The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-06
THE ORANGES.
BLOOMFIELD.
MONTCLAIR
LAX TAX METHODS
ORANGE ASSESSORS BLAME
COUNTY BOARD.
Claim Taxes Are Reduced by Latter
Body without Notifying Local
Authorities.

Al a secret meeting of the finance COM
mittee of the Orange Common Council,
from which reporters were excluded by
order of Chairman Coleman e. Nissan,
who announced, when q reporter for the
EVENING STAR sought admittance, that
there was nothing to interest the public,
methods Of levying tax assessments in the
city of Orange were explained last night
and there was criticism for the County
Board of Taxation for its attitude toward
the civ of Orange. The meeting was
called owing to complaints from citizens
that there were unequal methods employed
IN fixing assessments In various sections of
the city, and on Monday night the follow
ing resolution was passed by the Common
Council:
Resolved, That the finance committee
be and hereby is authorized and empow-
cred to direct the city counsel to take such
appeal or appeals TO the County Board of
Assessments for the county of Essex from
The assessed valuations of any property
for 1907 as permitted by section 3,
chapter 120, of the laws of 1906. being a
supplement- TO An act for the assessment
and collection of taxes. as such commit
tee in its judgment may deem best and,
further, that said committee be authorized
to confer with the city assessor as to the
rule or method by which the valuations OF
property In such city may have been as
EEkHtu HIu utItIIliDtus
To the meeting last night were invited
the three city assessors, Max Mohor. Will
lam B.. 1oumans and Albert %. Robinson,
and Tax Collector Frank G.. Coughtry and
Councilman Thomas A. Davis, leader of
the Democratic minority in the Council.
Mr.. Davis had prepared Il resolution TO
be presented at the November meeting
calling for 40 investigation, but as there
was some concern lest the measure might
interfere with the collection OF taxes and
the investigation could do no good for
the persons objecting to this years taxes
the official deferred the resolution. He
was not present Monday night, and Mr.
s&issam presented the resolution, which
was passed.
There was a minutes delay as the chair
man called for his resolution last night,
from City Clerk Gano for the meeting.
The gathering then proceeded to discuss
taxing methods and the assessors were
called upon to explain their methods of
THAT In the matter of buildings the three
officials conferred as to the proper valua-
tions, but that the men individually passed
upon the land values. The assessors de-
elared that In. their opinion the section
north of Main street had for years been
assessed az values much higher than OBJ
tanned in other sections of the city, and
this particularly applied to homes in Park
avenue. Cleveland street, High street.
Ridge street and Linden place. In spite
OF the higher rate for these places the
ioeeSSOr lOl the ulSlflCI. MI. 1Oumaf1S,
stated he had been directed by Messrs.
Lathrop Anderon and Laurence 7. Fell,
OF the County Board of Taxation, to Jack
NJ the value in these thoroughfares
again.
A comparison of the assessments showed
property in High street paying on an as
e%essfnelt of $50 a foot with assessments
ranging from $50 to $40 a foot in Cleveland
-SIeet. In Berkeley avenue. Lincoln ave-
nue. and properties in that fashionable
residential neighborhood the taxes We're ON
assessments of $50, $40 and $50 a foot front.
The tax assessors and collector stated
That the County Board of Taxation was
making reductions in the taxes of Orange
citizens without giving the Orange Off
eials any notification when the case come
that 100000 reductions of valuations Ind
been made by the county board on Orange
property without any notification being
given Orange officials.
One case was cited where a citizen sent
2 sworn statement to the Orange assessors
GIVING his personal property holding ..alra-
ton at $1,000. The assessor fixed his tax
at the valuation given and the mar went
p Newark. had the valuation reduced TO
Sl,0U and the city got no notice of appeal.
Another case criticised by the Orange
officials last night was that of a man whc
nai1 his tax bill as sent him last year.
and the local board reduced his assessment
valuation by 5000. The citizen appealed
10 the county board and got a further re-
dtetion of SIC. 600.
Tit finance committee had a discussion
over the information received and will hold
another conference to ascertain what action
lhey VIII take IN the premises.