Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-09-12
TAKEN
BY TAXPAYERS
Initial Plans Made Last Night
Night to Form Organization
at South Amboy

win AHlb0A - Dpphs - Aab
seems to have occupied the minds
of a great many property owners Of
this city since the first of last year
was brought TO a head last night
when about $50 taxpayers attended
a public meeting in the city hall and
made initial plans toward the organ
izing of q taxpayers association.
The meeting was called by Annie
z. Mullen, OF David street, who sent
notices out during the last two
weeks explaining the purpose Of the
meeting, and the benefits reaped
from the foreword was a good at
tendance OF interested citizens. The
notices explained that the matter
to be taken up was the equalization
OF assessments,
Mayor Daniel C. Chase presided at
the meeting as temporary chairman,
while Robert w. Carson, president
of the County Board of Taxation,
and Condid NJ. Atkinson, secretary
Of the same board, spoke on the
benefits and the necessity of a tax
payers organization.
Mr. Carson told the purpose Of the
association as being one to equalize
the assessments of properties in the
city and smooth conditions in such q
manner that all property owners
would be satisfied with the levied
tax. He explained to those present
the many benefits and rewards reap
ed from a movement of this kind
and said that without an organized
force nothing could be done in the
way of fighting for the equalization
of assessments.
MI. Carson told further that many
other municipalities had taken up
the same movement and that asso-
Citations of this kind were becoming
a statewide project. He stated that
the sooner the people get together
and take their interests in their own
hands, and keep in touch with the
county taxation organization, the
sooner equalization of assessments in
South Amboy would become a per-
manent condition.
The secretary of the county board
of taxes, Mr.. Atkinson, was the next
to speak. He explained in an inter-
esting talk the organization plans of
the association and read the county
organization constitution, which out
lines the duties and rules governing
the members. A similar set of rules
will probably be adopted by the local
association.
j. Following the talks by the New
Brunswick men a committee consist
ing of Anne q. Mullen, Henry Nell
son, Leo Coakley, Mrs. Daniel g.
Chase and John Perkins was formed
to present at the next meeting,
scheduled to take place on Thursday,
September 20, organization plans
and bylaws. 1t is expected that,
in view Of the sentiment aroused by
the meeting last night, the city hall
will be packed to capacity at the
next session.
project was not a sectional one blu
was for the benefit of the company
at large as well as the state OF New
Jersey.
In opening the hearing, J. Spencer
Smith, president of the State Board
of Commerce and Navigation, stated
that the hearing had been arranged
at the suggestion of Governor Sill
ger for the purpose of showing the
owners of property along the pro-
posed right of way, the tremendous
value the canal would be to the
land which they owned.
Mr.. Smith, who is an authority on
front land values predicted
the land along the right of way
ultimately be worth 500 a
foot as compared to the pres
emit valuations Of 500 an acre and
less, if the 500 foot channel avail
able to sea going boats Is put
through.
Following the series of talks OUT
lining the great future in store for
the state II the canal is built, the
property. owners who were present
given an opportunity to be
heard.
A letter from the offices of the
Morgan Terminal Corporation, the
owner of the old loading plant site
and directed to the federal war de-
partment was read, offering to give
the state the necessary land from
he entrance at the creek at Morgan
10 the southern end of their holdings
Tor canal purposes.
Several of the property owners
present Immediately followed the
suggestions made earlier in the af-
ternoon and offered without reserve
4 strip of land through their prop
srty without cost to the state. A
number of others expressed a will
to part with their small |
holdings but expressed the thought
that as they would receive no benefit
In relinquishing the claims to their
land they should receive a fair COM |
p~ensation from the state.
In reply to the latter, President |
made 1t clear that each ease
would have to stand alone, and where |
entire property was required and
land left from which the owners
might profit after the building of the
anal that a fair payment would
lave to be made by the state.
A number of committees of prop
'rty owners are to be named, with
he sanction of the delegation in at
enhance yesterday, for the purpose
or going further into the question
IND it Is very likely that a series of
meetings with property owners will
20 arranged by the state body in the
Iery near future, in an effort to learn
feeling OF the taxpayers involv-
a and In a further effort to settle
he question before the next congress
ionvenes.
Assemblyman Thomas L. Hensen,
Who is heartily in favor of the pro-
was in attendance at the hear
ng. Senator Morgan F. Larson had
iso planned to attend, but a letter
eceived from him said tina the had
cen unavoidably detained at Perth
.mooy on business, but he assured
ne state body that he favored The
reject and that his assistance in
arriving the matter to a successfui
onclusion could be counted upon.
mayor George ". De Voc Of
headed a delegation Of