The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-11-29

f149.
that the present administration wanted to
collect if he considered TIE increases We're
fair and just,
He said he believed the Tax Board
had placed an abnormal valuation of
nearly s3,0o0000 on tic property in Jer-
sey City this year.
Il WISH said he. ''that the city would
be- successful in collecting taxes on
these valuations, but do not think that
this is possible. The courts, fear, will
upset them.
I'VE collect as rule about so per
cent. of the tax levy. The one-ninth
which is added to the budget does not
quite cover the 20 per cent. of taxes
which is not collected. The city issues
deficiency bonds to make up the balance.
BIG DEFICIENCY.
"The deficiency of next year will be
big one and the city in the end will
have to make it up. The figures which
have been fixed are false ones and the
amount of taxes which they call for eau
never bo collected.
IF my vote was absolutely necessary
to confirm the tax books at this minute
| would vote to confirm, but there are
three votes here and you can get along
without mine. / desire under the cir
crmstaBces to be recorded in the mega
tive OH the question of confirming the
tax books"
BACONS 'NON yULT."
Mr.. Bason did the apologizing act for
Mayor Fagan's administration and
Board of Fiddlers. He said in the same
breath that the administration didn't
want to soak corporations" but wanted
to induce them to come to Jersey City.
He confessed that he didn't know much
about taxation, consequently he went to
First Fiddler Degnan for enlightenment
as to the methods adopted by the Tax
Board in making their assessments.
He then defended individual assess
ments. He cited the Sugar House prop
erty in Washington street, assessed at
S930000 last year, increased to 81, ,102,-
100 by the present board.
THE company some time ago paid
$4,000 a lot for gap property" he said,
making the value of its So lots $780,
0O0'' ...s.... .s-.s
The valuation on tie tobacco factory
at First and Warren streets, showing
an increase of S741,700, he said, was
based on the returns made by the COM
pany itself. Referring to the North Jer-
sey Railroad Company, he said
The company has monopoly of the
street railway business in the city. 1t
enjoys a very valuable franchise and
wouldn't give it UP. The company's
puHer house is assessed at S122, 900, the
same as last year. The personal prop
esty alone has been increased from
$3SS, 900 to $S3S.00e. The valuation on
personal is ST., 600 mile, the same as
in Newark"
The Telephone Company, TO which he
referred to as ,another MONOPOLY has
been jumped from 100000 to sos, 900.
He cited other figures and insisted that
in his opinion the valuations were fair.
WILL sIT STAND?
Mr.. Brock said: Corporations should
make enough returns to the city for their
franchises to pay the expense of running
the city government. The only question
raise is-and it strikes me forcibly-
that the Wanscr administration should
haxe sat sill and allowed this robbery
to So on. l hope that the Assessment and
ratables as fixed III the present levy will
be sustained. But I'm afraid that they
will not"
President Ringle said: 81 want to say
one thing. l ha,a beer shown the fig
ures under which the assessment has
bee' increased. | consider the figures
fair; in some cases l think that the prop
erty could stand higher assessment
1t is no matter what other administra-
tions have done. No beard has eyer been
fairer or more honest to everybody than
this Tax Board. l believe more ratables
could have been found. 1t is poor policy
fos rs 10 dtcry their way of doing busi-
ness. | believe the assessment was made
iip as honestly as any before il the his
tory of Jersey City. believe the Tax
Commissioners arrived at just conclu-
sicas, rigEt~o'is;y aid fear'essly. l am
ready to confirm their assessment
Commissione. Perrs didn't have any
thing to say.
Then the vote was called and the
books were confirmed. The fates rung
in q hoodoo on the Republican officials,
the hands of the clock pointing to ex-
aetly thirteen minutes of five when the
resolution was passed