Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-04-19
ECONOMY
At So. AMbOY
Councilman DisbroW Would
Cut Police Appropriation.
Discuss High Tax Rate

| council last night at the regular BIZ
monthly meeting, a history of South
Amboy dating back to the year 1910.
The strongest part of the coun-
cilman's argument came when he
| told of a lengthy debate that occur
red in the year 1898 over the ex-
| penditure of 81 for a set of books.
The interest manifested by these
overseers of the peoples monthly,
by their stubbornness to yield 10
even so small an amount, Is hoped
will give example to those that Q
hold or will hold the reins OF the
| city, that they may be guided by a
real program of economy.
The recently published tag rate
for this city has created county wide
attention, while the taxpayers in
many instances will not know what
such an exhorbitant rate means I'M
| til they are presented with their tax
| bill within a short time.
1t is pointed out that the rate Oh
5000 is no fault of the present in
cumbents of office, for they have
clearly manifested their interest In
anything that tends toward helping
to tighten the burden Of taxation
| for the coming year.
Nevertheless the obligation of pay
| ing this high rate falls on the in
nocent taxpayers, and they must
shoulder the weight with the n
dence hat a re-occurrence OF TINS
| state will not come again. AS an
example of the interest manifested
by the taxpayers. the council cham.
Der is filed to its capacity of late at
the regular meetings OF the city
fathers.
What this city needs is an
equalization in tax assessments"
said Councilman Disbrow. For ex-
ample, the property owners on up
per David, Henry and Pine venue,
for properties are assessed at from
$500 to $3.50 while on Main street
they get off at valuations of $40o
and $3.50. These remarks OF the
| councilman of the fourth ward SEEM
ed to touch the proper chord, ana
the question remains as to whether
| or not the people on the upper Sec
tions of the city are too high or
whether Main street is assessed too
| low. II is understood that at a later
| date some definite action VIII OF
| taken in order that all will share an
| equalization on taxes.
Continuing his touch on the econ
! omy plan the councilman in his his
| tory of this city, in the year 1885,
| the population was 3640. while the
police department consisted of two
| marshals and they handled all thai
there was to handle. said the
| speaker.
Bringing his hearers TO the time
| of the war period. Mr.. Disbrow tod
of an efficient police force at a time
when the population of the city wa
| 1000 above normal times, and,
continued the speaker. I'VE a &c
contend with all kinds OF charac.
tiers. with only seven police officers
At this point the councilman fay
ed the idea of adding to the police
department and as a comparison
pointed to South River. with a popu-
lation of what this city boasts OF
where six men comprise the police
force.
Councilman Lovely at once Offered
to amend the resolution to read tina
the document be referred to thu
committee on police and the city so
licitor for advice. Considerable de
pate followed on the wisdom of sub
hitting to an amendment and IN
author of the resolution did not Vel:
until Solicitor Coan stated that tn
amendment should be voted on be
fore the original resolution. Tn.
vote on the amendment found al
the members voting yes, whiie o.
the motion as amended Mayor Stan
ton voted no.
Another resolution. afterwards
laid over on the table. was ofere'
by Council Disbrow, dealing with the
reporting and turning over o
moneys received were given TO tn
CITY. Mr.. Disbrow stated that h
acted on the advice of the city col
lector, when he stated that for tn
. past. fifteen months no report o
, moneys received were given TO TN
collector. Councilman Delaney sta
ted that if his memory served MIR
right he had heard of reports OF IN
police Justice. embodied in the re
port of the city collector. The mo
ton of adoption by Councilma'
j stockton, was withdrawn, and tn
matter moved it be laid over unit
definite information on the matte
could be secured.
The Enterprise Hook and Ladde
company were granted permission
to present to Robert B.. Chapman
and John Conroy, certificates OF ex
emption for service of year
with that body of fire fighters.
Peter Jorgenson and James Slo
yer were appointed to fill the place
of Andrew Slower and Charles Wat
son, resigned, in the ranks of tn
Mechanicsville Hose Company. tn
action of the fire company was ap
proved by the members of the com
mon council at the meeting las
night.
Resolutions authorizing the cit
collector to return oyerpaid ia
items were offered by Councflmel
Lovely aid Stockton, and adopte'
by the entire council last nigh
Following is the list in question
Mrs. Thomas Gilchrist. IS 10
water rem. for two houses on Au
gusta street; Hans Miller 81 charged
for sprinkler, the party in question
never owned; Anton Flago. of Pin
avenue, in 1921 taxes assessed 10
two lots when in reality he ownet
but me-.
The report of the overseer OF tn
poor, John J. Stolte showed an ex
pense of $50 for outside aid. ant
s9O.4S cost of maintenance of tn
poor house. Making a total Tor TN
month of s159.4s.
At this point Councilman Disbrow
offered the following resolution.
Whereas: we as members or TINS
City Council did promise TO wori
for the interests of the city. and
whereas. a reduction in expendi'
lures will be of great advantage te
the taxpayers by virtue of being
step in the direction of decreased
tax rates, and
"whereas. it il within the power
OF the city government TO exerciss
ways and means for a reduction OF
expenditures, in each of the various
departments: therefore. be II, an