The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1885-01-18
business is practically destroyed in these

business is practically destroyed in these
waters.
can see no reason why this locality with
proper legislation and protection could not
be made as productive as Maurice River
Cove and Delaware Bay.
am satisfied that if the Legislature
should not deem it wise to pass law which
should affect the whole State, still it
might wisely pass an act which would APP
ply to Barnegat Bay.
Other States have made their oyster lands
source Of revenue, increased their value
and given additional employment to labor.
invite your attention to the sublecs.
with the hope that you may be s.Die to
frame some law which vii. wisely deal
with this most important matter. have
declined to approve of riparian grants in
which this question is involved until the
Legislature shall have had an opportunity
to determine whether it will take action
with reference to this subject. The State
can readily derive revenue Of from
twenty-five to fifty thousand dollars per an
mum from the lease of its oyster lands
without any embarrassment whatever to
the industry, and with advantage to all en-
gagged in it by reason Of the protection
which would be afforded by the State.
CHILD LABOR
call attention to the report of the In
spector of factories and workshops, show
ing the labors of himself and deputies du-
ring the past year. The duties of these
officers, and the provisions in reference to
the labor of women and children in facto-
ries and other places, are prescribed in the
act of March 5th, 1883 Up. L. 1883, p. 59],
and in the act of April 10Th, 1884 [P. L.
1884, p, pool. These acts prohibit the en-
ployment of boys under the age of twelve
and of girls under the age of fourteen
years in factories, workshops, or establish
ments where the manufacture of goods is
carried on. They also prescribe the hours
of labor, and require attendance at schools
during certain periods. The Inspector re-
ports that there are over 5000 factories in
the State, and over $4,000 children en-
ployed. The condition of the children
engaged in these factories, as presented by
him, is most deplorable. He states that
over three-fourths of them have absolutely
no education whatever, and that very
small percentage of the remaining one
fourth have the merest rudimentary educa-
ton. / call special attention to the very
important recommendations made by him
at the close of his report. Among the
most important of these are the recon-
mendations for compulsory education, the
reduction of the hours of labor of children
and women, the improvement of the sani-
tary condition of factories, the providing
of fire escapes, and separate dressing rooms
for men and women. He states that it is
impossible with only two deputies to fully
carry out the provisions of the law, and
recommends that the number be increased.
The subjects considered by him are of vital
Importance, and should receive the careful
attention Of the Legislature.
SAVINGS BANKS.
recommended to the Legislature in my
inaugural address that the rights of the de-
;ceccss.::.ois in savings banks should be more
fully protected, and suggested legislation to
that effect. Iagain call the attention of
the Legislature to this matter in view of the
failure of one of the largest savings banks
in the State, and the action of the courts
with reference to the conduct of the mana
gers of the institution.
In addition to the suggestions heretofore
made by me. call attention to section
three of the act for the better security Of
depositors in savings banks, approved
April 9Th, 1878 Up. L. 1878, p. 1881. This
section should be so amended as to extend
its penal provisions to managers of savings
banks Incorporated since the passage of
that act, or that mvy hereafter be incorpo-
rated under the laws of this State. 1t
should also be so amended that the impris-
onment should be at hard labor, in order
that those who violate the provisions of this
section may be sentenced to State Prison,
and not, as at present, only to the county
jail or penitentiary. [See State VS.. Gray, s
Vroom, p. 1868.
I also suggest that the removal of the
assets of these banks beyond the State be
made a penal offense, unless done under
the authority of some court or judge or of
fcer designated by law. In this connec-
ton, change in the law in reference to
conspiracies might also be wisely made, so
as to avoid the difficulty suggested by the
Chief Justice in the case of Noyes VS.. the
State III Vroom, p. 4181. Where a con-
spiracy is entered intoin another State, and
one of the conspirators comes within this
State, and d PES something in furtherance of
the conspiracy, it should be made CRIME,
without its being necessary to have another
of the conspirators actually present in this
State or constructiyely present through in
nocent agents.
The evils entailed upon the innocent de-
positors in these banks by failures arising
from culpable negligence or wilful viola
tions of the law is far reaching in its conse-
quences.
This subject is one which should receive
your careful and attentive consideration.
LEGISLATION FOR CITIES.
Iagain call the attention of the Legisla
ture to the recommendations made in my
inaugural message suggesting constitu-
tional mode of legislating for cities.
/ am still of the opinion that an act would
be constitutional which would make
specific grants of power to every city, and
which should embrace every change that
might be desired in any city government,
with a proviso that each one of these pro-
posed grants of power must first be accept
ed by thepeople at an election
/ earnestly urge upon the Legislature the
adoption Of constitutional amendment
which will prohibit any city from creating
any debt under a ~ legi ,latiye power that
shall exceed certain per centage of the
ratables.
One of the most important acts affecting
cities was the act providing for raising rev.
enue to carry on certain public duties in
bankrupt cities, which duties they had
failed or refused TO perform under their
charters. This act { p. LII 1884, p. 84l has
been decided to be constitutional and
has enabled the city of Elizabeth to con-
tinue its schools, pro .ect its property from
fire, preserve the public health, support the
poor, maintain police force and keep its
streets in safe condition for public use.
regret to say that the city authorities and
creditors have not yet been able to reach a
satisfactory adjustment of their difficulties.
It is most important to both that an adjust
msnt should be speedily reached. If it is
impossible for them to reach an agreement
it might be wise for the Legislature to con-