Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-11
FEDERAL SHIP PLANT
RES|STSC0UNT TAX
Gloucester City Yard Owned by
U. S., Says New York Ship
building Company
ASSESSMENT WAS S475, 900

The Camden County Board Of Taxa
tion yesterday, after hearing the testi-
mony in the appeal Of the United States
Shipping Board and New York Ship
building Corporation against the $40
600 tax assessment made on the new
shipyard in the upper end of Glouccs
ter City by the Board Of Assessors of
that city. decided to reserve its decision
until later date.
Neither the shipbulding corporation
nor the shipping board offered any OBJ
lection against the amount Of the as
sessment, but made their fight on the
grounds that the shipyard cannot be
assessed because il Is owned by the
United States Government City So
licitor Charles w. Letzgus represented
the city of Gloucester and Attorney
Keys, assistant counsel OF the Finer
gency Fleet Corporation. represented
the shipping board and Malcolm w.
Webster the shipyard firm.
The first and main witness was !.
v. Watson. assistant secretary of the
titled to these facts: That the Finer
gency Fleet Corporation entered into
three contracts with the New York
Shipbuilding Corporation in May, June
and July of last year for the ConstruC-
tion of the new shipyard and the build
ing of ships. The Fleet Corporation
acts as the agent of the shipping board.
and when the ships are built the title
passes to the shipping board and the
money to pay for the work is supplied
under an act of Congress. The ship
ping board was Incorporated under the
laws of the District Of Columbia, and
there are seven stockholders, who
hold one share of stock each. and the
balance of stock is held by the shipping
board. They have the right to dispose
of their stock if they wish at any time
The shipping board holds 400, 90:
ment the ways and buildings are to bt
sold to the shipyard when the shipping
board is through with them.
j. IT. Wickersham, secretary and
treasurer of the shipbuilding corpora
ton, said that the shipyard firm pur
chased the land where the Shipyard is
built and allows the shipping board the
use of it free of charge, but that the
shipyard firm will receive percentage
on the construction of ships.
Solicitor Letzgus brought out the
fact that the shipping board had also
erected buildings in Camden. but nc
appeals had been taken. Treasurer
Wickersham said that the shipyard
firm had been informed that no assess
ment had been made on those buildings.
The attorneys for both sides submitted
briefs. Solicitor Letzgus contended that
the shipping board is a separate corpo
ration from the government. and that the
stockholders hold stock in the same way
as stockholders in other organizations
/ and that the shipping board builds ships
and has sold some of them, and that it is
entitled to be assessed for taxation the
same as any other corporation. Attor
ney Keys, for the shipping board. argued
that the shipping board is the agent OF
the President of the United States ant
is spending money of the government
appropriated by Congress. and to assess
the shipping board would make the
United States pay taxes.
Attorney Schoefflin. representing the
Pusey & Jones Company, withdrew the
appeal of the company for reduction
of $191 900 on it's land and buildings.
The appeal of the Evangelical Church
for the removal of the assessment on its
house of worship was allowed.