The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-06-09
IMPEACHMENT OF
STATE ASSESSORS
MAY Be ASKED
Governor Mum on Action Re-
garding Threat to Call Spe-
cial Legislative Session.
REQUEST TO SEE THE
MINUTES MEETS REFUSAL
in Trenton in Anticipa.
ton of Serious Trouble in
Railroad Assessment Fight.
Especial to the Evening start

OF Assessors is in session today con-
sidering the muddle over the taxation
of second-class railroad property
throughout the State caused by the re-
fusal of David Baird and Theodore
Strong, OF the board, to permit the re-
assessment for 1906 and 1907 by the
board to be adopted.
Impeachment proceedings have been
threatened. Baird n Strong desire To
prevent the Governor from calling an
extraordinary session of the Legisla-
ture to lave a substitute passed to
make legal an assessment at a later
date than June 4, the date fixed by the
emergency law of the last session for
the completion of the work.
Fort Wont Talk Now.
Governor Fort, when asked if he pro-
posed to call an extraordinary session
of the Legislature, said: 'I will not at
this time maxi comment on the possi-
biity Of calling a special session."
The commissioners had the complete
reassessment in their hands May 30,
but refused to permit a meeting of the
board before today. Commissioners
Charles Hendrickson and o. C. Bogar-
dus insisted hat the board should
meet and complete the assessment in
the time prescribed by law.
AS a result of the action of Messrs
Baird and Strong. counsel to the rail-
a contend that any ssessmen for
the veal 1906 and 1907 which may
now be made will be illegan and there
fore null and void. They are prepar-
ing to certiorari any such assessment.
wouldn't Show Minutes.
In order 10 verify or disprove the as
sertion that Baird and Strong mad
stayed away from meetings to prevent
a quorum, a reporter today asked Com
missioner Baird for the minutes of the
boardIfor the ten meetings last past.
Mr.. Baird referred him to Secretary
Irving Mcguire, who said: Mr.. Baird
told me you wanted thens. The matter
will be taken up in the meeting, and if
the commissioners vote o permission
l will show them to you
Are the minutes of the State Board
of Assessors public records and as such
open to inspection by citizens?" he was
asked.
Mr.. Mcguire replied: "They are not
public records, and it is for the board
to decide who shall look at them"
IF / cannot see the minutes will
you tell me how many meetings Com
m~issioners Baird and Strong have at
tended since March?"
Every one"
Then why was not the assessment
mad within the time fixed by law?"
I'll tell you about that. You see,
Commissioner Strong and Commits
sioner Baird did not receive the figures
on the reassessment until May 80, and
not having the previous records at their
homes they could not digest the figures
before the meeting which occurred the
following Tuesday, only three days
later. They wanted time to study the
figures. You must realize that since
1905 the assessment of second class
railroad property had not been in the
hands of the State Board of Assessors
and we had all dismissed the subject
from u minds and had to take it up
anew. There are 800 taxing districts
in the State and If you multiply that
number by the lis railroads you may
get some idea of what ii means to as
sess second class railroad property
will the board make an assessment
|now?"
Certainly it will"
Twill not such an assessment be H.
legal?"
mot at all. There is a misunder-
standing about the law. It is directory,
not mandatory. The law does not com
mand that the impossible be done. II
would have been impossible to have
completed the work in the time fixed
There is nothing mandatory in the
law"
Commissioner Hendrickson refused t
discuss the question Of whether a be
lated assessment would be legal or not
Dixon VIII Get Busy.
Clerks are at work in the office of the
State Board of Assessors getting the
books in shape in anticipation of Mr.
Mcguire being ~subpoenaed to be exam,
ined as to the methods Of the board
when Corporation Counsel Warner
Dixon, of Jersey City, takes TESTIMONY
in the m%andamus proceedings instituted
yesterday. 1t is said that Dixon will
conduct a complete Lexow of the boart
of assessors. The testimony adduced il
the mandamus proceedings may form
the basis of the impeachment charges
it is said.
M0T0REn S25 WORTH TOO FAST.