The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-10-25
SILzER DEMANDS
REPORT ON TUNNEL
Data to Show Estimates of To-
tai Outlay and Records of
Employees.
TO PREPARE A STATEMENT
Would Have Tax Valuation Done by
State and Not by Municipalities.
Proposal in Report to State
Board of Education.

Trenton.-Governor Silzer has de-
nlanded of the New Jersey Interstate
Bridge and Tunnel Commission
complete showdown on financial mat
tiers. In letter read at a meeting of
that body the Governor asks imme-
diate information from the records to
outline to him the difference between
the original estimated cost of the We
hicular tunnel, the cost to date and
completed project.
To make sure that there would be
no misunderstanding or errors of
omission Governor Silzer sent ques-
tionnaire which he wants filled out
His queries cover the minutest points,
including even the names, addresses,
salaries and salient point, previous
experience of every employee on the
payroll.
It was voted by that body to comply
with the governors demand at once.
Although Theodore Boettger, chair
man of the commission, said that the
information asked for by the governor
could not be gathered before two or
three months of research and that it
would require the employment of five
or six clerks to hunt up the available
data.
Commissioner John B. Hates of
Camden said that he differed from the
chairman in the length of time the
gathering Of the information would
consume and offered a resolution that
whatever questions could be answered
at once be attended to Immediately
and that Secretary James p. Dolan be
empowered to employ such clerical
help as necessary to obtain the bal
ance of the data, this to be forwarded
to Governor Silzer as compiled and
supplemented finally with the ques-
tionnaire completely filed out. The
resolution was unanimously adopted.
The QUESTIONABLE is capable of in
depreciation to cover both the vehicu-
lar tunnel and the Camden-Philadel-
phia bridge The leading query is:
Name and description of work.
The other information wanted by
the governor is: State when construc-
ton started and date of expected COM
pletion; original estimate of cost; to-
tai amount of engineering and general
expenses for the last six months
from start of project to date; esti-
mated cost to date of completion;
rame and salary of chief engineer,
consulting engineers, architects and
others acting in advisory capacity;
names, titles, salaries, period of serv-
ice and former experience of ~ cler-
fffoN off
force, (3) engineering field force, (4)
inspectors at fabricating plants
Other information Requested
On the construction of the projects
of the work done, the date the general
contract was awarded and to whom,
the specified date of completion and
the number of bids submitted as well
as their range. He wants to compare
the bids with the engineers estimates
The amounts paid out for construction
work SO far are to be tabulated, both
for contract and extra work. He asks
that reasons for delays be explained.
Governor Silzer also is interested in
the real estate dealings of the commits
sion. He wants to know here, too, the
original estimates and the actual costs
or damages assessed against the COM
mission, together with the amounts
paid and to be paid and estimates of
real estate still to be acquired.
In summary is demanded total ex
penditures to date, original estimates
compared with actual expenses and, in
fact, grand summarizing of what 1t
was thought the project would cost,
what it has cost to date and what it is
estimated will be the actual cost upon
completion.
Uniformity of Tax Valuations
Uniformity of tax valuations through
out the state is emphasized in report
submitted the State Board of Educa-
ton by DR.. John G. Van Dyke of Rut-
gers College, one of the eight mem
bers. The report was prepared in con-
nectiOn with a study of taxation for
school purposes. DR.. Van Dyke has
been engaged in the study for several
years.
Until the valuation of property is
equalized, says DR.. Van Dyke, no
change should be made IN the present
rate of the state school tax, the maxi
mum of which is 275 cents on each
800 OF valuation. AS a matter of JUS
tice to the large municipalities which
now suffer from negotiable taxation,
DR.. Van Dyke is opposed to an income
tax Such an additional levy, he points
out, would only add to the existing in
justice.
To secure equalization DIR. Van Dyke
proposes that all valuation should be
done under the State Board Of Taxa
ton. He also favors the distribution
OF school funds directly to school dis
tricts from the state instead Of APP
portioning them through the counties.
In his study Of the distribution Of
school moneys DR.. Van Dyke suggests
four principal factors for analysis.
These are: Value of property in each