The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1921-08-19
JOHN E. BARBER ANSWERS
COMMUNITY HOUSE
APPEAL
CONTINUED from first page)


ware Township l certainly did want
it. But if the present owners of the
property were exempt under the tax
ing laws of New Jersey, l did not
want it. We agreed to submit the
matter to the Township Attorney,
which l did June 4th, 1920.
Two days later 1 wrote Mr.. ia
queth that the Township Attorney,
(Mr. E. w. Hunt, had given his o.
pinion that they were liable for the
unpaid 1920 tax. Under date of June
10th l received long letter from Mr..
Jaqueth, argumentative in character,
stating that the opinion as rendered
by Mr.. Hunt was beside the point,
setting up his own opinion in oppo-
sition to the one received from Mr..
Hunt, but saying the tax would be
paid under protest, and that | would
doubtless receive a check the first of
the following week. | waited one
week and failed to receive a remit
lance. l called Mr.. Jaqueth on the
phone, asking him about the prom
Used settlement. He then said the
matter had been referred to him, that
he had decided to pay it under protest
and appeal to the County Board of
Taxation. And he again said l would
receive check early the next week.
l waited ten days, then called him on
phone and reminded him of his prom
Use, and was then told by him that
the Community House Committee by
a majority vote had decided not to
pay this tax until their legal rights
were determined | asked him at this
time why the Community House Com
mittee were voting on the proposition
after it had been referred to him.
And on receipt of the question his
telephone had a paralytic stroke and
died on the spot. | next asked him
for the tax December 9th at which
time the Township was urgently in
need of funds with which to pay
State, County and Township debts
due December 18th. He said at this
time he was almost certain I would
receive it before the 18th. And he
seemed so earnest, so sweet and smil-
ing, that was soft enough to believe
what he said, and foolish enough to
write him an advance note of thanks
that same evening.
l next met the gentleman Deem
Der oath when he appeared before the
Township Committee and asked them
to instruct the assessor to omit as
sessing the Community House prop
erty for 1921. At this time by per-
mission of Chairman Crum / asked
the gentleman what disposition would
be made of the 1920 tax providing
the Committee granted his request
for exemption. He again assured me
it would be paid at once. remarked,
"You have often told me that, but
the tax is still unpaid" He then be-
came very angry, saying he had new
er made me any promise of payment.
He pounded the table with his fist,
and the village blacksmith who ac-
him looked almost as bad
ly scared as he was August 3rd when
he testified at the appeal hearing
that a property purchased for $4,000.
March 31st 1920 with added improve
ments totaling about $500. was on
ly worth $4,000. October LIST, 1920.
When Chairman Crum asked Rev.
Jaqueth December oath, 1920, upon
what grounds he based his claim for
tax exemption. he replied in sub
stance, "All for moral uplift, nothing
for gain. And we have had no reve-
nue. from the property" He did not
that political parties had
paid for the privilege of holding
in that structure. He forgot
entirely that the Township Commit
ee had issued an order every three
months, at 1925 each, for the privi-
lege of meeting there. The first one
of these orders was issued June 26th
1920. The next one was issued Sep
TENDER 25th, 1920. And yet he testi-
fled August Bird, 1921 that he re-
ceived both of these orders during
August 1920. These orders were cred
tied on the Community House 1920
tax, which l received January 1921.
And if only a few items on the dup
licate were as difficult to collect as
this one proved to be, the salary OF
the Collector should be raised. Rev.
Jauueth has spent much time and
thought in an effort to have it re-
duced. He has been censored for this,
but should be commended. If by train
ing and experience he shows a spec
ial fitness to improve conditions in
Township State and Nation, there
should be no limit to his field of &C
tivities.
With your permission l would like
the privilege of answering in a later
issue of your paper the anonymous
articles relative to the Community
House proposition which appeared in
YOUR pepper under dates of June 24th
and August 9Th.
lc;rpadN Holm F. RARBER.