The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-22
RAILROADS APPEAL
HEARD BY STATE BOARD OF
TAXATION.
Major Lentz Asks for Full Details So
That Board Can Render Fair 0pin-
ion in Jersey City Case.
Especial to tho Evening start

JERSEY CITY, July 22.-Railroads with
second-class property in Jersey City are
presenting this afternoon testimony to the
State Board of Taxation sitting in the
city Hall, Jersey City, that the railroad
property assessment for 1906 as made by
the Jersey City assessors was in excess
of true value. The companies have asked
the State Board to reduce the assessment
of s47, 100000 to true valuation. The local
assessors jumped this assessment from
1923. 600, 600 to $47, 0 1000.
Under the Duffield act the assessment of
second-class railroad property was placed
in the hands of local assessors. For 1905
and prior to that the assessments had
been made by the State Board OF Assess
ors. Their 1905 assessment was the S23,
600, 900 one. Mayor Fagan's administra-
ton claimed that the State Board had
greatly unoervalued the railroad property,
and they increased 1t 104 per cent. in
| value.
Railroad companies appealed last year
from this assessment. They asked for a
reassessment of all property in Jersey
City, alleging that the property of indi-
viduals was undervalued. while railroad
property was overvalued. They also asked
that railroad property be reduced to true
value. The State Board sustained the
railroad contention as to a reassessment
and ordered one. but took no step toward
reducing railroad valuations. The city ap-
pealed and the Pagan administration won
a notable victory when the Court OF
Errors and Appeals upset the judgment of
the State Board as affirmed by the Su-
preme Court.
All the railroad companies with termin-
ais and property in Jersey City were rep
resented by counsel and William III. Cor
bin made the opening speech.
Mr.. Corbin declared that the addition of
$24.0 0O.O 900 of value to second-class rail-
road property by the local assessors was
far in excess of true value.
'Mr. Record informed u.s." said Major
Carl Lentz. president of the State Board,
that the city proposes to further In
crease that valuation by $10,00O.0 o. or $12.-
00o, 900 for 1907. as 1t was only 50 per cent
of true value to assess that railroad prop
erty at s47. 900, Geo."
1--WE will Lave to come before you again
next year" asserted Mr.. Corbin.
Whatever we decide this year will prob
ably fix the valuations for this years as
sessment.' said President Lentz.
Mr.. Corbin went on to- say that the
city had swelled its assessment total last
year by including the ferries, which had
been assessed by the State Board of AS
SCISSORS. and even the ferry boats. which
are personal property. He declared that
the local assessors had even added values
for franchises.
you will have to take those items
separately so that we will know how
much to deduct decided Major Lentz.
1.-THE land in the railroad years was as
sessed at enormous values continued Mr.,
Corbin, but we won't differ much with
the city on the improvements"
1.-The city will present evidence to JUS
tify it in raising the assessments on rail-
road improvements and particularly build
ings," declared Mr.. Record.
VIII you deduct from the land TO add
to the buildings?" asked Major Lentz.
NO" replied Mr.. Record, 'the city will
add to both this year"
Mr.. Corbih asserted that the railroad
land had been assessed at 10000 an acre
and that IL was too high. while he admitted
that the total assessment of $4,000, 900 was
too low. He asserted that S47, 900, 900 was
entirely too high.
81 want the railroads to present their
case in full" declared Major Lentz, $50
that when 1 give an opinion it will appeal
to intelligent people as an intelligent
opinion. l don't want to appeal to the
prejudices or passion of people. Anybody
reducing a railroad Assessment is open to
public criticism these days
Major Lentz asked Mr.. Corbin If he was
prepared to state what would be true
value for the railroad property. Mr.. Car
bin said that teh companies would leave
that to the board to decide as the rail-
roads would present evidence to show
what was true value in each parcel.
when you fix true value for us we will
be the sufferers" complained Mr.. Corbin,
because the property of individuals will
still be assessed at 20 per cent. of true
value so that the railroads will suffer by
80 per cent"
''That will not be so on this years as
sessment," replied Major Lentz, FOR the
city's assessors are making an honest
effort to asses all property at true value.
/ am convinced that this year Jersey City
Will have a true value assessment"
1T may be on land but not on build
ings," retorted Mr.. Corbin.
mo, that is not So" asserted Major
Lentz. "The city is trying to make a true
value assessment and L believe tina Mr..
Record is sincerely doing what he can to
further it. ] am satisfied that there will
be honest valuations in Jersey City and In
Hudson County this year. The eounty
board is also doing excellent work"