The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-02-09


THE fourth annual report of the State
Board Of Equalization of Taxes has been
mailed to different parts of the State. The
Board had before 1t last year 7S5 petitions
of appeal. The report says: "a large
number of the petitioners, while practical
ly admitting that the value Of their pro-
perty assessed was not in excess Of the
true value, claimed that 1t was in excess
of the general assessed value of property
in the taxing district and therefore unjust
to the petitioner. In all such cases the
petitioner was assured that this remedy
was not in having his own assessment
lessened, but to petition to have such
property as was assessed below true
valuation raised" This Is the case
evidently all over the state. 1t has been
the situation in Burlington county. yet 1t
has been the hardest kind of work to get
any one to give tangible point on which
to act. The State Board suggests that
ssthe power to make an order for the re-
assessment of district ought to be exist
emit" In the table given by the State
Board the number of appeals from the
decisions Of the Burlington County Board
were five. The State Board possibly did
not have the space to give the final settle
ment of these cases, so we will state that
of the five that went to the State Board
dismissed, and In the two remaining cases
there was q reduction In the assessments,
one from $4.250 to $500. the other from
81, 900 to $4,000. The state Board says
1.-THE County Boards have done splendid
work and haye more than justified the
wisdom OF their creation. They have done
more than any other one agency to
equalize the burden Of taxation. The
report Is dated October 81, 1908.
and best-equipped newspaper men In New
Jersey, died suddenly early on Friday
morning at his home in Trenton. He had
been attending to his duties and was
busily engaged during the morning. In
the early part of the evening he complain
ed of great fatigue and retired about ten
o'clock. Shortly before midnight he was
attacked with apoplexy and although
medical aid was summoned he soon died.
Mr.. Cloak was an Englishman by birth,
coming to this country when eight years
of age. His first occupation was teaching
school. but in 1851 he accepted the posi-
ton of editor of the Monmouth Inquirer.
Giving this up he returned to teaching,
but he seemed to think that he was better
fitted for newspaper work and In 1857 took
q position with the State Gasstts. finally
becoming editor In chief of that paper.
He was legislative newspaper correspon-
dent when there were but three of that
class in Trenton. he soon made himself a
favorite with all with whom he became asso
ciated and Gov. Werts placed him ON the
Riparian Commission. He was the New
Jersey editor of the New York Herald.
When the position of State Editor was
created, an Office whose incumbent was ex-
pected to look over all reports and prune
them as he thought expedient. Mr.. Cloke
was selected. He was good companion
and while he was eyer nthe alert for good
items he was particular to steer clear of
anything that savored of personality or
had shady inclination. Not only was he
favorite with the newspaper men but he
was respected and beloved by all who had
the fortune to enjoy his acquaintance and
his list of friends extended from one end
of the state to the other.