The Penn's Grove record., 1921-10-21

are not assessed to within 30 per cent
Of true value. as the law requires.
The complaint against assessments
In MiddleseX county was filed by the
Onion County Board of Freeholders
and was the result Of an investigation
by experts employed by the board.
Here also, it is alleged, the assess
ments are far below true value, with
the result that the taxpayers Of Union
are paying more than their proportion
ate share Of state taxes.
The action of the state board in go
Ing directly into Middlesex and Morris
counties is the first step in a move
ment that may result in raising assess
ments in every county of the state.
Under the new law the board now has
complete authority to go into any tax
ing district or county and either make
or order a reassesSment. Previous to
the enactment of this law the board
was handicapped in that it possessed
neither the proper authority or the
funds for such review. Under the
latest legislation it can 90 to the state
emergency fund for funds to conduct
the Investigations.
It is also understood that the county
of Hudson has employed experts and
is investigating the assessments in a
number of counties. This may result
in further complaints being filed with
the state board, and it is understood
Hudson or one of the other counties
may cause an investigation in some of
the southern counties.
Under the new law complaint of
supposed Irregularities must be filed
with the state board, which is then
empowered TO direct an Investigation.
The Investigations in Middlesex and
Morris counties will continue simulta-
neously with the present assessment
as it is being made, with the result
that on January 10, 1929, when the
tax lists are turned over by the asses
sOrs to the county boards, the state
board will be in position to determine
Immediately the adequacy of the as
sessments. If at that time it appears
that the law has not been substantial
ly complied with the state board will
either order or make a new assess
ment, which must be complete in time
to have the duplicates turned over to
the collectors on March Is.
Woozy Driver Hard Hit
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles
William L. Dill, at q conference Of
registered agents and inspectors Of
the department in the assembly cham
Der, expressed belief that the new mo-
tor vehicle law passed at the last ses-
sion Of the legislature is destined to
become the most effective measure in
the United States for the regulation
of vehicular traffic. The conference
was called by the commissioner for
the purpose of e~xpounding the essen
tial provisions of the new law, which
becomes operative January l.
The measure, Commissioner Dill ex-
planned, gives to the commissioner in
creased authority in dealing with per-
sons found guilty of driving autOmo-
biles while in an intoxicated condition.
Under the act he is empowered to hold
court in any part of the state and is
also authorized to impose Jail SEN
fences upon any driver convicted upon
this charge. Mr.. Dill emphasized oar
ticularly upon the inspectors the ne
cessity of the utmost vigilance in the
enforcement of this feature of the act.
The new act requires that all COM
mercial vehicles, after January l, be
registered on the basis of weight, plus
carrying capacity. Pointing out that
in the new law a fine of 500 is pro-
vided for the first offense for false
registration of weights of commercial
cars, Commissioner Dill instructed the
inspectors and agents to insist upon
presentation of a satisfactory weight
slip from an accredited weigher before
issuing a registration certificate.
Passenger cars under the new law
are registered on the basis of horse
power, with a minimum of 81, while
jitneys are registered on the basis of
seating capacity, with a minimum fee
of SIS. All state. county and munich
pal machines will be registered in
Trenton, and plates will be forwarded
to the various departments without
charge.
Fears Disease Invasion
The present lax system followed in
the examination of aliens upon their
admittance to the United States is at
tended by danger that this country
will be stricken with one or more of
the plaques now ravaging various
parts of Europe, DIR. Royal S. Cope
land, health commissioner of New
York city, told the members of the
State Homeopathic Society, holding
their annual convention in Trenton.
Typhus fever, cholera, bubOnic plague
and epidemic tuberculosis threaten to
invade the United States because
there are not adequate laws to govern
the inspection of immigrants, said DR..
Copeland. Disease RACES everywhere
in Europe. Hundreds of thousands of
the people over there are in rags and