The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-01
COLLECT THE TAXES
Mayor Hoos Serves Notice
On City Collector
Simeon H. Smith.
WILL GO AHEAD TOMORROW
Personal Levy Must Be Paid at Once
Then Real Estate will
Follow.

Mayor Hoos today sent the following
Simeon H. Smith,
1t is my desire that you proceed with
tne coiiection OF the personal taxes and
also to enforce the collection Of the tRxea
due on real estate, to the best Of your
aoiiity. -sA
Collector Smith had not reached his
Office when the Mayors letter was de-
lvered there. His Honor, when spoken
to on the subject, said:-'.From personal
investigation have found that nelghbor-
ing cities collect their taxes on real and
personal property better than we do; that
is they take in larger percentage each
year. For my part, see no reason why
that should be so. We have just as
efficient officials and our method OF max
ing collections is equally good, If follow
ed up closely. Laxity in the collection
of taxes causes trouble, and, as we all
know, necessitates the issue of boads FROM
time to time in anticipation of the coll
lection of taxes In arrears. That sort Of
thing should be avoided as much as pos
sible. and I intend trying to have our
taxes collected up to a higher percent
age than heretofore. Persistency will ac-
complish that end, I believe. Our per-
sonal tax collections are short, indeed,
and some remedy should be provided.
We should collect as great percentage
of personal taxes as other cities.
II hope to see the time when every dol
lar of personal tax levied will be paid.
And while we are urging the collection
of personal taxes, hope to see our taxes
on real estate paid in with promptnass.
Prompt payment of both taxes will result
beneficially to the city. I communicated
with Collector Smith this morning in
friendly way in order to have him go
ahead with the collection of personal
taxes. 1 believe the law concerning the
levy and collection of personal tax 10
good and it should be enforced here the
same as in other cities
AS soon as Collector Smith received the
Mayors letter he went to His Honors
Office and had long talk with him. Ths
Collector explained that he had tried to
enforce the payment of personal taxes,
and had succeeded in gathering in about
$1,000 when Mullins & Co. brought suit to
test the personal tax law. The Collector
also intimated that Mullins & Co. were
willing, he thought, to pay on a $4,000
assessment, but unwilling to submit to q
$4,000 assessment. After his interview
with the Mayor. Collector Smith said
$50 long as the Mayor has urged me to
proceed with the collection of personal
taxes I VIII do so. For my part I pre-
ferred allowing the personal tax matter
to rest until such time as we hear from
the Court on the question Of the constitu-
tionality of the personal tax law.
There are a great many people who
have been assessed for personal property
whose taxes amount to S. so or s12, who
are ready and willing to make settlement.
1t would appear to be somewhat of an in-
justice to compel them to pay at this time
while the big fellows, those whom we ars
after more particularly, are allowed to
escape because one of their number has
seen fit to carry his case into court.
However as the Mayor desires that
proceed I will do so. will lose no time
at all. Tomorrow will commence to send
out notices to delinquents again and just
as soon as City Attorney Douglass re-
turns, which will be in a day or two,
will prosecute those who attempt to avoid
payment.
Il will direct my energies toward the
collection of personal taxes first and
when they are cleared up, as tar as cap
go, will give real estate delinquents q
shaking up.