Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-11-02

ratables. for the city Tax Board to
look for other taxable property to
make up the difference, and though
our local Tax Board is always vigi-
liant. 1t may be that 1t put on a little
extra steam in this case, because Of
the city's defeat in the second Pru-
Dental litigation.
But the Tax Board is bound by
law to assess property at It's value
where 1t can find it, and moreover,
it was, as was every other tax board
in the State, enjoined by the State
Board of Equalization to make par
ticular efforts to bring property as
sessments up to the standard con-
templated by the Constitution and
the laws.
"The Tax Board did its duty and
found about forty-four million dol
lars of value that could be added to
the ratables. How just and equita-
bic was this increase is shown by
the fact that although there were
number of protests made by proper
ty owners, the total remissionS made
by County and State Boards out of
this whole vast amount, totalled only
81 4e1 902. of prospects and upon ap-
peal by the city the State Board
restored and added total of $656.022,
making the net remissions $3.50 .SSO,
which seems to me Is substantially
a vindIcation for the action of the
city Tax Board and of the admins
tration.
The Rich. Not the Poor. Assessed.
Further, this article charges that
the increases were levied in districts
where our political enemies are num-
erous, and that districts where our
political friends reside escaped as o
whole or substantially. ] say this
is false. It is quite naturally that
the mansions of the rich, In districts
where values increase rapidly, and
important business property, where
such increases mean sometimes small
fortunes In year. should show the
heaviest increase in tax assessments.
/ presume that If we had put this
burden on working mems cottages
we would not have heard so much
about high taxes as we do.
"But there Is another way OF show
| ing whether or not we have been I'M
reasonable In our assessments Tor
purposes of taxation. The assessed
value of real estate in this city, land
and buildings, in 1907 were $246 GA, ISL.
The assessed valuation on realty, land
and buildings In 1914 are s846 273. 151,
showing a total increase Of $99, sos. $40.
Now the figures of the building de-
partment show that the value Of
buildings erected from 1907 to 1918, in
elusive, amounted to $50. 1ss.s24. Some
of these buildings, such as schools and
other public structures, and churches
are exempt from taxation.
LET us estimate the value Of ex-
enpt buildings at ten millions. Some
of the new buildings took the place
of old ones which had paid taxes. so
that they should be figured in COM
putting a net gain over new buildings.
Let us figure them at five millions, to
be liberal This shows a net increase
in value, due to new buildings sub
iect to taxation, of 68,19s,S24. Now,
deducting that from the total In
creased valuation in real estate, we
find that the total increase In land
valuations in the city of Newark In
the eight years Is only $a1, 400, 146.
Can anybody pretend that this Is an
abnormal increase in community
| that certainly, as the census reveals,
| is growing at the rate of 100000 per-
sons every ten years7"
Kraemer on the Tar Rate.
DIR. Charles b. Kraemer, president
of the Board of Works. and candidate
| for reelection, also addressed the
gathering. He showed how the tar
rate would be materially reduced by
! the meadow reclamation project. II
| the Democrats were returned &c
power.
| DIR. Kraemer also stated that the
| Democratic party proved itself to b'
| the party for the poor man and tins
| labor unions. He showed that tht
Democratic administration did more
| for the improvement of the schoo
! system than any other party, that TBS
1 Haussling administration paved more
\ - raa+o ana mazda mora irnprOVemonts