Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-05-03
COUNTY TAX BD. ORGANIZES.
ACTION TAKEN CAUSE Of
PROTEST BY 0USTED men
Hermann and Strassburger,
Latter Being Made Presi-
dent, Take Office.
By STAFF Correspondent.

NEW BRUNSWICK, May 81
Mayor Joseph A. Hermann, of Roose-
Welt, took his seat in the Middlesex
county tax board Saturday, and to-
gether with John Strassburger, an
other Democratic member of the
board, a meeting was held, resolu-
tions passed and Frank NJ. Deiner
was chosen as secretary of the board
to take the place Of William A.
Spencer, George ]. Haney, the Re-
publican member of the board,
was not at this meeting, and the
other two members of the board
claim they tried to get in touch with
the president, but found that he was
in New York.
George j. Haney was president of
the board last year and stated this
morning that anything put through at
the meeting on Saturday was not law
full. As a result all business transacted
was carried out again this morning.
Most of the resolutions proposed
were carried through on a strictly
party line. William Spencer, secre-
tary of last years board, has been
requested to turn the keys and books
of the secretary over to the board,
and the retiring secretary stated that
same would only be done under pro-
test.
John Strassburger, was elected
president of the board>at the meeting
this morning, the vote being two to
one. The salary of the office of sec
retary is $500, and the hours are
10 to IL in the morning and to
In the afternoon except on Saturday,
when the hours are 1912.
Mr.. Haney and the retiring secre-
tary made a claim regarding n law
passed by the legislature regarding
the tenure of office. Messrs. Strass-
burger and Hermann declared this
morning that they understood the
law required organization of the
board on the first day of May. the
date of the beginning of the term of
a member and the meeting was held
at the office of the board on Satur-
day. Not finding George ]. Haney
there, they tried to reach him and
secure his attendance. but found that
he had gone to New York and would
not return until late in the afternoon.
Being a majority of the board they
organized and passed resolutions as
they felt the law required or justified.
They met again this morning with
Mr.. Haney present and In courtesy
to him formally went over what al
ready had been done on Saturday.
Governor Edwards has been ad-
vised that the attempt to pass over
his veto, the bill placing secretaries
of these boards under tenure of Office
advanced are that it being an assem-
bly, bill. the senate could not act on
the vetoes when the assembly was
adjourned, at the time of the vote in
the senate and that the bill In itself
really amends an act of the legisla-
ture, that is not an act under which
tax boards are constituted. Governor
Edwards had also advised that county
boards are organized on the first day
of May. and Messrs. Strassburger and
Hermann. were aware of the execu-
tive's stand.
William A. Spencer the secretary
of the board. who was ousted from of
flee this morning, declared that the
action taken by the board in remov-
Ing is Illegal under the tenure of Of
flee act and that the action Is above
the law. He stated that in order to
put him out of office a cause must be
shown and trial given him. He will
probably take certiorari action
The following written statement
was made this morning by Mr.. Spen-
Ger:
ITO the members of the Middlesex
County Board of Taxation: 1 hereby
tender my services as secretary of the
Middlesex County Board Of Taxation,
being legally entitled to the office of
secretary to the board under re-
cent act of the legislature of the
state of New Jersey. AS to the sur
render to the board of any books, pa
pers or any other property of the
board in my custody according to
resolution passed this day. the same
II done, will be under protest and no
rights under the law concerning me
as the legal secretary of the board
Will be waived thereby"
j. Frederick Orpen, the Republ
can member of the board, who was
ousted and whose place was taken by
Mayor Hermann, OF Roosevelt, did
not attend this mornings meeting of
the board and 1t could not be learned
what steps he had taken in his fight
to retain his Office, IL he decides to
oppose the appointment.