New-York tribune., 1872-03-26
POLITICAL.
NEW-JERSEY


PUBLISHING LAWS IN NEwsPAPERs-GRoWr III OF
ABUsE-sTATE STATUES AT WASHINGTON
THE SENATE AND THE ANTI-M0NoPoLY RAIL
ROAD BILL.
(yaoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE !
TRENTON, March 25.-AccOrding to the re-
port OF the Printing INVESTIGATING Committee, the state
Of New Jersey paid t SIG 76 more for printing
than there really any necessity for part OF tnls
useless expense due 20 the exorbant rates charged
but the larger part was incurred by publication Of the
laws IN the newspapers The entire public sentiment OF
the State against the abuse but the members OF the
Legislature afraid TO abolish IT, since sueh action
win subject them to the Misrepresentation and vilhea-
ton which the numerous weak newspapers OF the State
resort 70 I'm order 60 hold the members in their
power. The abuse has been very gradual in
It's growth. The original act passed April
s 1854 and authorized the Governor to select two news
naper, IN each county for the publication of all the
pubc laws except such related to objects entirely
local in character The price 70 be paid 90 each news
paper for the entire publication was $50 The total ex
pense for the publication that year was s6. The act
remained unchanged till March 49, 1853, when supple
ment was passed increasing the number OF newspapers
in Essex County four and in Union and Cumberland
Counties 10 three and authorizing newspaper in
Trenton TO publish all Of the public laws. The same sup
ple1nent raised the price to S75 April s. 1885, another
supplement passed, providing that hereafter the
publication OF the laws in the newspapers shall be az the
game price Is, or may hereafter ne, pTV-
yided for the payments OF legal notices. This
important step was followed the next day
by second supplement. giving the right to
publish 20 all papers which had been in exist
ence for one wear or more On March % OF the
following rear number Of newspapers in Trenton au-
,borized to publish all the public lava increased
and again 1862 that AZ present there are four ual
TewsDapers which publish al of the public laws, ana -
which publish all except those OF entirely local charac
fer al total expense last year OF si5l9I 20 OF this
amount q 953 Was paid tO four newspapers IN lrtuton
single instance will illustrate the exraVagance OF thc
present sy-tem. The Jersey city charter, which was
little more than 800 Oos The law authorizes the pay
meut OF 90 cents folio, ana as there were zen heW-pa
pers in Hudson County, the pubhcauOn on ms single
document cost the state, in round numbers Sl,sOD .
Friends of reform -ay that the abuse can easily DC
u,odided by limiting the publication to the two news
pafers which have the largest Circulation IN td' u
cnuntv both Of which shall not he 0 the same pohcal
party Another plan Is 10 abolish the puDcatOh dl,o-
gether the present printing or 5O copies OF tne
laws is q sufficient number TO supply every CiaWytr'
Jsrice of the Peace. Chosen FreehOlder ana CoulH-
eiNuer of Deeds the state with snKe copy ctcu'
Tins plan is suggested in the report 0t the pruning Con'
Notwithstanf!nc the almost universal objection made
TO the selection named IN the senate bl aDproprias
SIS 90 NeW-Jersey statues at WsnhSt tIe oci
the bill with the names uncnahStu anu ~
n,y goes the Assembly. The choice Is pronounced ny
All dsinterested persons IA being IN every way uIor
unate and an effort will lie made 10 insert the names oi
Livingstone ana Ollen. ., 49,, 49,, Ill, orob
obly come UP on Tuesday for the action Of tne osate
O' ffl,eus of the state affirm that no question mas :"
yred the public attention for years a. tus one Oh
tory over the burdonsOme monopoly ana ~
ten ths II the people IN favor 0f TIE ne o. ~
view Of this thecght that the senate Wl Cul't ~
U,.h III. Assembly since they will hardly dare oppose
50 powerful an ufuruce 1~ public sentiment