The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-11-17

- ~
Among the recommendations made by
the State Board in it's report is that legis-
lation be had which would provide that
only State and municipal property, church
property FUSED for church purposes1, and
property used for educational and char
liable institutions be exempt from taxa
ton. Such a law will. of course, De bit
terly fought by the iremen and soldiers
as it will wipe out their right to exemp-
ton.
It is a w%ell-known fact, however, that
this right has been shamefully abused all
over the State, and the State Board of
Taxation feel that the men, in a majority
of cases, who are benefited by the exemp-
ton are not the men who actually do the
work. Ii is stated on very reliable au-
thority that many men OF means join fire
companies in the smaller towns merely for
ton given to every volunteer fireman.
The men who actually do the work at the
fires, on the other hand. are, as a rule,
poor men who do not beneflt by the exo
emption because they have not the $500
worth of property. In very few places in
the State is property assessed at more
that so per cent. or SO per cent. of its true.
value, so that the men who abuse the
exemption really benefit to the extent of
about $1,000.
AS to church property, the Board re-
commended that only that which is ac-
tually used for church purposes be exempt
from taxation. This would exclude all
property held by churches and church or
CARNATIONS and rented or leased out:
Among the properties now exempt, and
which, if such a law was passed, would
have to pay taxes, is that of the Ocean
Grove Camp Meeting Association.
AS to cemetery property, the proposition
of the State Board is that cemeteries
connected with the churches and not con-
trolled or connected as business enter
priseS would be exempt.
The Tax Board in its report has made
several other recommendations for legis-
lation. The constitution of the State pro-
vides that property shall be assessed at
its true value. The practice has been for
assessors in different municipalities to as
sess property at a certain percentage of
its true valuation and the efforts of
county boards of assessors have been d.
rected to securing an equalization of this
percentage in the different counties. The
result of his action on the part of the
county board has been to secure to the
taxpayers within the county. no injustice,
Notwithstanding the property was. as
has operated to work injustice so far as
the Stare school tax is concerned, which
tax is levied for the entire State. The
State Board of Taxation, seeking to rem
cdy this difficulty, has made a recon-
mendation that the assessors be COM
PEELED to live up to the State constitution
value, and they submit a bill for passage
by the Legislature, which will give the
State Board the power to remove asses
sors who do, not act according to the
constitutional provision.
Another recommendation on the part of
the board provides for a uniform time for
the making of assessments throughout the
State, and another recommendation pro-
vides for a uniform time for the making
of appeals in the case of taxation. A bill
embodying. these recommendations is
submitted In each case.
In the matter of assessing bank stock,
the board submits two bills. One is that
the bank stock be assessed in the ~ocality
where the bank is located and the other
embodfes the recommendations that Major
Lentz that the bank officers be compelled
to furnish to the State Board Of Taxa-
ton q list of the stockholders. the amount
Of stock held by each, together with the
residue OF such stockholders. and that
this information be disseminated by the
State Board to the local assessors
throughout the State.