The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-01-14

any purpose WHICH was OrlBiHdlly COii-
templated or which can be practically
attained The amount expended for the
maintenance of the public schools is now
over $3, 900 per annum, sum Whlcn
of course can never be produced from the
income of a fund, and which must conse-
quently be raised largely from a school
tax The tax is not now an onerous one;
is cheerfully paid by the people of the
State. and serves most useful purpose
in maintaining the public interest in the
successful operation of the schools. Why,
then, should the State go on disposing OF
its lands under water, and accommodating
the proceeds in the fund, when it is in
debt for the building of its insane asylum,
and when the crowded condition of the
State Prison demands relief?'
ELECTION REFORM.
Each party is pledged in it's platform
to some measure of ballot reform. IL the
subject is to be approached in the spirit
of partisanship we may be no nearer the
solution of the problem than we were
one year ago. There is danger to be
apprehended from too determined insist
ment upon one or another scheme.
Whether the evils which all admit to
exist can be corrected by the adoption in
systems in force elsewhere may depend
much upon the conditions which exist
here. The ballot is no experiment with
us; it has long been in use in this State
in the right of suffrage. In correcting
one evil we must not inaugurate another.
The ballot must be free as well as secret.
All seem agreed on the plan that the
voter, while preparing his ballot, should
be provided with the means of doing the
same alone, and the prevention of solicl-
tatlon within q certain distance OF the
polls. l had faith in the use of the official
ballot as o corrective of corrupt prac-
tices, but am not blind to the serious
objections which are urged to its exclu-
Give nc lopol hQllnf The nffact Of
the official ballot to prevent corruption is
theoretical, proceeding on the assump-
tion that no one will risk his money un-
less he knows how the party votes. The
evidence as to its practical corrective ef-
feet on the corrupt use of money is far
from satisfactory, while it's use may by
fraud be turned into an aid to the cor
rupt0r
The desire to use the official ballot
seems to be widespread, but it should not
be the exclusively legal ballot to be voted
In my opinion no radical or satisfactory
reform can be effected by the adoption of
any plan which does not secure honest,
competent and vigilant election officers"
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Talking of the proposed constitutional
amendment, the Governor opposes that
proposing to strike out the clause forbid
ding the passage of special acts confer
ring corporate powers, because it would
reopen the foodgates of special legisla-
tion. But he favors that striking out the
clause forbidding the enactment of pri-
vate, special or local laws regulating the
internal affairs of towns and counties.
THE GOVERNORS SALARY.
81 recommend the passage of q law be-
fore the term of Office of the next Cover
nor commences" the Governor says,
'making the salary commensurate with
the dignity. Importance and requirements
of the position"
SOLDIERS HOME.
BY the report of the managers it ap-
pears that October 81 there were 431 in
mates at the Soldiers Home, an increase
OF GA over last year. The total receipts
for the year were S55, ,994 90, of which S1S,-
T72. SO was received from the United
States Government. The total disburse-
ments for the last fiscal year amount
to 1854, OBI "a, leaving a balance due the
treasurer of 81, ,862.S5.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The total amount appropriated in the
State for school purposes during the
school year is 552233 0055'7 02. OF this there
were levied by the State school tax
81, ,939, ,235, being SOS, 1870 more than was
levied in the previous year. The
total value of the school property
is SS,300,610. Thirty-two new school
houses have been erected during the year,
seven replacing old buildings. These
furnish accommodations for but 1872
children, while the census shows an in
crease over the previous year of 1862
children. There are now in the State
1,642 public schools, in which were en-
rolled during the past year 227, AL pupils
and 299 teachers. The school census of
May last shows 392,209 children, the
present school buildings will accommo-
date but 211, ,514.
STATE PRISON.
There were in confinement October 81,
1889, 997 prisoners, being an increase over
the number at that time last year of 116;
at the time of making the report to the
Supervisor there were 1,026; the total num-
ber during the year up to the above date
was ], ,4l0; the daily average was 965, of
whom 929 were males and 36 females
There was expended for maintenance the
sum of $72, 79S. Asa per capita cost of 20 60
100 cents per diem and $75.44 per annum.
The increase in maintenance over last
year was 5,795.72 The earnings show a
decrease of &, 2,301.19. 1t is recommended
that the Legislature provide q sufficient
crowded.
PRISON SYSTEMS.
"The crowded condition OF the State
Prison and Reform School for boys
brings the establishment of an inter
mediate reformatory prominently before
YOU, independent of the many cogent
reasons which can be urged for adding
such an institution to our penal system.
The law authorizing the conditional re-
lease of convicts on good behaviour is
found to be imperative, but an act will
be presented for your consideration
which, in my Judgment, obviates the
objections raised to the present statute.
s'Your attention is called to the reports
of the Reform School and of the State
Charities Aid Association on jails and
station houses by which it will appear
that the law requiring the separation of
adult and minor prisoners is not strictly
complied with and that there is not al
accommodation of witnesses who are
detained in custody. Some stringent law
should be passed making it obligatory
upon the Board of Chosen Freeholders,
Of the respective counties, to comply with
the provisions of this law"
ROBERT S. GREEN.