The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-11-16
Collector Smith Will Re-
sumo His War Against
Delinquent Citi-
Zens.
JOHN MULLINS FRANK VIEWS
A Few Days Grace Will Be Al
lowed and Then Levies Will
Be- Made--The Act Under
Which the City Operates.

City Collector Simeon H. Smith was rub
bing his hands gleefully this morning and
there was distinct I-told-you-so express
sion about his smile. The cause of all
this was the decision of the Court up
holding the personal tax matter.
There wasn't any doubt in my mind,'
he said to a News representative, that
we would VIM
"What are you going to do?" he was
asked.
Going to do? Why, am just going to
peg away and collect the outstanding
taxes with all the vigor and energy pos
sible. OF course l will give the delinquent
ones few days time to come in and pay
up, but failing that then 1 will levy on
their goods and compel them to pay up.
The law, you know, leaves me no alterna-
tive. I would be wanting in my oath to
do my duty if 1 did not
What action those who lost their cases
will take is yet somewhat in doubt. but
not at least so far as Mr.. John Mullins,
the well known furniture dealer, Will
take. That gentleman for many years
promptly paid his personal taxes without
a murmur. 1t was only when he found
that many merchants were not paying
their personal taxes, for various reasons,
that he declined to pay. To a News ;
tax cases We're uppermost in public opin-
ion, he said in his usual frank, straight
forward, honest way
Pay my personal taxes? OF course l
will when others are made to do the
same. My check is ready today if others
are not allowed to escape. | never OBJ
jected to paying my taxes, but no fair
minded man will blame me for refusing
to pay until others are brought up to
the mark. 1 paid for several years when
many never paid cent. Let the Collector
show me that the delinquents are being
made to pay and my check is ready for
him for every cent due the city from me. :"
Mr.. Patrick McArdle, the wholesale
liquor dealer of Montgomery street, also
litigated the tax on the ground that it
was unjust. Mr.. McArdle has always been
willing to pay his taxes, but they must be
levied fairly. He complains that he is
assessed five times more than the stock
said, would put his stock at the quantity
he carries he will gladly pay. Mr.. Nc
Ardie will not carry the case to any higher
court.
ating is very generally misunderstood.
Many of those who refuse to pay say it
is unconstitutional The Supreme Court
upheld the act. Others had a hazy idea
that it was contradictory, tyrannical and
un-American, as it was recently put. To
enable readers of 1.-The News to read the
act and learn precisely what it does say
it is as folloWS:--
An Act concerning cities of the first class
in this State, and to facilitate the col
lection thereby of arrears of taxes
assessed on personal property.
1. Be it enacted by the Senate and
General Assembly of the State of New
Jersey, That it shall be the official duty
of the receiver or collector of taxes in all
cities of the first class in this State, with
in ten days after the expiration of each
fiscal year of such city, to cause to be
made out and delivered to the COMPTROLLER
n q ct of
the names and amounts due such city
from all persons residing in the various
wards or aldermanic districts of such city,
for arrears of taxes assessed on the per-
sonal property of such persons respect
lively, during such previous fiscal year;
and such list of delinquent taxpayers for
the fiscal year previous to the passage
of this act, shall be made and delivered
by such receiver or collector of taxes as
aforesaid before the fifteenth day of April
next after the passage of this act.
2. And be it enacted, That 1t shall be
the duty of the Comptroller of such city
aforesaid, Immediately after the delivery
to him of the list of delinquent taxpayers
mentioned in the first section of this act,
made and published in daily newspaper
published in such city, once each week
for two weeks, allowing two weeks to
intervene between the first and second
such list between the first and second
publication thereof as aforesaid, the
names of all delinquent taxpayers thereon
who shall pay their said arrears of taxes,
with cost of publication, before the second
publication of said list as aforesaid; that
the daily newspaper publishing such list
of delinquent taxpayers aforesaid, shall
be entitled to charge, and shall be paid
by such city, the sum of twenty cents per
name of each delinquent taxpayer for
each insertion aforesaid to be paid for
by such city in the same manner as ad-
vertisements of sale of real estate for
arrears of taxes are paid by such city,
and the said cost of publication as afore-
said shall be added to the said arrears of
taxes due from such delinquent taxpayer
to such city and collected by such re-
ceiver or collector of taxes, together with
the amount then due the city from such
person for arrears of taxes assessed on
the personal property of such delinquent
8. And be it enacted, That all acts and
parts of acts, general special or local,
Inconsistent with the provisions of this
act, be and the SAME are hereby repealed,
and this act shall take effect Immediately.
Approved March II, 1892.
Business Mems Table d'1ote, u to P. NJ.
Taylor's Hotel, SOC.