The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-24
EXPERTS COACHED
LENTZ CALLS DOWN RAIL
ROAD MAN.
Record Admits That Property Is AS
sessed More When It Is Acquired
by a Railroad Company.
IspeeIal 70 the EvenIng star.l

JERSEY CITY, July 24-The State
Board of Taxation this afternoon adj
iourned the hearing of the appeals Of
the railroad companies with second
class property in Jersey City from the
assessments of the local assessors for
1906, until Tuesday next. The cases
will probably occupy all of next week.
The members of the State board would
Hike to get away on vacations, but
Major Lentz holds them to the work
like a taskmaster.
Thomas A. Ryer occupied the witness
stand today as an expert for the rail-
roads on the values of Pennsylvania
and Central Railroad property. Mr..
Ryer also gave values Of private prop.
erty in lower Jersey City, in the vicin-
ity of railroad second-cIass property.
He fixed a value of $4,000 a lot as land
value on Grove street, near Newark
avenue.
That is valuable business property
declared William D. Edwards, who, with
William II. Corbin. is conducting the
case of the railroads. TT is similar to
Broad and Market streets. Newark"
That aroused Major Carl Lentz, president
Of the State board.
1T is nothing like it." asserted the
Major STRENGTHENING himself in his
chair. There Is no place on earth like
Broad and Market, in Newark"
You talk that way, Major" declared
Mr.. Edwards, because you expect New
ark to erect your statue there, You
ought to have one there"
Major Lentz looked as pleased as a
small boy with his first toy balloon. :
Their the president OF the State board
found delight In calling down Edlow
W.. Harrison for coaching Witness
Ryer.
William H. Brown, expert of the rail-
roads, gave further testimony to show
that rrctla-t,r -.,-Al -. H..
mpan was doubled in assessment for
taxes as compared with adjoining prop
erty still owned by individuals.
What is the point of this testimony
asked Mr.. Record.
When we purchase property you double
the assessment replied Mr.. Edwards.
That is our policy asserted Mr..
Record, land has been for four years,
and the Court Of Errors has sustained it.
You are producing unnecessary testimony
and making believe to have made a new
discovery"
Then you admit that you are purposely
assessing railroads twice and three times
what other property is assessed7' queried
Mr.. Corbin.
Yes. that is the settled policy Of the
tax assessors of Jersey City. We hold
that land as soon as it Is acquired by a
railroad becomes much more valuable
than when It is held by private owners"
Mr.. Record began his cross-examination
of Expert Brown. who was fianked by Mr..
Edwards and Thomas A.. Ryer, another
expert. Mr.. Record went into the ques-
ton of what 1t cost the Erie for property
it was forced to condemn and learned that
Edward Kenny, saloonkeeper at Jersey
avenue and Eleventh street after three
appeals had been taken got 1923, 500 for his
property that the witness had appraised
at $500.
There was n hot fare up when Mr..
Edward started to answer a question
asked by Mr.. Record of the witness.
II won't submit to these Interruptions"
angrily declared the corporation counsel.
LAS soon as / get the witness on danger
Gus ground Mr.. Edwards butts in
There has been too much OF that, Mr..
Edwards decided Major Lentz, and /,
for one. won't tolerate It,"
"I will answer the question Just ms
Mr.. Edwards did, Mr.. Brown said.
There. you can see a l am up
against" Mr.. Record remarked.
Mr.. Record got the witness to admit that
large plots of land under one ownership
have more value per lot than similar lots
owned by various persons.
I'm valuing the railroad property did
you give that point any consideration"
Mr.. Record asked.
NO. 1 did not" admitted Brown.
Witness was getting ratified, 50 Mr..
Corbin called time by objecting to Mr..
Records questions as being purely argu-
mentative. Mr.. Edwards also sailed in
and aroused the ire of Charles C. Black,
Of the State board. who insisted that Mr..
Edwards arise when he addressed the
board.
Major Lentz then overruled Mr.. Corbin's
objections and got after Mr.. Edwards
again. There was a wrangle in which
everybody spoke at the same time, until
Major LentZs roar dominated all the
other utterances and quiet ensued.