The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-06-10
TAXING PERSONALITY.
The Big Enterprise of the
City Commissioners to
Equa1ize Public
Burdens.
ABSURDLY Low ASSESSMENT.
At Least Three Millions to be
Added This Year-A Task
That Takes Time.

AT the organization NEE ting of the
Taxes held last Monday afternoon in the
court house, several exceedingly impor-
tant matters which escaped attention at
that time were entered on the minute
book of Clerk Connally. The matter re-
ferred to reflect directly great credit upon
the Jersey City Tax Commissioners.
The fact is conceded by everyone con-
versant with the collection of personal
taxes in surrounding cities. that this city
has been at great losses through incom-
plete assessment. The local Commissions
ers are determined that this shall be
remedied and that every individual own
ing personal property shall contribute his
mite toward the support of the city gov
ernment. The fact that blanks have
been sent out with view 70 asceRtatnina
every PERSONS personal property has
heretofore been told in THE NEwS. The
work is progressing slowly. and although
the Commissioners anticipate making a
fair showing in the next tax levy, they
say that it will require careful ana hard
work for the two succeeding years at
least to equalize the levying of personal
taxation.
TIME WANTED.
Few people comprehend the magnitude
of this task, but the Commissioners have
been compelled to ask the County Board
for an extension of time. In doing SO
they presented the following resolution
adopted by their board May 2S:-
Whereas This Board has undertaken thor
ough revision of the assessment of the real and
personal property in this city for the purpose Of
taxation, which 1t will not be able, to complete
until about the nineteenth day Of July next,
when it win be able to present to the County
Board of Equalization a full and complete re-
turn, and
whereas. One of the objects of said revision Is
to compel the payment by owners of personal
property, which has hitherto escaped taxation,
of their fair share of the burdens of city and
county government, and to that end notices for
its discovery are being served upon. sach owners
of personal property as rapidly as their names
can be ascertained.
Resolved, That the President of this Board be
directed to request the County Board for the
Equalization of Taxes to grant an extension Of
wherein this Board may file the abstract Of rata
bles for Jersey City with said County Board OF
Equalization.
The members of the County Board con-
sfdered the request and finally concluded
to extend the time until July 10. The az
sessments levied in all other townships in
outlying districts must be filed with the
Board not later than June 20.
Following upon the presentation of the
| reports of the various assessurs WIFI come
| the equalizing of the taxes and it n pretty
| Generaily understood that Jersey City's
share Of the county burden will be re-
| duced and that of the outlying districts
| increased in the interests of equality and
| justice to all concerned.
RIDICULOUSLY LOW.
The hardest work the local assessors are
| experiencing is in bringing this city's per-
sonal tax up to a respectable and fair
standard. The following table VIII show
! how ridioplously low the personal tag has
| been in the past and the result Of the
present Commissioners efforts to place
| il Mt a reasons able figure