The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-07-19
new BUILDINGS.
County Tax Board Surprises
Some Assessors With
Their Number.
TO INSPECT PROPERTY
Spanish War Veterans Are
Not Entitled to Elk
emptions.

| ~~1 S@O~~Os
| The County Board for the Equalization
| of Taxes at it's meeting in the Court
House yesterday afternoon sprang
| surprise ON some of the local assessors
when it produced it's list of new houses
which have been erected in some of the
districts during the past year. In several
cases the Board had three or four times
more new buildings on it's list than the
assessors had returned
Assessor Hoppe of Union Hill was the
first on the rack. He said that there had
been but IA new buildings erected in that
| town in the year ending May ! last. He
seemed very much surprised when Presi-
| dent James G. Morgan informed him that
records in the possession of the board
showed that there had been 5 brick and
| "a frame houses completed in his taxing
| district during the year.
Assessor Kennel of North Bergen, said
| that about "a new buildings had been,
erected in his district. He was much sur
prised when Mr.. Morgan said that the
| Boards records showed SO new structures
| in the district.
| Mr.. Kennel said he had been over the
district and could not find them.
| Tim afraid your duties as health in
spector interfere with your work as as
sessor.''
| "Well, will go over again and look for
| them,, promised Kennel.
! Mr. Kennel explained afterwards that
the books of his predecessor were in
such condition that he could not tell ex-
actly how many new buildings had been
| a. cd bat hp had made
mistake in his first estimate, but was
| confident that the number was not as
great as stated by the President.
Assessor Hannah said that his books
showed rs new house erected in Weehaw-
ken during the year.
sYou come within two of our figures"
said President Morgan.
/ Assessor Bowe came close to the mark
when he said off handed that there mad
| been twenty-nine new houses erected in
/ West New York during the year. The
/ records of the board showed 35 and when
| he consulted his field book, Mr.. Bowe
| found that he had few more than he at
! first stated
| In the early days of the session of the
/ board the question was raised by some
/ of the assessors as to the rights of the
1 Spanish-American war veterans to be
| allowed exemptions by the respective
| municipalities. In reply Secretary James
| E. Connolly prepared an elaborate report
quoting the act approved April D, 1858,
4 under which exemptions are allowed. The
| report concluded
'arhis law shows conclusively that the
1 veteran act exemption applies only to
soldiers or sailors, resident in this State,
who have served in the army or navy
i during the rebellion, and not to any
4 others.'
An appeal was made by Mrs. Mary c.
| Donohoe, of No. 414 Demott street, West
| Hoboken, which was regarded by some
of the members as substantiating the re-
cent assertion of representative of the
Catherine Strocker estate, that the realty
| in that town was not assessed at over
/ go per cent of it's actual value Mrs.
| Donohoe complained of valuation of
| $3.50 on her house for which she paid
4 1900. The matter was referred to
| Assessor McDermott in conjunction with
the board and there is a strong possibility
that the valuation of the appellant IS
/ property may be raised.
i Lawyer Walter McDermott, represent
ing the North Hudson County Railway
Company, protested against a valuation
of $4,000 on that company's right of way
4 from the West Shore Ferry to the Bulls
Ferry Road. He said that there were
9-1O miles of trackage, that it was in
bad repair, and had never before been
taxed
Commissioner Mclean wanted to know
If the West Shore Railroad was paying
| taxes on the land. Mr.. McDermott did
MT know. He said he thought that under
the terms of the North Hudson's lease
they were only to pay the rental. He
would look up the matter, however, and
! report at this afternoons session.
| The following resolution was offered by
Commissioner Mclean and adopted
Whereas, 1t is desirable for the intelli-
4 gent performance of the duties imposed
upon this board by law that we should
familarize ourselves with the valuations
i of properties throughout the county by
personal inspection of the same; there
fore be it
Resolved, That the members of this
Board meet at the City Hall, Jersey City,
on Monday, July %, A. D. 1900 at 10
body to examine the values of proper
tines in any of the several taxing dis
tricts of the county"
President Morgan then announced the
following itinerary for the first three days
of the nspectfon:-Monday, A. NJ, Hobo
ken; P. M, Weehawken; Tuesday, A. M,
West Hoboken; P. M. Town of Union;
Wednesday,, A. NJ, West New York and
I Gutenberg; P. M. North Bergen.
4 Each assessor will meet the board on its
arrival at his respective taxing dissri
and will accompany it ON the inspection
of the same
1t is not thought likely that the in
spection this year will extend beyond the
places stated and II percentages are sum
marily added to the assessors figures in
any of the municipalities it will undoubt-
edly be IN one or more of those enumer-
ated in the boards visiting list
cREENvILlE LEAGUE NET.