Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-12-09
UNION COUNTY
CLAIM DENIED
MiddIesex Taxpayers at
Hearing Say Assessments
Are Not Too Low

NEW BRUNSWICK. Dec. -
Interesting data is being given by
The Joint committee representing
$4,000 600 OF tho taxable assess
mcnts of Mi6dlesex county 10 the
county tax board at a special ses-
SIGN being held in the f~reeholder's
meeting room here today. The
purpose of This committee Is to
show that MiddleseX county assess
ments are not moderated as COM
pared with the assessments of Tn
ion county.
Joseph Herman. chairman; 7. ;.
Hendricks and Frank Deiner, sec
rotary are receivin this information.
George Haney, the Perth Amboy
member of the county tax board
was unable to attend this session.
Representatives of industrial and
business interests from all i've the
county are furnishing the data in
a neffort to show that MiddleseN
County assessments are not toe low
Robert Carson, of New Brunswick
armed with considerable data which
he read to the board started off by
saying thai the association refutes
the statements made by Union
county assessors, charging hat
taxes in Middlesex county are too
low. He declared that the purpose
>of this committee, OF which he is
chairman, was to combat the activ-
tiles of the Union county board.
Mr.. Carson declared that the COM
mittee was not DESTROYS of evading
equal taxation, but that it did not
wan the taxes increased. He re-
ferred to the amount of property in
Middlesex county, exempted o
taxes. about $24, 000, 000, and with
this noun Middlesex county would
have ratables valued at SAB, 00O, 0O0.
The speaker referred to the trouble
people are having paying the pres
ent taxes and mortgages when they
come due, saying they are too high
row.
The committee chairman was talk
ing New Brunswick almost entirely
throughout his stay on the floor. He
referred to inflated sale prices on
certain properties, particularly those
purchased by foreigners, showing
r,1at st. Louis received 1900, 600
business from the Standard Under
ground Gable Company which should
come to the three plants of the COM
pany at Perth Amboy, Pittsburgh
and Oakland, Cal.
Mr.. Carson pointed out that the
GER CAPITA tax of MiddleseX county
s6.49, while that of Union county
<, $4.65. The speaker ~contended t.
ne density of population and bust
> s. should have something TO 40
18th the fixing of assessments.
A. Clayton Clark, representing the
Manufacturers Association of Perth
Amboy. was the next speaker. He
liked entirely on waterfront assess
-.1-t. s.o eV,rY0h a . tho rom Mai nj OF
tnion county was mainly for aa
sessment of waterfront properties in
this county. The speaker contended
that in this respect Union county
has no room for complaint.
The speaker pointed out that the
Union county waterfront is taxed in
-~Q< gt6ups, one for the small blocks
Intending back about $50 to 500 feet
snd<Situated in the vicinity of Eliza
beth'\ This group Is assessed at
about $50, 900 an acre., while another
group situated along the sound from
Elizabeth to Railway has two dif-
ferent rates, one of $4,000 per acre
and the other at $1,000 IN acre. This
property is assessed on an average
Of from $500 to s3,570 per acre.
Mr.. Clark declared hat Middlesex
county waterfront assessments are
dlSO 1NldCo IL wv O1R 49,
group at from $4,000 70 s20,50O
per acre, and another group at be-
tween $3.50 and s2,750. He stated
that If Middlesex property was zon-
ed like Union county property, Mid
dlesex county would be the highest
assessed. He continued by saying
hat property along the waterfront
in this county is not as valuable as
that in Union county.
The speaker declared that proper
ty along the Raritan river water
front Is not as valuable as along the
Staten Island sound. He requested
that the complaint of Union county
be ignored and declared that the
Perth Amboy manufacturers protest
against any increases on account of
the complaint.
Isaac Alpern, representing the
merchants and the Chamber of
Commerce, also asked hat no in
crease be made. He declared that
Union county property are assessed
from 20 per cent. to so per cent. Of
their real value.
A. Clayton Clark, Nathaniel
Pierce, C. C. Baldwin, John Bergen,
Isaac Alpern. Joseph Stricken and
John Pfeiffer were among those in
attendance from rerth Amboy.
Henry Parker, of New Brunswick,
president Of the First National bank
Of New Brunswick, corroborated
statements made before him that
sale prices are not the basis of true
value of property. He explained
that many large transactions in
Ne wBrunswick and Perth Amboy
have not yet been completely f.
nanced, the banks holding notes
which might be called in at any
time. Mr.. Parker attributed the
imitation to the purchasing of prop
erty by foreigners who have no idea
Of the actual value of the land
which they sre acquiring. He re-
ferred to such purchases and tram
sactions as "a TO the COM
nlunity."
Prosecutor Joseph z. Stricken. the
next speaker. said Middlesex
ty is merely a target for Union
county without n just cause.
Perth Amboy and New Brunswick,
he said. bear the largest part OF the
eounty's taxation and Union county
should not object to the present
taxes. The prosecutor pointed out
that more money is being needed
annually for the management of the
county and the "buck" of this rests
with the two largest cities. He
pointed out that there are many ru-
raj communities where no police Of
hcer are hired, those residents call
ing on the prosecutors detectives
for protection.
Joseph Hermann, as chairman of
the county tax board, said h other
members greatly appreciated the at
tttude and interest taken by indus
tries and civic bodies in Middlesex
county in furnishing data. maps and