The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-07-15
State Board Of Taxation
May Force Hudson Board
to Raise Valuations.
EASY ON THE OIL TRUST
Renewals Thought Likely il
Cases Where Glaring Discrep-
ancies of differentiation
Exist. Report on East
Newark and Kearny.
Especial to the Evening star.l

JERSEY CITY, July 15-The State
Board of Taxation is sitting in the City
Hall here today to receive the report of
the Hudson County Board of Taxation
In regard to the progress of the 1907
assessment and to take action, If
necessary, to compel the various tax
assessors of the county to assess all
property at true value. In response to
summons every assessor in the
county, except the one in Seacaucus, is
present All brought their books for
the inspection of the State Board.
Some of the assessors bore anxious
looks on their faces for there had been
report in circulation before the ses-
sion began that the State Board would
discipline some of the assessors for not
complying with the order of the county
board to Jack up" valuations. 1t was
thought that removal might result in
some cases where glaring cases of
hnderassessment exist. When Major
Carl Lentz, president, called the State
Board to order the dropping of a pin
could have been heard.
Members of the Hudson County
Board said to inquisitive assessors that
removals would follow If better work
was not done by the assessors over
whom the sword is hanging but that
all would be given another chance If
the State Board took the advice of the
county board.
The Hudson County Board presented
q report showing that the first assess
ments made were exceedingly faulty.
OF East Newark and Kearny the re-
port says:
East Newark-This district was first
visited on June IA. and property was ex-
amined and appraised the current levy
yet available. The district was visited on
July In presence of the assessor. and
the assessments for 1907 were found to be
at nowhere true value. This was strik-
ingly shown on the edges of the adjacent
taxing district of Harrison. The atten-
tion of the assessor was directed to the
Irregularities which existed, and after be-
ing supplied with data was directed q
bring all property in his taxing district to
its true value This district was again
visited on July 12, and 1t was found thai
a Uniform true value was being attained
by the assessor.
Kearny-The first visit to this taxing
district was made June 13, at which time
It was found that the assessment was
so exceedingly faulty, and so far peioW
true value that an entire reassessment was
ordered. The district was again visited
on July 10. The land values were found
to be UNEQUAL and low. The assessors
attention was called to this. and they
were directed to correct the fault. A
careful examination Of the assessments
on buildings showed that the alleged true
value for the current year had been as
certained by a graded increase over the
values of last year. After the CRU clshi
of the board upon their first visit. the
assessors had made another graded in
crease In values The result of this proc.
ess Is an assessment which is unequai
and still greatly below true value. A large
number Of properties were Visited anu
the structures appraised. The results of
aprraisais and COMPARISONS with assess %
values have been tabulated. and show fas,
years assessment to be about 81 per cent.
Of appraised true value. The first as
sessnnent levied for 1907 increased the fig
ures of 1906 about 1S per cent. and the
revised figures for 1907 showed an increase
of 23 per cent. over 1905, making the new
assessment value about IL per cent. CT
appraised value
The assessors In this territory are potn
we'll informed men. Assessor Maynarn
stated that such appraisals as had been
made in his presence were fair, ana as
conservative true value. Assessor Sargent,
whose line of business should quality hlm
to be a good Judge OF values 1nsisted
that such appraisals were too hign ana
above his. Judgment OF true value; Inc me
properties and place true values on me
structures which, together with q cor
rected land values will make legal levy.
Meantime this board is compiling CONTRACT
data, appraisals, considerations. ETC., TO
assist the assessors. IL possible, and to
verify the levy.
Arias p Brooke. assessor of Bayonne,
advanced a novel basis of property valua-
tion when Major Lentz asked him today
how he arrived at the value of the prop
erty of the Standard Oil Company. Mr..
Brooke replied:
sT tried to get at what the plant would
he worth If the Standard Oil Company
abar doned It, think that Is the only
fair basis of valuation. 1t would not Re
fair to assess the oil tanks at what they
cost to build In trying to find out what
they were really worth found that mu IN
of the property you wouldn't be able 10
get a junkm1n to take away from the lahu
if the oil company abandoned it.
Mr. Brooke in order TO convince the
board that he had lacked the STANDARD
OIL property up to full value ana hau
shown sound Judgment in assessing IT, eA-
nlained that he valued the entire plant
including oil, steamers, docks. tanks ana
land or all that the company owns, that
can be found in Bayonne, at $7,0O0,0O0 this
year.
This is 100000 advance over what his
PREDECESSOR assessed the property at. The
total valuation of Bayonne property MS
assessed last year was S2600O,O00 He has
Increased the valuation this year to $29.-
100000.
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