The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-07-26
INDICq THE ASSESSORS.
Shameful Frauds in the Ho-
boken and North Town
Tax Values.
QUEER MR.. CURRY AGAIN.
The Great Steamship Companies
Place MI. Dollard in Very
Unpleasant Fix.
QUEER MR.. CURRY AGAIN

The County Board for the Equalization
of Taxes held regular meeting yester-
day and received a number of complaints
Owing to the inability of President Van
Reipen to be present. Commissioner
Morgan presided. A few days ago ex-
Judge Abel I. Smith. of Hoboken, ap-
peared before the Board as counsel for
the Cassett estate in Union Township
The estate had been assessed $46. 900,
which the lawyer insisted was great
deal too much. Assessor Thomas T..
Curry was notified to give the Commis-
sioners an explanation, aud in response
to this direction. the Assessor yesterday
sent brief note to the Board informing
it that he had made an error, that
he had assessed pthe Cassett estate
at too low a value. He said $4,000
should be added to tine value. making it
s58,000 The property contains thirty
acres. The Commissioners were by no
means pleased with Mr. Curry's action
in sending the communication instead Of
appearing before them in person and the
Clerk was directed TO peremptorily notify
Curry that he must attend the next
meeting and bring his field books with
him for inspection.
Mrs. Henry Matthew, of No. 1856 Bloom
field street. Hoboken, wrote the Com
missioners to the effect that her husband
had died and she wanted the 81 poll tax
cancelled. The letter was referred to
Assessor Dollard
WEST HoBoKEN KICKERs.
McEwan q McEwan, counsel for the
West Hoboken kicker5 who desire to es-
cape paying their just proportion of the
expenses of the county government, aud
W ho tha n icrht bofore hoJd nj ipdirrntjop
meeting TO protest against the increased
valuation of the township, stated the OBJ
Jections of the taxpayers to the Commits
sioners. The lawyers insisted that the
township had lost in valuation during the
last year because of the failure Of the
North Hudson County Railway Company
to build the contemplated elevated rail-
road throughout it to Union Hill.
Property advanced in value when the
project seemed probable, but since the
company refused to build the railroad the
valuations rapidly decreased. The law
yers insisted that the valuations should
not be placed at q higher rate than they
were last year. AS an example of the in
creased assessments they said three lots
$4,000, and the present valuation
had been placed at S2,500. Three-fiiths
of q lot was assessed in 1891 for $500, and
the present year for 800. One and one
half lots had been in 1891 assessed For
81. 100, but this year were increased to
1900 These increases were respectively
25, 40 and Sc 8 per cent on the valuations.
McEwan & McEwau claimed that such
increases were unjust. The Board did
not give any outward and visible sign
that it sympathized with McEwan & Nc
Evan in their efforts to shirk RESPONSE
hility, and it Is more than doubtful if the
West Roboken kickers will accomplish
anything by their objection.
HOW DoLLARD DOES II.
Some of the peculiar methods of Assess
essor Dollard of Hoboken were again
yesterday prominently hrough to the
notice of the Commissioners, aud the evi-
dent discrimination by Dollard In making
assessments.wass so plain thathe bowed bis
head and gazed speachless. at the floor.
1he exposures were made by the HAM
burg-Amerlcan Packet Co, the Ocean
Steamship Co. of Savannah. the North
American Lloyd Steamship Co. These
Companies said that they made no COM
paint against the valuations OF their own
property. but they did seriously object to
the Determinations that had been made
The representative of the Hamburg line
said the company's property IN 1890 was
assessed $261 ,000; in 1891, $271 900, and In
1892. s367 600. The valuations of the
Ocean Steamship Company for 1890 were
s232, 600; 1891, S240, 900, aud 1892, $297, 900.
The North American Lloyd Company
was assessed In 1890, 1901, 800; in 1891.
1922 200, ana in 1899. $296 000.
The companies said that If this rate OF
increase was general, no complaint would
be made by then; but they ihsisted that
it was not general. particularly on the
water front of River street, where their
property lies. TO prove this, it wa.
shown TO the Commissioners that the
valuation Of adjoining property, owned
| by Campbell & Co.. and used as a store
and warehouse, had not been increased
| this year; that the property of Mrs NJ. B
Stevens, assessed at 1882, 900 in 1890, was
not increased in 1891 or 1892; that prop
erty on Hudson street, 40 feet south ot
Eleventh street. was valued at Sl00, 600 IL
| 1890. and the assessment has never beer
| increased, aud that property just opposite
| the steamship companies on River street
at No. 66, was assessed in 1891 at S.. 800
and in 1892 reduced to 5000. No. 6S
| River street. assessed in 1851 at $S, 700
was reduced 1892 to 81, 100; No. 10 River
| street, assessed in 1891 at $500, reduced
| in 1892 to 81, 100; No. 70 River street. as
| sessed at 80, 100, reduced in 1892 to 81, 100
When the Commissioners were put intt
possession of these facts they sternly
| asked Assessor Dollard If he had any re
| marks to make, and were told no. ThC
| Commissioners then referred the matter
| to him and he will make an explanation
OTHER COMPLAINTS.
! Eliza B. Hardenbergh, of North Ber
| gen, appealed from q valuation of $1,20t
ON her real estate, and G. Garden. of the
same town. appealed from valuation or
| real property of 81, 500.
| L. L. Rugge, of No. 33l Garden street
| Hoboken, appealed from valuation o
| $4,000 on his property there, and H. L
| Rugge of No. 1856 Garden street, Hobo
ken, appealed from a valuation OF s. eco
| The appeals were referred to the assessor,
| OF the respective districts.
| Rev. Father Corrigan presented OBJ
| jections to the assessment Of sc, 900 on tn,
| Catholic Rectory at No. 4l2 Willow
| avenue, Hoboken, which was also referr
| ed to Dollard.
| Larry Sutton, the Court House gardene
! objected to the valuation Of $500 which
was placed on his property iu 1891, ant
asked to have it reduced to $500.
| All changes in the assessors reports
must be reported by tomorrow.
| RECEIVER NAMED.
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