The Jersey City news., 1906-04-07
Judiciary Committee It Is
Said Will Favorably Re-
port the County Bqualiza-
tion Board Measure
RAILR0RDs SAID TO FAVOR 1T
IT GIVES THE GOVERNOR pow
ER OF APPOINTMENT AND THE
MEMBERS WILL HAVE DUTIES
EQUAL IN IMPORTANCE TO
THOSE OF THE STATE BOARD
Special to ~The Jersey city News.'9


TRENTON, April Z, o6.-Notwith-
standing that the Avis County Board of
Equalization bill has evoked the eseverest
kind of censure and condemnation from
municipalities in all parts of the State,
( the general opinion prevails that the
FHouse Judiciary Committee will favor
ably report the measure next Monday
evening.
The bill provides that the Governor
shall, by and with the consent of the
Senate, appoint three men in each county
who shall constitute a county board for
the equalization of taxes. These three
men Shall have the management and
control of all the assessors, and the lat
ter must be governed by whatever rules
the county board shah issue. The three
may revise. correct and equalize the as
sessed value of all property, may in,
crease or decrease the valuation Of any
property, may add to or take from the
list and may do any and all things now
done by county boards of assessors and
commissioners of appeals. They may go
stiM further, for they may. upon hearing
dismiss any assessor who. in their judg-
ment, refuses to comply with the Con-
stitution and the laws. and may appoint
successors for the balance of the year.
They have powers as great as or even
4 greater than those exercised by the State
1 Board for the Equalization of Taxes in
its sphere.
| The opponents of the bill characterize
it as a vicious measure, drawn in the in
terests of the railroads and intended to
/ vitiate the effects of the Perkins equal
/ taxation measure. 1t will be remember
ed that when equal taxation was under
! discussion by the legislature. the rail
road companies allowed it to become
known that if their property was assess
ed at it's true value. they would take
measures to have ali other property in
the State assessed in the same way.
The general opinion now prevails
among men who have studied and fol
lowed the equal taxation fight, that the
Avis County Board of Equalization bill
! is the outcome of that threat. 1t is
strengthened by the fact that on March
4 IA. Senator Avis introduced bill also
/ purporting to provide for the equalization
4 of taxes. which he did not read before
/ introducing and which was drawn by
railroad lawyer in the railroad interests.
When the VICIOUS character of this bill
and it's defects We're pointed out to Sen
ator Avis, he voluntarily withdrew it from
4 the files of the Senate and gave his sup
port to the bill now under advisement in
the Assembly, which he had introduced
early in the session.
The Avis bill. it is claimed, virtually
reyolutionizes the whole system of taxa
ton. 1t allows the people to elect their
own assessors, but the three men to be
appointed by the Governor as a County
Board of Equalization of Taxes may re
move every one of them and appoint
others in their places. The new ap-
pointees, it is further contended, could
| thus be forced to assess all property ''at
its true value according to such rules
as the County Board may issue.
In other words the County Board could
force all local assessors to assess prop
erty at its full value under the threats Of
removal This would increase valuations
and necessarily mean an increase Of
taxes in all municipalities throughout the
State Such a scheme the railroads have
sought ever since equal taxation has
been talked about They had threatened
to force such legislation in retaliation for
the peoples demand for equal taxation.
They claim that they are paying taxes
| on their property at full value and that
it is only just that The individual prop
erty owner should do the same.
Thus it is generally thought the rail
road influence is behind the Avis cquah-
zation scheme. The Governor appoints
the State Board Of Assessors and the
State Board for the Equalization Of
Taxes under the present law. The Gov
ernor would appoint every member Of
every County Board for the Equalization
Of Taxes under the Avis bill. Thus the
State would have complete control Of
the taxation Of railroads through one
channel and complete control Of all local