The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-15
AGAINST THE DOG TAX.
Corporation Counsel Blair's
Opinion to the Aldermen
Conflict With the
Health Board.

Corporation Counsel Blair sent an opin-
ion to the Board of Aldermen last night,
describing how the much talked of dog
tax of 81 should be collected. AT the
same time he declares that the exercise
of a little sense in the imposition and
collection Of the above tax is desirable.
Among other things he writes:-
"The resolution passed by the Board
CT Aldermen en- the SOth of April last,
fixing a license fee upon dogs, is based
upon the law of 1883, page 1928. The law
makes it lawful for the Board of Alder
men on or before May l. in each year,
to fix by resolution an annua license fee
to be paid by the owner Of every dog
within the city. The amount of the fee
when so fixed shall be assessed ana col
lected at the am time and the same
manner as other taxes are TO be assess
ed and collected; that is, assessed in
the spring and collected in the fall, or
later. These license fees. when collect
ed, are to be applied to the payment of
the general expenses of such city. The
act, while it repeats inconsistent acts,
does not, in any way, abridge n other
or greater power that may be possessed
by the governing body OF the city, re-
specting the licensing Of dogs: The at
tempt to assess and collect a license fee
at the same time and the same man
ner as other taxes are assessed and col
lected,' Will prove largely impracticable.
The Tax Commissioners are busy men,
with few facilities and little inclination
the streets with no recognized owner
all these must escape under this resolu-
ticn. The Police Board, as a Board of
Health, is a much more efficient agency
for collecting a license fee of this char
acter, and securing a revenue from this
source. DO not see what authority
you. as City Clerk, have to receive this
license fee. The act requires that it shall
be collected at the same time and in
the same manner as other taxes are col
confirmation of the Tax Commissioners
assessment books by the Board of FL
nance. This license fee goes on the tax
manner. The Board of Aldermen has
no authority to direct the collection of
than that fxed by the act itself. and so
much of the resolution as directs the
payment of these fees to the City, Clerk
within thirty days after May l, 1895, and
without demand, is illegal
Mccarthy, who IS lighting the Board Of
1853 LooiK w ouT 'a Boa Al 5h 81 sa REALrH!
The Aldermen also secured the passage
Of a resolution directing the Corporation
thority the Board Of Health IMPOSES mnas au a
dog tax. The Aldermen insists that the
members of the latter board are liable to
Indictment for Imposing and collecting
Alderman Mccarthy has been informed
that the Tax Commissioners do not want
to impose a dog tax, and City Collector
Smith also objects to collecting it. The
Board of Health collects the tax with.
revenue that makes the Health Depart
ment self-sustaining. In view of all
these facts Alderman Mccarthy wants
chat revenue taken from the Board of
Health. His efforts seem to- be a personal
pursuit. 1t is considered an unpopular
move by property owners, who object to
being assessed to furnish an appropria-
don for the maintenance Of the Health
Department in the event Of removing
the dog tax rayenue