The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-01-15

1872 So S4, 259 "a s16S,ST1 "a kSi50,0oo w Y
1922 :, Us ,i i5I IS IS 1 lsS s $50 g s9e SVS 90 90
lSsl-5 >. 2,o54,725 g 15s $50 4 s 81, GOo 90 90
1886 y 2.oSS AZ g rs, 2so 81 2 20 .o Ooo ~
From table four "a it is clear how quick
ly an increasing short indebtedness IS
created. Thesinabilty to properly collect
the proper amount of taxes nnual lev
led has been the cause of much concern
in a financial way to the cities of this
country, and is particularly ~instanced by
the experience of cities in this, State. me
remedy from the Ultimate bankrupIcy b or
the enactment of legislation creating ma
ehinery for the collection of tax arrear-
ages in a compulsory fashion, by provld-
ing for the sale of property upon Whlch
the taxes are unpaid. In 1886, the Mar
tin Act" so called after its ~introducer;
was passed. Its, purpose is best explained
by its title and preamble
CHAPTER CXII.
Laws of 1886.
An act concerning the settlement and
collection of arrearages of unpaid taxes,
rents in cities of this State. and imposing
and levying a tax, assessment ana hen
and instead of such arrearages, n 70
enforce the payment thereof, and to pro-
vide for the sale of lands subjected to flu
ture taxation and assessment;
Whereas, Arrears of unpaid taxes, as
and water rates in cities OF this
State have accumulated to the amount or
many millions of dollars; and,
Whereas, The validity of some of such
unpaid taxes. assessments and water
rates has been or may be called in ques-
ton by reason of irregularity, omission
or defect in the procedure. institutlng,
laying and imposing the same, or because
of the unconstitutionality of the laws. or.
methods under which proceedings We're
had or AIKEN; and
Whereas, Several cities have issued n
sold bonds or obligations in anticipation
or on account of the arrears of such I'M
maid faXGS or water rates. and nave IS
sued and sold their bonds to obtain the
money paid for the improvements for
which the assessments so in arrears were
imposed, or attempted to be imposed,
and the said improvements have been
completed, and the property assessed
therefor has been benefited thereby; and
Whereas, 1t has been found that the
cities of this State have no adequate
means to enforce the collection of taxes
n assessments, by sale of the lands up
on which the same have been or may be
imposed, now, therefore, etc, etc.,
Briefly, it provides, as subsequently re-
vised and amended, for the method OF
collecting unpaid taxes after a delinquent
is in arrears for the term of two years,
by establishing liens in place of the ar
rearages. through the medium of an adj
justments commission, which has been
at work in his city for several years
After hearings, Investigations, ETC., the
adjusted tax list is submitted to the court,
and when confirmed is placed in the
hands of the City Collector for collection,
who thereupon notifies the last known
owner by mail, and subsequently by
publication gives notice that if the taxes
as adiusted are not paid by a certain date,
the property will be sold. 1t must be I'M
derstood that at the outset there was
much confusion as to the details to be fol-
lowed in carrying out the provisions of
the act in such a manner as to make it
conform most completely to the financial
systems of the various cities, and the pur-
pose for which it was intended. Many
= - N,-A- t-,10sGfhln fA~ thn
trainers of the act to anticipate had to
be arranged, and which the officials of
the city lac to put into effect in some
cases By the exercise of power conferred
by other legislation, and in other cases
such ais were formulated in line with COM
mon sense and sound financial methods.
If. after the required notice given by
the City Collector, the adjusted liens were
not paid. the property was sold by the
City Collector at public sale to the high
est bidde and in case there were no
bidders was bought in by he city for
the full amount of the liens. The act pro-
vided for the payment of the purchase
money by the purchaser, and that the
City Collector shall deliver a certificate
of sale to the purchaser. The act then
goes on to state as follows
1.-THE city may be a purchaser at any
sale of lands under the provisions of this
act, with the same right, title and effect
as any other purchaser, and the certifi-
cate of sale to the city shall be delivered
L NV ALt L IN RAA-At ~ 1880 49,
city cause notice of sale to be served
on owners and mortgagors of the lands
SO purchased, as provided in this act, as
in case of private purchaser, upon proof of
the. service of the notice, and the expira-
ton of the period for redemption. the
city shal be entitled to a deed for the
property, the same as any other pur-
chaser
So that for several years past as the
tax arrearages were adjusted. the re-
ports confirmed. and the sales held when
no private purchaser appeared, the city,
through the Comptroller, purchased the
property for the face amount of the liens
thereon. After each sale the Collector
made requisition upon the Board of FL
nance for the amount due him for such
purchase. This Board has followed that
practice. There being no fund for the
purpose it was necessary; in order to
provide the money. to issue tax sale
bonds, which were invariably taken up
by the Sinking Fund. The effect of this
has been as follows:-For example, the
lncollected taxes for the years ending
December /, 1894; December /. 1895. and
December /. 1896. amounted to $345. 600.
s255, 600, $3.50. 600, respectively, or a total of
sS4S. GOO. About the month of September
in each of those years bonds for the sew
eraI amounts were issued, and designated
Temporary loan pay on demand bonds,
issued in anticipation of the collection of
the taxes of 1854. 1915 and 1856. After
q life of three 90, two % and one u
years. respectively, their total has been
reduced to $500, 600 by subsequent payment
of taxes for the years in question, and
the bonds or loans ave been replaced by
tax arrearage bonds for $780, 900, which
were sold at premiums only a week ago,
and run five years or until u
1903. 4 sinking fund has been created
10 redeem Zach portion of the issue. That
fund is accumulated by the collection OF
AREA of each of these years. What
ever taxes of 1S94-5-6 are subsequently
paid to the City Collector are credited to
each az these wears. and are by resolution
af the Board of Finance, as they accu-
m1late. set aside to the credit of the
sinking funds of 1894, 1895 and 1886.
Very shortly the City Collector VIII Pre-.
years 1894 and 1895. Notice Is given to the
DELINQUENT property owners OF the date
of the sale. and before notices are pub
lished thousands. of dollars are paid in:
between the publication OF notice and
made until MADISON the date OF sale.
the My classes of property upon which
the taxes are unpaid Will be those OF the
owner unable to pay, those of the owner
whose property has been too highly as
sessed. or those yalueiess to the owner,
because the liens are greater tina the
value Of the lands. Suppose that at the
sale as in the case before US of the sale
Of November 1, 1897, the city, in accord
ance with the provisions of the act Of
there being no other purchaser, Is COM
PEELED to bid in lands with liens thereon
amounting to some $28.000. A warrant is
drawn upon the City Treasurer in favor
Of this City Collector for psat amount
and certificates of sale delivered to the
order to provide the money to makeethat
warrant good, tax sale bonds for the
amount III question are issued. The war
amt paid the City Collector - credited