The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-07-16
Rnrlineton,a Asaessment.

AOSlsldbuAc oudCtcu law WulSu pTOFlu6t
that citiesof the third class-which includes
Burlington-shall have board of assessors
elected by the common council or Other
governing body. Said assessors shall re.
ceive such salary as from time to time
shall be fixed by the governing body, and
shall give bond for the faithful perform
ance of their duty. A majority of said
board may do the work in case of the alb
sence Of the third member from any
cause.
This law was enacted ct the session of
1910 and was approved March 10 of that
year AS the work of assessing does not
commence until May 20 there was ample
time for Burlington city to take notice of
the act, but nothing was done. The year
1911 was allowed TO go by in the same
manner, but for some reason city council
suddenly awoke In 1919 and appointed
three assessors. The appointees did not
get to work. They gave the required
bond, but one of them said the salary had
not been fixed and he did not intend to go
to work until he had some assurance what
his pay was to be.
With the idea of getting some inform.
alton on this matter the Burlington county
Board of Taxation went to Burlington
Tuesday evening and was given the priyi
lege of speaking on the subject. The
question was asked what council pro.
nOqp1 Z
thing is done In the matter of assessment
there must be quick action, as the returns
must be in by the first Tuesday In August
in order that the moneys may be appor-
toned to the various municipalities. If
one township does not send In its assess
ment that holds the county returns IN
and In turn the state returns are DELAYED.
l. Snowden Haines was spokesman for
council and he replied that council had
done its duty In the matter and 1t was
now up to the County Board to finish the
affair. On the point Of salaries Mr.. Haines
said there was nothing in the law requir-
Ing or authorizing the city to fix the
salaries, thereby showing his Ignorance of
that part iof the subject when the law
distinctly says: ''said assessors shall re
ceive such salary as shall from time to
time be fixed by the governing body of
said city" Mr.. Haines also intimated
that the city could not enforce action by
the assessors, but the law requires these
officers to give bond for the faithful per-
Torrance of their duties, and council has
that matter entirely under its control. Mr.
Haines gave long dissertation on the
Jasmine legislation" that had been given
to the public, and put the act Of 1910 In
that category.
He was told that the Burlington County
Board had not come to discuss the wisdom
or foolishness of legislation, but wanted
to get an idea of what 1t would have to do
in order to have the proper work done in
the city of Burlington. He was also told
that the law was no more Jasmine" now
than In 1910 and If 1t was not necessary
to obey 1t in that year, why was there
such sudden change of heart by the ap-
pointment of three assessors this year
The fact that Burlington could not get It's
share of money If it did not return some
basis ON which to apportion was again
alluded to.
This seemed to touch Mr.. Haines right
on the spot, and he opened his heart then
and there. He told council not to worry
on that score, as he would guarantee to
furnish all the money needed to run the
city next year. So far as the county was
concerned he did not care If Burlington
did not contribute to the general fund on
that line. He thought Burlington city
would be as well off, possibly better, If 1t
did not haYe any county funds to come
within It's limits.
With this statement before 1t the county
Board Of Taxation was perfectly content
to let the matter rest. MIR. Haines, how
ever, wanted to continue the discussion.
and he asked what would be the basis for
assessment in the county. Would 1t be
100 per cent or less on the value of pro-
perty
The answer to this query was that 1t
was hard to see where Burlington city
was at all interested in this subject. Hav-
ing declined to give any definite satisfac.
ton on what would be done In the matter
of assessment in that city, and Mr..
Haines having very generously agreed to
furnish money for city expenses, regard
less of assessments, there was nothing
further to discuss, and thanking council
for it's attention and thecourtesy shown in
granting hearing the Board of Taxation
retired.
1t is reported that later in the evening
the salary of each of the assessors was
fixed at 5000, except for the assessor who
does the clerical work, whose pay will be
$3.50.