The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-10

State loans to sinking fund. 8.400,W
s14. sol %
Balance In bank Oct. 81,
lS9s. LOLA q
Taxation.
The state board of taxation was formed
under the provisions of an act passed in
1891 Up L. 1891, page 1881. The act pro-
vided forthe appointment of three commits
s%ioners, and Albert H. Shape, Theodore P.
Hopler and Charles C. Black were APP
| pointed, and are still acting. The board
was created to deal with the inequalities of
taxation in different parts of the state in
| order to e~qualize these burdens. The farm
ers of the state, individually in many cases,
| and through the state board of agriculture
| and other organized associations represent
ing this industry, favored some legislation
shich would give them relief.
There was no legal machinery in exist
ence which would remedS the injustice of
which they complained. The county boards
of equalization of taxation were powerless
to do it; the courts under the writ of GER
| tiorari were unable to deal with the ques-
ton so as to equalize the taxes; their func-
ions were limited to correcting unfair as
easements.
The board made its first report to the
legislature in January, 1892, and although
it had only been organized nine months 1t
had revised some gross valuations in GER
tain counties in the state and had corrected
certain individual assessments; it had for
INFLATED rules for the government of assess
ors and had been of great practical benefit
by it's patience, care, industry and tact in
the performance of it's onerous and oft
times unpleasant duties. The board had
won the approval of the intelligent and rep
resentative farmers of the state. for whose
benefit it had been especially established.
The board has now entered upon the Sec
ond year of its existence, n the members
lave continued in the faithful perform
ance of their duties. They have popular
lied the board by having sessions in differ
ent parts of the state for the benefit OF the
people in the various localities, so as to
save them the expense of a journey the
capital.
The board has been in session ifty-eight
days; it has heard and decided 203 cases on
appeal; it has formulated new rules, and
the members lave performed their duties
so effectively that they have received the
well earned Communications of the state
board of agriculture, as will be seen by the
report OF It's president.
The entire yearly expenses of the board
have been $40, 17S. "a, while the rules it has
laid down for the assessors and its watch
fl care in enforcing the sarne have caused
an increase in the list of ratables returned
by the assessors in 1891 of $51, 340,329 and
in 1892 of s41, 3l4,66s.
The report of the board contains certain
recommendations suggesting new legisla-
g. - - . ,%4a~kion ~ xour
body to the views as expressed therein, and
also to those stated in the previous report
and which are referred to in my message Of
1892.
The report will be presented to the legis-
lature under the provisions Of the act Great
ing the board.
The main recommendations made by the
board are as follows:
First-Compelling assessors to obey the
law by penalties of removal and forfeiture
with increased pay of assessors in town
ships under ~, 600 inhabitants.
Secondly making uniform in all tax
ing districts the time for assessment, and
it's completion. the collection of taxes, and
lien on the property, and giving each tax
I payer ample opportunity to see how the
assessments are made, for the purposes of
1uTulSuluB SflQCGCC AVA 1a GRRCoA LA oSO
of unjust taxation.
Misunderstanding the law covering ex-
emptions, and limiting the exemptions to
those founded upon good reasons and pub
lie policy.
Fourth-Fixing a tax rate which shall
not be exceeded in any taxing district.
Fifth-Requiring all assessments on
lands and improvements to be made sepa-
rately In municipalities.
~Sixth-Giving the state board Of taxation
power to increase individual assessments.
Seventh - Requiring all incorporated
companies in the state, on demand, to file
with the state board of taxation a list of
their shareholders, with the addresses, and
requiring the said corporations to pay the
tax on such shares as are held by nom
residents of the state of New Jersey, thus
increasing the amount of tax derived from
invisible personal property.
~Eighth-That there should be no deduc-
ton for individual debts, except from the
assessed value of personal property.
Taxable and Exempt Property in the State.
In connection with the subject of taxa
ton, it is interesting to consider the value
of property in this state, and the extent of
exemptions under existing laws, and the
increase of ratables since 1879, and the
wonderful increase during the past three
years. The total assessed valuation of
property in the state subject to taxation is
as follows:
Value of railroad and canal prop
erty in 1885,. as............. $216,249,782 W
Other classes of property in 1852
as appears by the return of rata
bles in the comptroller's office. 742, 759,062 so
Total. S959, 0OS, S64 50
To ascertain the total real and personal
property in the state we must add to the
above: ssse4tsF
First-The deduction for debts
made from the valuation of the
real and personal estate of in
dividuals by local assessors un-
der section 20 of the act OF
April II, 1866, amounting to-. SA1 100000 90
~Becond-The amount returned
by local assessors of exempt
real estate, as required to be
valued by the local assessors
under section 4 of the act Of
March 10, 1S91-viz:
churches. ......... s2o,00O,oO0 90
Public school prop
erty. .,....-...... S,821 ,l5l w
Colleges and SEM
inaries. e.OOo.O0o 90