years..
The value of real estate was $4S4, ,AS9.
and personal, $14S,5l4 He assessed at
true value. The highest valuation
was $65 per acre, and the lowest, SO,
Mr.. Black, who did most of the talk--
ing for the Board, explained that the
object in the creation of the Board
was to investigate the methods OF az
sessing and learn why 1t was thass
there was not more equal taxation,
tContinued on Fourth pageo