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

After assailing the members of the
local tax board in unmeasured terms
on Friday last, and making charges
that are not even justified as "po-
litical effect" scheme, the Evening
News found 1t advisable to publish
this tribute to the efficiency of the
Newark board:
1.-THE Newark tax board has
gained a reputation that extends
throughout the nation for having
what is generally acknowledged to be
the simplest and most scientific and
effective system of assessment any
where employed. The local system
has, In fact. been copied. either who'll
ly or partly, by many of the larger
cities of the United States"
This did not placate the tax COM
missloners for the attack made upon
their integrity, however, SO they for
warded the following communication
to the Evening Star as we'll as to the
Evening News itself, for pub ication:
There have appeared in the New
ark Evening News during the past
few days. as q part of Its desperate
attack upon the city administration.
certain articles constituting q direct
challenge of the integrity of the
members of the Board Of Assessment
and Revision of Taxes, and the most
serious reflection upon the way they
have performed the duty which the
| law imposes upon them.
Knowing that though opposed to
the administration you have sought
to exercise a spirit of fairness we
asked that you give space to this
letter. The News characterizes the
Prudential tax assessment as a blum
der, ignoring the fact that the city
| had already collected almost three
quarters of million dollars taxes,
from the fund which the court
| finally declared to be exempt from
taxation. and was bound by every
moral consideration to resist to the
utmost the striking of this vast sum
from the ratables.
1T also charges, In effect, that the
| increase of general ratables in 1913.
amounting to about SAB, 900. 900, was
dictated by partisan motives, and
that this increase was levied in an In
equitable manner, the heaviest burden
being placed In districts occupied by
| political enemies, while other districts,
presumably occupied by political
| friends, escaped wholly or In part. II
such q charge were true every men,
Der Of this board should be behind
prison bars today. OF course, 1t is
false, and its falsity can be best
shown by the fact that the numerous
appeals, which pursued their course
through the tribunals superior to this,
resulted In a net remission of but
$685., $50 in assessments.
This we regard as a complete an
| swer and vindication. In the assess
ments the board sought value, and
placed 1t on record wherever found.
Such districts of the city as showed
great Increases in value naturally had
greater assessments placed on them
than those districts where values had
Increased but slightly or had de-
| clined
with reference to the salary in
creases given some years ago to the
members of this board, 1t may be
sufficient to state that the bill to that
end was drawn by Jerome T. Congle-
ton, was fathered by Judge Harry V.
Osborne then Senator; was supported
by The present Governor, James f.
Fielder, among others, and received
the approving signature of Woodrow
Wilson, then Governor, now President
of the United States. We remain,
Very respectfully yours,
l"BOARD OF ASSESSMENT AND
REVISION OF TAXES OF NEW
| ARK, N. j.
Newark, October 81"
The tax board members are Moses
Reichmann. John L. Carroll, John
Howe. Thomas f. Preston and A.
! Wildrick Swain. Howe and Swain
are REPUBLICANS.