The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-08-19
THURSDAY. AUGUST 10, 1897.
This paper is Democratic in principles
and is Independent in ats r.eacs on all local
nafestions.


Mayor Hoos' strong letter to the Beard
of Finance, which appears in full in our
news columns today. once more brings
the controversy back to the same old
bedrock. We do not collect. our taxes.
We borrow on them. Then we borrow
on them again. We place in the hands
of our creditors one, two or three series
of securities. all based upon the same
property and all purporting to be pay
able out of taxes which experience shows
to be uncolleetable under our present
system. OF course we are constantly
rolling up new debt by this process, and
we will keep on doing so until we are
nj if there is not a reform
Where. then, is the reform to come
from? We say it is not to come from
any reduction in the budget because it
is not easy to see how any reduction
worth considering can be made at this
time. All the reductions proposed by Mr.
Midiige-al sufficiently warranted in
themselves-weuld not together have re-
duced the tax rate twenty-five cents on
the thousand dollars. We have little
faith in the proposal to cut salaries be-
low the legal limit, and, even if it were
nut in practice, as it certainly could not
be extended to policemen. firemens teach
ers, unfonized tradesmen, day laborers
or the members of the municipal boards,
the economy would be inconsiderable.
The city has grown big and rich. 1t
has become accustomed to the facilities
of modern municipal life, and we do not
think its expenditures can be success
faily reduced.
The secret of reform is in the admin
istration of the taxation laws. We have
of late repeatedly voiced the demand of
the public that the taxes be more effi-
GENTLY collected. Mayor Hoos adds that
the assessment system is in need OF re-
suggestion. The Board of Finance re-
Gently asserted that the increase in the
assessment of real estate in five years
was only five million dollars, although
the Building Inspectors books showed
over nine millions Of new structures.
Here is the starting point for a serious
inquiry. What has become of the other
four millions? Is that vast sum offset
by property bought by the railroads and
otherwise withdrawn from the tax levy,
or nave the Tax Commissioners neglected
to assess all or part of it? 1t is also
in order to ask whether with the conn
pIetion Of the City Hall; the Boulevard
and the vIaduct, the opening up of the
remote parts of the city by the trolley
lines, and the completion of miles upon
miles of sewers and improved streets,
there has been no aeeretien of value in
the land itself? We believe that if the
tax books were critically examined it
would be found hi a very considerable
amount of real estate in the city was
getting off very easily, and that enough
unassessed value could be- found in pay
ing property to Offset every dollar of
dead wood upon the books, and perhaps
to raise the total a couple of millions TO
boot.
OF course the personal tax assessment
is ludierous in the last degree. The
amount in the nefghborhood of eight
million dollars may be regarded as from
half to two-thirds of what might b.
assessed without resorting to extremes,
If the Tax Commissioners even pretended
to do their duty. An examination of the
personal tax lists would furnish the pub
The names OF the men who are not on it
would make up a good directory Of the
citizens in fair circumstances, while the
assessments levied against the few whose
names are on the list would give addi-
tional cause for amusement.
Now the controversy between Mayor
Ho6ss and the F~inancfers has gone about
as far as decorum, and regard for the
citygs welfare, will permit. All that can
be usefully said, is said. It has not been
kanfruitful. 1t has concentrated the pub
mind upon our financial system. 1t
brought the ulcer in the civic body |
Arly to light. Let us have an effort
Improvement at once.
gor Hoos says he proposes TO at
the evils of the assessment plan.
will now be fastened On him to
keep his promise. In addition,
Rnd the Board Of Finance see if
pot some way by which they
Aize the office Of the Collector
10 reasonable activity.
Jon paid to his boom by h
d general car hardly III