Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1924-02-27
REDUCTION Of
ASSESSME n 7
DEEP MYSTERY
Who Made Reduction and
Why, Is Problem Hard
to Solve
LETTER RECEIVED HERE
BY Assessors Saying That
Reduction of $264, 900
Had Been Made
LETTER RECEIVED HERE

The latest figures in the assess
ment books of the city of Perth Am
boy, which now are in the hands of
the Middlesex County Tax Board in
New Brunswick, show that there has
been made since last week reduc-
ton of $250,000 in the personal as
sessments of the American Smelling
and Refining company and $4,000 in
the assessment on plant buildings,
making total reduction of S264, 900.
The question of who made these
reductions and how they were ar
rived at Is a problem which it seems
difficult to solve. As far as can be
learned a letter, written by the clerk
of the county tax board, was received
by the local tax board clerk on Sat-
ilrday informing the local assessors
that the $264,000 reduction in the
IA. S. & r. assessment had oeeh
made. The clerk of the county tax
board this morning said he did not
file a copy of this letter and could
not remember what the contents
were.
Efforts were made to see this let
ter from the county board 10 the
Perth Amboy assessors In order lnae
the public might know just now TINS
big reduction had been oroushe
about. Walter Bielecki, one OF the
local assessors, was said 10 pc III pos,
session of the letter ana ne couio
not be located this morning, pens
out Of the city on business. Nei.iei
~ the other two local assessors
Ireb Gallagher and Max Klein,
ao,,1d he communicated with in order
to secure further Information oii t'''s
unusual situation.
The Raritan Copper Works, an
other local industrial concern, pro-
tested to the county tax boaru at q
bearing against the A. s. & II.
nonnnanv assessments, declaring that
thew were low considering the con-
strliction and replacement work
amounting to million dollars whicn
had been done at that plant during
the last year or so. 1t pointed out lnal
in 1922 $2e4,000 reduction was
> u,ade IN the A. S. & r. assessments 5
because of condition of the build-
ings and equipment. This was
never replaced, the Copper WORKS
argued. despite the fact tnat tne
Guggenheim company had now re-
paired and reno deled buildings 50
that not only the $264,000 but an ad-
ditlOnal amount SHOuiu po ehNN -
the A. S. & K. assessment. a.,
After hearing the arguments IN
the case of the perth Amboy assess
ors were told to use their own 1udg-
n,ent in the matter. The increase
~ S264.OOO was made by the as
SCISSORS a few days later but the
county tax board members Went
over the A. S. & r. plant with olil-
rlaIs of that company and now tEs
soe400O has again been taken OH
the assessments and no explanation
has been forthcoming or why this
action was taken
Although it seems practically inn
possible to learn who made the
S264,000 reductions 1t Is known that
Mr. Bielecki was looking over the
Perth Amboy books at New Bruns-
wick Yesterday and the figures in the
hooks now show the change has
been made. Whether the county
board instructed the city assessors
10 make the reduction or suggested
such a reduction is not known but
the reduction was made following
the visit Of the county board mem
bers to the plant.
Peter III. S. Hendricks. of New
Brunswick, one of the county tax
board members, was questioned TINS
morning as to how much reduction
had been made on the A. s. & X.
assessment. 'I can't say that cent
reduction has been made& he re-
piled, 'and 1 won't say anything un-
til Mr.. Hermann, the president OF
the board, comes here for the meet
ing next Monday" Efforts were
made to get in touch with Mr.. Her
mann but without avail. George j.
Haney, the other member of the
board has been in Florida some time
and has not been at the meetings or
hearings of the board.
(Continued on Page %