Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-04-14

MtQ0leSeX county Is aLNidCNh6 mNAO
attention outside tho county than 1t Is
right here at home. While local tax
payers have expressed considerable
concern over the increase in rate it
has remained for Hudson county TO
call for an investigation OF the valua-
tions here.
II seems the Trenton Sunday Times
Advertiser made some comment on he
mounting tax rate in Middlesex which
inspired the following from the Hud-
son Dispatch:
1T Is Just possible that an investiga-
itlou Of tax assessments In Middlesex
county might relieve the sympathy
which the Trenton Times-Advertiser
expresses for municipalities in that
county with high tax rates. The
lTimes-Advertiser says ed~itorially:
Z" New Brunswick's unenviable dis
ltinction In the list of highly taxed
municipalities of New Jersey has been
short-llved. Last week Jamesburg
went ahead with a tax rate Of s4.52,
which is &c cents higher than that of
Brunswick. Highland Park and
Midtown, all in Middlesex county, also
passed New Brunswick. In this
relation It is interesting to note that
the immunity which small towns and
boroughs used to enjoy in the matter
Of heavy public burdens is disappear
ing. Time was when not a few resi-
dents Of tax-ridden cities found 1t
economical to go into the suburbs with
their families thereby being enabled TO
live In a handsome, spacious home
which cost so much less to buy and to
maintain than a similar establishment
would have cost in any large centre
of population. There was no expensive
government to keep up and the
absence Of some modern convenienees
reflected IN moderate real estate
valuations. But If the present ex-
perience Of various little Middlese1
county communities is to become gen
craI. there will be at least one less in
for taking a home outside
the larger cities OF the state.
" Perth Amboy, also in Middlesex,
has a new rate of s4.3O. Alongside the
rates mentioned. Trenton's
S3.49 rate does not look so bad after
all
Maybe if the assessments reached
as near 10 true value as they do in
Hudsop and Essex counties, the tax
In Middlesex. and for that mat !
ter in other counties Of the state,
be much lower-though the
taxes would be higher.
These high taxes, as a matter of
fact. would be u blessing In disguise,
If Middlesex county Is escaping with
assessments, for such q condition !
would mean that every taxpayer not
actually assessed at true value
be escaping a fair share Of the
tax and a fair share of the state
road tax.
at would be d good thing for Hud-
and Essex counties to unite in a
investigation of assessments In
Middlesex county. to see If there is
reason to ask for a thorough investiga-
ton.
The state tax burdens are entirely
too heavy to permit of any camoufag-
ing on low assessments and high tax
rates In these tines"
When Essex and Hudson counties
begin picking flaws In any of the other
counties of the state we are at once
reminded of the pot that called the
kettle black; OF the thief who himself
is the loudest In crying, stop thief!";
of the cuttle-fish that inks the water
to hide his presence; of the herring
being drawn across the trail to throw
the pursuers off the scent.
When 1t comes to %rottenness in gov
eminent affairs let Essex and Hudson
first TAX the beam out of their own
eyes before they find the mote in the
eye of anyone else. Middlesex tax
rate is high. to be sure, and every
means possible should be taken to re-
duce 1t, even to a revision Of assess
ments, but judging from reports from
lau parts of the state q general shake
lup everywhere would not be amiss.