Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1904-04-14
TAXATION BOARD
MEETING HERE.

The State Board of Taxation met in
the Grand Jury room Thursday, to con.
fer and consult with tax assessors and
collectors of this county in connection
with the new law governing the as
sessment and collection Of taxes.
The Board was called to order by
Henry J. West. of Camden, the Presi-
dent of the Board. The other mem
bers present were Judge Joseph
Thompson, of Atlantic City, and the
Secretary of the Board, Mr.. Thomas
B. Usher. of Trenton.
Most of the assessors and collectors
OF this county were present.
The first question propounded was
as to exemption of poll tax and SOL
dlers exemptions. Paupers, idiots and
insane persons are exempt from poll
tax.
Soldiers and firemen are not exempt
exoent from poll tax.
Suppose a church has mortgage on
property, is it exempt? was asked. 1t
must be assessed, was the reply.
A municipality has no right to ex-
empt manufacturers from taxation,
was the reply to question as to al
lowing an exemption to manufacturers
for term of years.
Building Associations are only tax
able on the property they hold; their
moneys being mostly invested in mort
cages. OF course the mortgages stand
in the same category as any other
mortgages as regards assessment, was
the reply to queries with this respect
Real estate belonging to lodges is
taxable; funds not invested for benev-
olent purposes are taxable. To get ex-
emptlon lodges must clearly show
that the funds are specifically set off
for all time for sick benefits, funeral
benefits and death benefits. was the
instruction given by the Board under
the specific questions leading up to
them.
The assessors, it was stated, may
begin their preliminary arrangements
for assessment as early as December.
but the values must be made and as
sessed as Of May 2Oth.
"City Council. = said Judge Thomp-
son in.answer to asquestion. "fixes the
salary of the assessor. unless it is al
ready fixed by the city charter. -
"Cities can also, said he, "fix the
time OF meeting of the. Commissioners
of Appeals -
The Board desired Eto obtain some
information as to the mode of assess
ing vessel property engaged in the
oyster industry.
Some of the assessors stated that
such vessel property was assessed to
the owners as personal property. Ves-
sells owned partly here and partly in
Philadelphia were. only taxed heresfor
the portion owned here.
The Board thought such vessel prop
erty should be assessed within the dis
trict on the goth of MAY.
The assessors said they would not
get one out of ten if this rule applied.
The instruction was that the owner
living within the district on May goth
be assessed with the portion OF the
boat he owned.
AS to taxing oysters on the beds it
was held by the Board that the oyste ers
were personal property and shoula be
SO assessed in the districts in which
they lie as determined by the township
lines. Such oysters,' said Judge
Tiompson,s are aaclearly assessable as
personal property in the district where
they are planted. -
President West, at the close of the
session, paid high compliment to the
appearance and intelligence of Cum
berland Oounty's Board of Assessors
and thanked them for their attendance.
-MAN-