Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1914-10-20
ASKS QUESTION:
10 ASSESSORS
OWN PROPERTY?
Alderman Wilson Ayers One or
Two Assessors May Not Be
Assessments Would be
Void for Past Five Years.

Following upon the controversy
which involved the ability of commits
sioners of assessment for street i'm
provements, Alderman William c..
Wilson raised the question as to the
legality of the present commissioners
to serve, inasmuch as 1t had been re-
ported that one or two of them were
not freeholders, at the regular meet
ing of the Board of Aldermen last
night. 1t was maintained that as a
result all assessments made the past
few years might have to be thrown
out. The subject was held to be an
important one and a motion was
passed to have the committee on tax
alton investigate. 1t was stated at
the Office of the collector of revenue
today that it is believed all of the as
SCISSORS were property owners, accord
t1g to law, and that the subject was
.sing investigated Henry McCul-
Tough, the only one of the three as
SCISSORS who could be reached this
morning, stated that he was prop
erty owner and he believed that Math
Weirup and Thomas J. Connors were
likewise.
In broaching the subject at the
meeting last night, Alderman Wilson
expressed surprise that none of the
assessors were on hand to demand an
apology from him, in view of his dec
laration at a previous meeting that
the matter of assessments simmered
down to the engagement of
good and capable assessors who
would not make mistakes. He said
he was ready to apologize If they
could show him that they we're right.
He was ready to prove that they had
made many mistakes in levying as
sessments and he offered to produce
a list, which he had in his pocket,
half as long as his arm, all of which,
he said, could not be blamed upon
the engineer. The first ward alder
man desired to know what action
was being taken on an erroneous as
sessment in Brighton avenue, letter
for which he gave Chairman John j.
Clark. of the committee on streets
and sewers, last Friday night. Mr.
Wilson thought that there would
have been a report on the subject last
night and that it would have been re-
rection. Mr. Wilson caused surprise
when he told of having heard that
one or more of the assessors were
not property owners and were there
fore ineligible under the law to
serve. AS far as they being saloon
keepers was concerned, Mr.. Wilson
declared that did not matter. as sa-
loonkeepers could serve just as well
as other men. so long as they were
capable.
Alderman Clarg replied concern
ing the Brighton avenue case. He
declared that was an instance where
a connection had not been put in at
22S Brighton avenue and charge had
been made. The communication was
read by Mr.. Clark. 1t bore the name
OF former Alderman F A. Seaman
and was signed by Carl Pou'sen, as
proof that the connection for which
charge had been made was not In
stalled. The fifth ward alderman
said he had been called to New
Brunswick yesterday afternoon and
was not done working on 1t. He
maintained that the error in that
case was not the fault of the asses
sors.
Upon Mr.. Wilson's request 'or ac-
tion the letter was officially referred
to the street committee for investi-
cation and a report at the next
meeting.
Alerman John Kelly declared that
he thought it time the subject of the
eligibility of assessors was taken up
He held it to be an important one, as
Mr.. Wilson did, and thought it was
time a committee was named to in
yestigate. Mr.. Wilson followed stat
ing that if Mr.. Kelly made that as a
motion he would second it. Chair
man Weaver said he was ready to en-
tertain motion along that line and
a motion was made by Mr.. Kelly and
seconded, referring the subject to the
committee on taxation, which is COM
posed of Aldermen Hilker, Kutcher
and Kelly.
Just before the matter was finally
disposed of, Mr.. Wilson endeavored
to make 1t clear that he was not at
tacking the present board of assess
ors. He repeated that the question
was one of great importance. He re-
ferred to the re-assessment on the
Miller street sewer. me price ieNleu
there, $50 lot, he maintained to be
q terrible thing" Mr. Clark took
part In the discussion again and
stated that was another instance
where the assessors were not at
fault
Thirteen property owners along
the line of Johnstone street had re-
before the board last
night, objecting to payment of as
sessments for grading the thorough
fare north of Hall avenue. No rea-
son was given and the aldermen ex-
pressed surprise as result The
communication was referred to the
committee on taxation.
Light Pole Crashes to Street