Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1897-03-04

Mr.. Laid then reported the result OF tn
Investigation of the Treasurer's books a
carried on by Mr.. Best and himself, sine
the last meeting, which he said had coveIe'
the years 1894, '95, 96 The duplicate
had been compared with the city map, ant
in 1896 they fEd 38 properties not assesse,
and 81 which, while they are not specified
in the duplicate, are included in the assess
ment. All the properties ommitted il
1896 are also omitted in 1895, excepting
and II in addition, and fifty in 1894. Th
committee recommended assessments here
after be made by an assessment map.
Mr.. Henderson said that while the re
port indicated great errors in assessment
the facts were not as serious as one would
imagine. In some instances the mortgage
is as big as the property, and the tax il
paid by mortgage holder Other commissions
are accounted for by the fact that properties
are bui ched, or several lots adjoining are
assessed as one lot. He complimented the
committee, however, on the work DONE
Continuing, Mr.. Laid said that in the
duplicates of 1894 and 1895 further er orr
were discovered which placed an addition
charge of $219.8O against Treasurer Read
ing. Besides these. there were number
of large taxes of 1894 which the committee
could not report upon until further exami-
nation was made. The shortages reported
had been brought to the attention of Treas.
urer Reading, who had admitted and
charged himself with them. Another
matter had been discovered where the tax
against the DaYid Jessup property, amount
ing to 1924, had been carried on the delin-
quent list, but was paid, but not yet located
On motion the report was received and
filed.
Mr.. Henderson said he was not satisfied
with this report. 1t was not full and ex-
plicit, some matters were being covered up
which ought to be uncovered. He remem.
bered making motion to place certain
delinquent taxes in the hands of the Sole
itor for collection. The majority of the
Finance Committee knew last Saturday
that on September "a, 1895, the David Jes-
of tax, amounting to 1924 was paid to Sol
icitor Moore, and that it has never gone
into the city account. Will some one OF
the majority of the Finance Committee tell
why it is not right to report this transac-
ton?
Mr.. Best denied that he knew of the
shortage last Saturday he heard of it but
did not see the receipt until 80 O'Clock on
Monday. The receipt to the estate is from
Solicitor VIM. Moore, who claims that he
has receipt that includes that amornt
from the Treasurer, under date of Jan.
6, 1896. There seem to be some differ
ences, Mr.. Ladd said, but they laid between
the Treasurer and Solicitor, and as soon as
the Committee located it, will report
Mr.. Henderson asked the Committee if
they had gone over the account of G.. Selden
johnson, late Collector. Mr.. Best replied
that they hadn't got that far back had
worked until a. m. to accomplish what
they had reported. Mr.. Henderson again
complimented the Committee he had kept
away from them for two reasons, that he
was too busy with his own business, and
he wanted the report to come from the
Republican members of the Committee
Continuing, Mr.. Henderson said that in
this connection he had matter somewhat
personal, to present, and read the following
Mr. PRESIDENT. AT our last meeting
the City Collector, George Evans Reading,
took occasion to criticise the action and
motive of the members of the Finance
Committee from the Third Ward, on ac-
count of the Committee reporting short
age in his accounts. l could not reply in
detail at that meeting on account of the
large amount of typewriter matter from
the Solicitor, and manuscript from Collec-
tor Reading It's volume was confusing
He charged that had known of the short
age of the Collector for the last eighteen
months, r nd held the matter back to make
political capital for myself, and ipjure the
Collectors chances for reelection. This /
deny, and desire to explain for the benefit
of some of our people who think that
have taken especial pains to expose the
transaction of the Collector at this time, and
should have done it sooner. This / could
not do for the reason that l could not
satisfy myself that it was absolutely true,
until / had an opportunity to examine the
books in which the Collector of the city
keeps mis- accounts, and did not see them
until about January 10. 1897. / had hoped
that his books would clear up the matter
fully realized the importance of being
correct before calling the attention of Coun-
Gil to the matter, as / did not want to
make so serious a charge without being
entirely satisfied it was correct, and am
very sorry that the discovery was not made
by one of the Republican members of the
Committee instead of myself. as then the
truth would have been more readily ac-
cepted and no attempt would have been
made to hold up the Collector as a
martyr, and as a victim OF some especial
sharp practice of the Democratic mem
Der of the Finance Committee. l have
only done what | consider my plain and
sworn duty to the tax payers Of the
City of Woodbury.. In accepting the office
three years ago, the City Clerk administered
an oath before my name was placed on the
roll Of Council, that oath took in good
faith, and to the best of my ability have
during those three years of service kept
the oath. If l have erred, it has been in
the interest of all the people. It is but
human to err, but the confession of the
Collector to the correctness of my charge
proves conclusively that did not err when
/ claimed that he had collected $493.28 in
taxes, and had not paid them over 10 the
City of Woodbury.. / may have a blunt
manner in expressing myself about matters
of this character.
This can not help, but can not afford
to have the good people of our city think
that what | have done in this matter has
been with the sole view of iDjuring the
reputation of George Evans Reading, and
securing my own reelection to Council.
| am not a candidate for reelection to
Council, and do not desire a seat in that
body, not that do not fully appreciate the
compliment paid me by the citizens OF
that body four different terms of three years
each, making in ali twelve years OF service
and this compliment is more fully appre-
ciated by me from the fact that in all these
years I have been identified with the
minority party in our city. Being of an
active spirit and fully realizing the re-
sponsibility of member of Council, and
knowing from experience what has to be
contended with in that body, have no de.
sire to assume the position even if it could
be obtained without a contest-the expe.
riences of the past three years with its
many bitter contests for right, fresh in