The Jersey City news., 1892-03-31
THE RECORD SPEAKS.
Allan McDermott'S Earnest
Effort for City Tax
Reform.
DEFEATED BY VILLINY.
In Which the Minions Of the Dick =
inson-Farrier Ring We're
Most Active.


There was period in the history O
Jersey City when Repnblicanism reigned
rampant.
That portion of the city government
which was closest to the pockets of the
people was controlled by Samuel Dickin-
son. now Postmaster, and one of P.
Farmer Wanser's backer in his hopeless
, fight to occupy the Mayoraty chair of
this city.
The Board of Aldermen by a monster
combination was controlled by Sam
Dickinson, then Comptroller. The control
of the Board of Aldermen gave him the
appointment of the members Of the
Board of Finance and Taxation. and the
latter Board appointed the Tax Asses
sors The result If this combine was
that taxpayers who were antagonistic to
the Dickinson ring were assessed at
enormous rates, while its supporters in
many instances almost entirely escaped
taxation.
The city treasury was being looted by
Dickinson and his gang when Allan l..
McDermott came to the front aud for a
period of sixteen months put check
upon the Dickinson plunderings.
Il believe in and insist upon having
fair distribution of municipal burdens"
said Mr.. McDermott.
Mr.. McDermott then began a rigid in
vestigation into assessors methods of
levying assessments, and at a meeting of
the Board of Finance in April, 1884. when
ha i,rr ha
q most deplorable condition of affairs,
branded the infamous methods exer cised
by Dickinson and his gang and placed
himself before the public as an earnest
ana sincere advocate OF equal and just
taxation.
Mr.. McDermott was urged on by prop
.rty, owners Irrespective of party, and he
continued his good work in the matter of
equal taxation until the evils had been
remedied.
AT the time Mr.. McDermott disclosed
the rotten condition of affairs existing
under Dckinson's rule, all manners and
kinds OF threats We're made against him.
HE should be removed from the Board
of Finance and forever killed politically"
Mr. McDermolt's only reply was, II
will see justice done one and all, and
will not stop this exposure until rem
edy the evil will not sacrifice my prin-
clp.eS IOr any nun OF lHeU. OluCS OT HO
olIice." This was black eye for Dick
inson, but no power could be brought to
bear upon Mr.. McDermott sufficient to
make him alter his plans an iota. For
basis OF his exposure he reviewed the
work of the ASSESSOR for the four years
preceding March 20. 1884
NO RULE OR SYSTEM
"There is room for improvementin In levy
ing our assessments and these improve
ments must be made, said he in the intro
Nk,H .,,,f.
as he found them were merely guess
work. The personal tax throughout the
entire city was TOO low, and work as he
might he WAS compelled to acknowledge
t lat he could not fiud any rule upon which
the assessments had been based.
'lhe assessors have evidently levied the
personal assessments by looking at the
outside of some of our buildings" SAID
he. THE assessors were not aware, 1n
nv judgment, that they were empowered
to see the personal property of every one,
to obtain u fair value of it, and it refusal
were made by any person TO permit an ex-
animation which would lead to the levy
ing of a fair assessment. an assessment
double the estimated value finally obtain
ed, could be levied"
On.one street, MIR. McDermott discov-
cred that property had been assessed
at about forty per cent of its value. on
another, sixty per cent, and on third,
ninety per cent. That unjust discrimina-
tions had been made, was apparent.
''Ihis is II deplorabe condition of af-
fairs" said Mr.. McDermott "ASsessors
are supposed to exercise Judgment in
levying assessments, but it does not fol-
low that the elements OF carelessness,
caprice, fear or favor may govern his de
cision. Good Judgment has not been used
in hundreds of cases."
Mr. McDermott then referred to $50
sales from which the receipts amounted
to S5OS 900. Upon this property an assess
n
of its market value, was levied. This
assessment he considered fair and just.
He compared these with $50 other sales.
the property bringing s925,00 showed an
cent. of the market value, and more than
forty per cent. less than the other cases.
Mr.. McDermott maintained that a gross
injustice was being done and unjust dis
examinations made here. Mr.. McDer-
motifs at ack upon the work of the asses
sors resulted in reform. The public in
general indorsed his action, but by Dick
inson and his gang he was slated for re-
moval from the Office of Finance Commits
sioner
GETTING SQUARE.
He was informed that he had signed
his death warrant by exposing the meth
ods of the assessors and taking the stand
he had. Au attempt WIS made to patch
up the difficulty by seeking MIR. McDer
motifs aid in reappointing a certain tax
assessor who WAS under DIckinson's con-
troll. Mr.. McDermott refused point
blank to identify himself with the gang
and said:-''I v i'll not sacrifice my princt-
pies for any Office" and this is the true
iuwardness of his retirement from the
Board of Finance, as member of which
he haa rescued the city from bankruptcy
ana paced her upon sound financial
foundation.
wANsER's BACKER.
P. Farmer Wanser is backed by Post
master Dickinson, who is SO anxious to
secure his election that he is ready to vio-
/ te tAe laws of the United States by
bringing into play the force of men un-
der his control as Post master.
A Republican who is opposed to Wan
ser because of his LACK of ability to be
the executive head of the city government
and his afliiation with gang of ring
sters who made themselves notorious
and plunged the city into millions of debt
during their short reign, safd:-"I cannot
conscientiousIy give Wanser my support.
He is dent fled too closely with the Far
M