The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-06-16
TAX APPEAL CASES
State Commissioners Wind
ing Up Their Work
in Jersey City
Today.
REDUCTION ON MEADOW LOTS
Bon Ton Theatre Assessment Re-
duced by $4,000 concessions
Made In Many Instances.
REDUCTION ON MEADOW LOTS

The State Tax Commissioners came to
Jersey City today to hear appeals from
local assessments. They were pushed
into stuffy little room used as COM
mittee room for the Board of Aldermen
in. the City Hall, because the three Lord
High Commissioners of the City Hall
were holding their meeting. and the ridi-
culous spectacle was witnessed of a
crowd Of Commissioners, lawyers, citizens
and others packed into small room and
three Commissioners and the clerk hold
inss court In the spacious Assembly Cham
Der.
| President Love and Secretary Connolly,
Of the local tax board, were present to
uphold the assessments with the legar aid
of Corporation Counsel Blair. For the
State Board there were present:-Presi-
dent H. J. West of Camden, Albert H.
| Slape Of Salem. Charles c. Black of Jer-
sey City, and Major Carl Lenz of Essex.
The cases heard were:-
Patrick Rooney, owner of lot e. Block
| III. Bay street. brick dwelling, assessed
for $1,000. He wanted it reduced to
| $1,000. The building, he thought, was
| worth $2,500. He receives $25 month
rent, and has been offered $3.50 for the
on houses Nos 1885, 1884, 3S2 $780, 376 374
Third street, from &c. ,72s to 5000. Coun-
selor John Garrick asked for reduction
and decision was reserved.
John Casey of Thirteenth and Grove
streets, Jersey City, asked for reductions
on large tract of land north of the Erie
Railroad tracts. His case was presented
by Lawyer w. C. Cudlipp, who insisted
! that the local assessors figures were high
Many of the lots consist of marsh land
under the hill west Of Jersey avenue
Mr. Love contended that there had been
improvements in the neighborhood of the
marsh land, such as a soap factory and
other factories, and by filling up the prop
erty could be made marketable
"If wanted to get a lot from Mr.
Casey and wish to reach it would have
to put on rubber boots and hire a boat ?''
asked Major Lentz, and Mr.. Love smiled
and nodded his head.
Coming to certain lots which were
flooded by the sewer and which the city
had assessed at $500 for a corner lot and
$3.50 for single lots Mr. Love said that the
Board would agree TO $500 and 500 for the
lots, but Mr.. Casey thought that they
were still too high, because they were
valueless. Commissioner Black said that
the local assessors figure was fair
VIII he treat the sugar house people
the same way he treats me? asked Mr..
Casey.
I guess he does, replied Major Lentz.
If the sugar people complain we will
finvestigate their complaints in the same
way as we are doing yours
That's all very well,' rejoined Mr..
Casey. warmly, you know, gentlemen,
that you can't get at these lots l have
been trying to get them to open these
Streets for we are simply paying out and
getting nothing in return
I'VE are not running the city govern
ment,'' interposed Commissioner Black.
mo; but am simply defending myself
against what / consider an unjust as
sessment.'
This subject then dropped and another
batch Of Mr.. caseys property bought
under Martin Act sales came under pur-
view. Major Lentz asked if there was
not some doubt existing as to the title
of lots purchased under these sales.
Counsellor Cudlipp said in reply that the
New Jersey Title Guarantee and Trust
Company guaranteed the titles and did
all The work for the city. The title of
lands SO purchased, he said, had been
established by the courts.
We don't take the values of lands of
these sales as a rule on which to go by"
said Mr.. Love. For instance. the Provi-
dent Institution of Savings won't lend
money on these lands acquired in that
way
After an hours discussion over every
parcel and lot, the Board decided to
make reductions on some of Mr.: casey's
lots on Jersey avenue and Sixteenth
street. The property had risen in valu-
alton and the city should have the bene-
fit OF the valuation at $500. Mr.. Casey
board cut down valuations from 5000 to
$500, $400 to $780, $500 to S150, instead of $751;
500 to $50, instead Of $50, as requested
near the Hill, the lots were reduced from
S400 to $500. and from $500 to $3.50. Mr.
Casey was generally satisfied with the re-
had fixed very exorbitant figures for
property which was worth only what 1t
would bring under the hammer. The
Beard took off about $4,000 from $4,000 of
Contractor M T. Connolly, large
owner Of meadow lots in the neighbor-
hood Of Seventeenth street, put in batch
Lawyer c. g. Kelly presented his case
The property was bought at the Coles
estate or, Martin Act sales. On the Erie
valued at $500, and the Board gave him
reduction to $780, On the Seventeenth
street lots he appealed from s1,550 amount
The Bon Ton RheatFe It e0Mo property s9 was next
considered It was assessed at s4S, 900 and
che Klein estate through sxxoJudge Puster,
ing cost $4,000 to build in 1890, and the the
lots we're worth $4,000.
Mr.. Klein, one of the heirs. read affi-
building which was about $4,000. There ere
was SaS goo mortgage on the property
What does It bring in at the present
timeP asked ex-Jpdge Blair.
1iy1fy 3od Mr.