The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-12-24
THREATENING EVIL.
The Amount Of Exemptions
From Taxation Con-
stantly Growing
Larger.
oNE-THiRD MORE THIS YEAR.
subterfuges Resorted to by Peo-
pie to Escape Their Obliga-
ions-Hudson County
Statistics.
oNE-THIRD MORE THIS YEAR.
Special to ths Jerseu c:tg Nears.


reports which have been prepared by the
various State Boards, covering their
work for the fiscal year of 1895. none
will appeal more strongly to the tax
payer than that of the State Board of
Taxation. The report this year will be
of more than usual interest on account
of recommendation and suggestions
made to the board by experts in muillci-
pal taxation from all parts of the State,
as well as on account of the valuable
statistics which it contains. Nothing in
the report contained perhaps will awaken
more interest than that portion which
deals with the exemptions from taxation.
These exemptions this year amount to
$50, ,S64, ,564, out of a total taxable valua-
tion of s1,O9S. ISL. .301.
Previous to the creation of the State
Board of Tavation there had been a
growing and continued dissatisfaction
among thoughtful students and taxpay-
ers with this long list of exemptions
In some taxing districts it makes the
taxes of those who own taxable property
seem unnecessarily large and created a
great deal of dissatisfaction. In some
taxing districts it even gave rise to
abuses A good example of that is fur
nished by the little borough of Stockton,
Camden county, which does not contain
over 1900 votes. In this small munich
pality they have no less than six fire
companies, and almost every taxpayer in
the place is a fireman and entitled to
an exemption of $500, SO that the exemp-
tions for veterans, firemen and militia
men amount to $4,000 out of a total tax
able valuation of s200O,O00. That brings
the rate up to 2SS. which, with one ex-
ception, is the largest in the county.
One of the first things the State Board
of Taxation did, in 1891, when 1t came
into existence, was to call the attention
of the Legislature to this large class
of property which was exempt from tax
alton. Up to that time no law had been
enacted providing for the ascertaining of
the valuation of exempt property. A
law was passed that year. however, for
that purpose. but for the first two years
the work was not Systematically accom-
plished, and the amount was estimated to
be STE, ,oo0,o 600 In 1892 it was placed at
about the same figure.
In 1898 more systematic attempt was
made, with this result
Deduction of debts under act
of April II, 1866 ...-..-...-... $38, LIS, BOD
by the local assessors, under
act of March 19, 1891, viz
ages. ......... s22,ooo,ooo
Colleges and semfna-
r1es 6,o00,o00
Cemeteries 1d,0oo,ooo
Public property -..... 12,OO0,oO0
Exemption of veterans, Ma
etc, estimated :. ....s...... 5000, 900.
Total .... s1OS, ,243. $50
Frequent appeals to the Legislature on
this subject brought forth the law of
May 16, 1894, which provided:-."That the
following persons and property shall be
exempt from taxation, namely: a. The
property and the bonds and other securi-
ties of the United States, and the bonds
and securities of this State which are
by law exempt from taxation, the prop
erty of the counties, townships, cities
and boroughs of this State, and stocks
and other personal estate owned by citi-
zens of this State situate and being out
of this State, upon which taxes shall
have been actually assessed and paid
within twelve months next before the day
prescribed by law for commencing the
assessment CID All colleges, academies
on. seminaries of learning, public libra
ries. schoolhouses, buildings erected and
as asylums or schools for the care, nur-
ture, maintenance and education of fee
ble-minded or idiotic persons or children,
provided such institutions are duly in
corporated under the laws of this State
and the land whereon the same are sit
uate necessary to the fair use and en-
joyment thereof, not exceeding five acres
for each one, the furniture thereof and
the personal property used therein. the
endowment or fund Of any religious So
ciety college, academy, seminary of
learning public library or institution for
feeble-minded persons as aforesaid; pro-
yided, that no building so used which
may be rented for such purposes and
rent received by the owner therefor shall
be exempted; the stock of any corpora
tion of this State which, by charter or
other contract with this State, is ex-
pressly exempted from taxation, the
stock of any corporation of this State
the capital whereof is by this act made
taxable to and against said corporation,
pews in churches. graveyards not ex-
ceeding ten acres of ground, cemeteries
and all buildings erected thereon, and
all buildings used exclusively for char
liable purposes, with the land whereon
the same are erected and which may be
necessary for the fair enjoyment there
of, and the furniture and personal prop
erty used therein, the funds of all char
liable institutions and associations col
lected and held exclusively for the sick
or disabled members thereof, or for the
widows of deceased members or for the
education, support and maintenance of
deceased members
In 1884 the first systematic classifica-
tion was made of the exempt property,
and it was returned by counties att
Atlantic :. ........-... 1888, $40
Bergen. :. ...... ...... ], ,903. 494
burlington zz13,45t
Camden. :. -. ..,..A.... 1852, ,595
Cape May. s.... ..s... 2S9, ,352
Cumberland. .. :. 1457, ,679
Essex. :. .. .............. 26 6914,050
Gloucester S70,310
Hudson.- =. H. 229,392
Hunterdon.... :. ......... 1,196, $50
Mercdr.. :. ........s... 49,. 88S0,510
Middlesex ..s.... 2.733, ,032s
Monmouth 49,. .... :. 3,210,948
Morris ....... ,008
T,rea n s.....5s..ss... -. .... All 1876
3 ssaic 3,759, ,255
ssaien9 a3S, 800
Somerset -. 785, ,z29
Sn,sscx -. 554,597
Union. 1884, $40