Perth Amboy evening news., 1912-04-09
GOVERNOR
To- EXPLAIN IT

lSOtllilltu HUN pdS6 L.
course In urging his associates on
the State Board of Assessors to open
the books for the information Of the
public, when they had been sealed
for so many years prior to his~connec-
'+SS94f with the Board of Assessors?
IF you are such a believer in
pitiless publicity. why did you ap-
point on the Board Of Assessors one
of whose public career you had no
personal knowledge, to succeed one
through whose efforts the railroads
assessments during the past four
years has been increased one hundred
n fifteen millions of dollars?
WAS the change IN the personnel
OF the Board Of Assessors made at
the request of some corporation
whose assessment had been increased
because OF his connection with the
Board2 II not, at whose request
WAS the change made, and why?
WAS his being IN the Board of
Assessors detrimental to the States
best interest, and, II not, why did
you feel 1t necessary to place an
other there in his stead to pass judy
ment upon the railroad appeals which
have already been presented and who
is to be a judge without hearing
or being conversant with the facts
| presented on the appeals? Was 1t
| with the expectation that the rail
roads would get relief?
when did you reach the conclu-
sion to change the personnel of the
Board? Was It after the conference
he had a few weeks ago with you
when you inquired OF him as to what
position he was going to take upon
the valuations which had been made,
and he told you he was going to
VOID to sustain them? Was his
statement to you then the cause of
some of the railroads disseminating
their hearings before the Board I'M
til his successor was appointed, and
willingly assuming the payment of
an additional II per cent per annum
upon their deferred payments OF
taxes due?
Hints at Ingratitude.
when In need of his political
services last summer In Monmouth
county dd you not. voluntarily, say
to himH effect. that regardless of
rumorsSthat were current about his
homo county, you need feel no con-
Germ about reappOintment?' And did
he not do as he agreed?"
when one of his friends called
upon you on March II did you not
say, the Doctor will not be turned
DOWN. If you did say that, how
do you square your words with your
later actions?
when some of his friends called
! II anon ynn thA Aav yn, znnf Tn fhr
appointment. and asked for his reten-
ton in the State Board of Assessors
did you not say that every statement
made by them was true that he had
made a good, efficient and. capable
official. but that 1t was useless to talk
further because Of the reason that
you could not refute any Of the
claims set up by them. and that II
only added to your predicament?
What was your predicament
In view of the above facts and
questions was II because of any oh,
lection to his social or personal
standing that caused you to break
your word with him or his friends!
Having performed the duties as 6
member Of the State Board of Asses.
sors with a faithful. conscientious
and sincere desire to be both just tc
the State aud the corporations az,
sessed, should the work of the
Board be set aside and a deduction Ii
the valuations as heretofore made be
allowed. and the taxpayers and the
schools Of this State suffer thereby
will 1t not deyolve upon you to ex.
plain the use therefor?"
Yours respectfully.
JOHN F. KELLY,
Secretary Raritsu Independent Dem
ocratie Club.
Ke-port n. j., April s. 1912.