The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-09-09

New York, Sept 9.-Grover Cleveland
lately President of the United States
has made return of his real and personal
property to the board Of assessors of Mer-
which have aroused curiosity and coru-
ment.
The Journal sa ysit is reported dunOfficiafly ;
that the return made by the former Chief
Executive to Jesse Shook. assessor for
the borough OF Princeton, placed the value
of his real and personal estate at about
$f3o.o00 These figures are not official,
but Mr. snook admitted. yesterda y that they
were ''in-exaetly correct"
Mr. Cleveland placed the value OF his
lately acquired homestead at Princeton at
about $4,000. What he really paid for IL
was about S33.5O0- As to his persOnal
estate. AR. Cleveland said that il consisted
mainly of stocks and bonds. which varied
20 much in value at different times as to
rcnsier the placing OF an exact valuation
up,,n them extremely hazardous
In making his return Mr.. Shook was re-
luctaatIy Obliged to admit Mr. Cleveland
neglected to comply with the laws of the
State, which require every taxpayer to I'LL
ouS q blank form or return, and swear be-
fore notary public to the truth OF the
contents of the same.
Instead Of complying with this provision
of the law. Ar Cleveland saw fit to send
in an informal letter TO Assessor Shook
the points specified above. from which
the Cleveland tax return was subsequently,
made out and passed by the board Of
assessors
In OTHER words. Mr.. Cleveland made a
return of the value of his personal prop
erty, which was sworn to as required by
law Assessor Shook insisted yesterday
that everything was all right about the
Cleveland return. When asked whether
Mr. Cleveland had been furnished with a
blank form, Mr. Shook said that he had.
Mr Shook also admitted that 1t was Gus
tumdry foT taxpayers To swear to their
returns. A penalty is prescribed for
failure 10 comply with this regulation as
follows
"Ar persons are by law required to make
affidavit to their asses sment, and any
person refusing to swear or affirm shall be
Princeton is the more astounded at the
low valuation of the former Presidents
estate, because he always was supposed to
he worth million al least. When he left
the White House he was reputed to have
$1,000, 600 at his lack. He was said to
have made vast sums in real estate speeu-
lations both in Washington, New York city
and elsewhere. From Lis speculations In
land at Buzza rd's Pay alone it was said he
had cleared nearly quar- OF million.
Again. he was currently reported to ha We
mace large suThs of money through the
friendship for him of E. C. Benedict, the
Wall street speeulator and banker.
When. twelve years ago last March. Mr..
Cleveland took office as President, he prob
ably did not have $4,000. During the
eight years of his Presidency he drew from
the National Treasury $400, 900. During
the four years he was out of office and en-
gagged in law partnership with Bangs,
Tracy, Stetson & Mcyeagh. lie undoubtedly
earned more than $10o,0 900. Thus, during
those twelve years he earned half million
dollars, Or an average OF nearly $4,000
year.
Everybody who knows of Mr.. Clevc-
lands Washington career knows that he
did not spend 500 900 year, and during
bis residence in this city he lived most
economically, probably not spending more
than $4,000. Net saving for the twelve
years in and out OF office, $500 900.
Mr.. CIeveland's real estate holdings out
of the State Of New Jersey are known to
he very valuable. or his personality it
ha g been said tnathe made q afortune during
the boom of Chicago Gas His holdings
i'm stock and bonds at the time he left the
White House were placed at 81 500 900.