The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-05-31
A TAX ROAD TO RUIN.
WanSer'S Men On a Still
Hunt For Municipal
Bankruptcy.
POSSIBLE LOSS OF $4,000.
Either That or There Must BE Tn
lust Discrimination Based on
P%artisanship and Vote
Making.

corporation? Is q question that Is puZ-
sling and to no mean extent worrying the
Tax Commissioners. members OF the
Board of Finance and city and county
officials in general. The cause which
gives rise to the above question and to
which the present uneasiness is directly
attributable is the action of Mayor Wan
Ber's partisan board for the revision of
taXes as levied by a Democratic Board.
On assessments levied by Tax Commis-
sioner German. aggregating $33S O0O. re-
auctions to the tune of $42. 24O, were made.
As shown in THE Jersey CITY NEWS OF
Friday last, the percentage of reductions
exceeds twelve and a half per cent. which
distinctly means u reduction of one eighth
of the total assessment. This enormous
and outrageous reduction which is said to
be in the line of political ammunition, Is
the cause for the alarm referred to. :.
Taking as a basis a twelve and q half
per cent. reduction on the amount levied,
~inanciers sny:-'Jersey City will become
bankrupt; 1t is an utter impossiDliity to
save her,"
The total amount of the last official as
on real estate and personal
property was $S4, 70S, 795. Should Mayor
WaIser's Board of Revision follow out
the course pursued by them thus far, the
assessment would be reduced more than
Sl0,0 00, 900.
One of the members of the Board of Re-
vision, upon being shown that they were
endangering the city's financial welfare.
remarked III a careless manner:-"I is
not likely that we will continue making
such large reductions"
Even ii this be SO, the question has been
raised already by taxpayers:-"If some
property owners are to have their assess
ments reduced oue-eighth, we are entitled
20 similar consideration. If unjust dis
ordinations are to be made we want to
r--.- nn--A a. C-s-, - o D.
vision will have their hands full is a fact
not disputed by anyone. Should the one
eighlh reduction scheme be continued, q
reduction of $10.0 600 900 must follow,
which means. roughly estimated a loss 10
The CITY of over $500. 000."
BANKRUPTCY FoRESHADOWED.
l have asked many officials what Jer-
sey City would do if deprived Of $500. 600
Mt this time, ana in every instance the re-
ply was 'Bunkruptcy." Rumor had it
yesterday thur Mayor Wanser had con-
ferred with his constituents. the Commits
sioners Of Appeals, and had directed them
to exercise mora discretion in their de-
liberations as a Board Of Appeals.
The fact that Tax Commissioner German
had submitted to the Board of Appeals
f..cts aud figures which proved conclus-
sively that his assessments were levied
directly upon Il strictly nonpnrtisan basis
and solely upon true values, both selling
and bid, which information was disre-
garded aud dubbed useless, has caused
much unfavorable
i Interviewed Tax Commissioner Cor
man Oh the outlook il the present whole
sale slaughter of assessments continues,
and he sald:-"Jersey City cannot stand
such sweeping reductions. By reducing
the assessment on-eighth, thereby depriv-
ing the Finance Board of S3C. 0C0 with
which to meet the demands of the various
Boards under the city government means,
if not bankruptcy, that her credit will
sink to tho lowest level it has ever
reached Idefy contradiction when / say
that the assessments levied ny me We're
equal, just and fair. Upon heavy
paying property, upon all aluable prop
priy fair assessments were placed. Upon
cheap property and upon property from
which little revenue is derived much
lower assessments were levied, but on the
whole 1 maintain that the assessments
cannot be letter equalized. A general
reduction of twelve and Il half per cent.
means fiue ncial wreck and ruin"
Mayor Wanser savs:-"I intend reduc-
ing the running expenses of the city gov
ernment $500. 900.
mayor Wahser's intentions may be
very good" said a Republican yesterday,
but how is he going to accomplish this
end? He can not do 1t, and he may as
well not try"
REPUBLICAN SUGGESTION.
Another gentleman said:-'If Mayor
Wanser wants to accomplish anything
why doesn't he go about it in a sys-
the tax assessments where they are, at Il
fair figure, as / believe them 10 be, and
then make the reduction in the expense
nf running the govern ;nent. if possible.
If the Board of appeals is going to reduce
the assessments twelve and q half per
cent, naturally the tax rate must go up.
Consequently. if the tax rate goes up, and
1t certainly cannot be reduced. what good
is Wanser going TO accomplish by at
tempting to lower the expense of the
city? Mayor Wanser may try to do some
thing, but for every step he advances his
Board of appeals drags him back two.
What will the end bef l believe the as
are levied on a fair and just
basis, and that they should remain as
they are. Politics should not be permit
led TO enter into the levying or reduction
of taxes. Let Mayor Wanser's Board of
Appeals make SO many reductions that
the tax rate will be increased and then
await Developments"
Throwing aside the prospects, of a crash
the unjust determinations made by the
Board OF Appeals is plainly apparent.
This assertion Is backed up by figures OBJ
. tanned from the office of the Tax Com
~missioners. Patrick McArdle's property
at No. Z Exchange place, Is assessed
under the reduction at S13. 000. A stand
ing offer of $50, 900 for the property is re-
~ WE II o1So1Nh FoAoNe "AS1 ~
I frasted with the actual value. is about
ABB per cent. This is considered an out
! rageously low assessment by disinterested
property owners.
WHY 1T is DONE.
The fact that Mr.. McArdle is President
of the Liquor Dealers Association is
looked upon as the direct cause for the
remarkably low assessment.
Towar & Bentley's property. at No. SIS
Montgomery street. is valued at S25, 900.
1t is assessed for SIT. 600, or about .6S per
cent. of it's value. Charles IL. Laughs
property, Mt No. Is Newark avenue. is
valued ar $50. 900. 1t is assessed for Sl7.-
900. or .565 ,,er cant. of its value. Lang is II
nephew of Frank Gallery and a %pronouDce d
Financial supporter of Mr.. Wanser.
P trick n. Nugeut's property, at Nos. 81
nd 20 Newark avenue, is valued at q low
izure when $50. COO is actually place'i