The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-03-13
Measure Which Regulates
the Search Fees In the
City Collectors Office Is
Pretty Sure Of Passing
A COMPROMISE AMENDMENT
SEARCHES SHALL BE MADE AS
HERETOFORE, BUT OFFICIALS
SHALL RECEIVE NO FEES
CITY TREASURY TO BENEFIT.
Especial to "The Jersey City News, .

especial TO fhe Jersey lily news
TRENTON, Mar. 13. 1906.--Assems
blynan Joseph f. Calvin, if Jersey City,
formerly employed in City Collector
Fry's office, but who was ousted last
New Years Day when he joined the
Dickinson forces against the Record-Fa-
gam Colby combine, is still after Mr.
Fry's scalp with his, search fee bill and
now confidently believes that he will land
lit within the next few deays without amy
difficulty.
Ever since Mr.. Calvin was ousted
from his clerlzship in Mr.. Fry's office he
has borne no friendly feeling for the City
Collector. He knew that Mr.. Fry reap
ed harvest through the fees he received
for making tax searches in his office. Al
though two clerks were employed at a
salary by the City to perform the work,
Mr.. Fry received the fees. This amounts
to about 5000. or almost twice as much
as his salary.
Among the first bills which Mr.. Gal
vim introduced when he went to the As
sembly was one depriving City Collector
Fry if his search fee revenue His bill
provided that the records Of all unpaid
taxes, etc., should be fleof in the City
Gomptroller's office, and that such officer
should be delegated to employ clerks to
make the searches and that the fees re-
ceived should be turned into the City
Treasury. This would entirely deprive
Mr.. Fry of his search fees.
Assemblyman Martin, the Colby lead
er. objected to the City Comptroller tax
ing charge of the records and makingthe
necessary searches. 1t was claimed that
it would cost the City about 5000 to
make duplicate records and require two
years labor.
Rather than jeopardize the success of
the bill, Mr.. Calvin had it recoanmitted
to the Municipal Corporations Committee
so that it could be amended to the satis-
faction of the Colbyites. The several
amendments which he proposed We're UNI
satisfactory to Mr.. Martin. the Colby
leader. until last night a compromise
amendment was offered.
This amendment provided that the City
Collector, City Clerk and Water Regis
trar shall make all the searches as at
present, but shall receive no fees for the
work Whenever tax searches etc, are
required the party applying for them
shall pay fee of $3 to the City Comp
troHer, and upon his certificate the City
Collector, City Clerk and Water Regis
trar shall make the necessary search as
heretofore. The money paid to the City
Comptroller shall be turned into the city
treasury for the benefit of the city. Thus
une lAIse apoVe HdhASu oniStaAS "Ae ue
prived of their fees
After Mr.. Calvin and Mr.. Martin had
reached an understanding regarding the
proposed amendments, Mr.. Scovel, chair
man of the Municipal Corporations Com
| mittee, reported the measure as a com
mittee substitute. 1t was Immediately
placed ON second reading and adopted
| without dissenting vote. It is expected
that it win be taken up for final action
tomorrow.
Mr.. Calvin was highly elated when his
pet measure was reported and declared
| that he would never lose sight of it un-
til it finally reached the Governor. 'sIt
is a long lane that has no turn" was his
| parting snot.