Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-01-25
EQUAL|ZING TAXATION.

Taxation in New Jersey has been and
gone, and how deep an impression they
left on the minds of the County Assessors
and citizens who attended the meeting is
yet to be developed Carl Lentz, who talked
necessarily even when the assessors were
giving in their experience, is President OF
the Board, and Henry S. Trick, Of Burling-
ton, is Secretary The other members are
ex- Democratic candidate for Governor,
Charles G. Black, ex-Judge E. Amber
Armstrong, Of Camden, and
Thompson, Of Essex.
Very few Of the County Assessors we're
absent, and all seemed anxious to con-
tribute freely to the objects Of the meet
ing, namely, to let the Board know just
how they approached and performed their
duties
The Grand Jury room was packed when
Mr.. Leltz opened the proceedings, and
many stood throughout the three hours
session
Early in the session Major Lentz showed
his contempt for equal taxation by asser.-
ing that the loudest shouters for equal
taxation up in Essex paid not dollar of
tax, hence he concluded that there was no
sincerity in the equal tax talk. But he went
ahead, and called the assessor Of Clayton to
4 tell what his scheme of assessing was
Clayton's official said he was new at the
business, indeed, had just been sworn in,
but he thought the practice Of his pre-
decessor was to assess real estate at about
three -fourths Of real value His opinion
was that much personal property escaped
taxation because homes that contained
expensive pianos, the personal assessment
was only 500 10 $50. He thought, too,
that Moore Bros. glass works were UNDER
valued.
Mr.. Lentz advised all the assessors to
give out blanks for property owners to fill
up, and if they failed to return them, with
their values sworn to, the Assessor should
then assess to the limit; that would bring
! them to time
As a parting shot, he urged the Clay ton
assessor to find more property.
Elk's assessor said if land was worth
500 an acre be assessed it at that figure,
and he followed the same rule with personal
property assessed at full value.
The man looked honest, but Major Lentz
/ looked at him with doubtful expression,
and even made him repeat his story, which
he did without faltering AS a parting
shot Major Lentz urged him TO find more
property to assess.
The Assessor Of East Greenwich was
absent, but Collector Gideon Peaslee said
be thought the assessor placed a value Tor
purposes Of assessment at about three
fourths Of the selling value. He thought
/ the assessor assessed all the personal prop
erty be could find.
Mr.. Armstrong asked Mr.. Peaslee what
would be his view Of the advantage Of
having County Assessors, say five for a
county like Gloucester, instead OF local
assessors.
Mr.. Peasee thought County Assessors
would require local assistance, and there
was no better way of securing local assist-
ants than By the present elective system.
He thought, however, that a County Board
Of Equalization Of Taxation might be a
good thing.
Mr.. Carter, Of West Deptford, thought
the present law. il enforced, sufficient to
mset all difficulties.
Assessor Richmau, Of Franklin, said his
custom was to assess from IS to 80 per
cent. of true value. but he had had the
Experience Of a property that he had as
sessed at $4,000 on that basis, selling for
sl4oo
He thought the idea Of sending out
blanks good one.
Mr.. Black asked Mr. Richman if be
knew Of one instance where farm sold at
more than it was assessed, and he replied,
no. Mr.. Black then asked how he arrived
at the statement that he assessed at IS to
s0 per cent Of true value. Mr.. Richman
ic0uld nOb tell.
Glassboro's assessor said it was impos-
sible for him or any other man outside the
ownership, to put a value on the glass
plant Of that town. He thought farm and
wood land was assessed at full value, and
village property at from 50 to 80 per cent.
He said the largest personal assessment be
had was $4,000, while the average was
about $500.
Major Lentz said that from the figures
! Gloucester county was very fairly assessed,
and very well balanced as between the
townships, aud il ought to be very easy To-
Of al property. 49,
Major Lentz