The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-10-21
WHAT THE RING HAS COST.

WHAT THE RING HAS COST.
What the rule of the Ring Democracy,
that now holds this State within its grasp,
has cost the people of New Jersey, may
be learned from careful study of the
record of the Ring Legislatures of 1889
and 1891, as given from the official date
in the address OF the Republican State
Committee. II is no longer surprising,
after going over this story of extravaganza,
that the State has been brought to the
verge of bankruptcy.
Take first the act of the Legislature of
1889, piling new burdens upon the people
mainly for the benefit of Ring politicians.
Here 1t is Increasing the salary of the
State Superintendent $1,000 year, and
giving him $500 more for suggesting
"plans" for new school houses-$1, 800 a
year. Paying grand jurors 50 a day.
AT an average of three grand juries year
to each county, this increased the public
burdens 81, 024 year. Creating two new
Vice Chancellorships at 81, 000-$l4, 900.
Paying $500 year each to seven abso-
lutely unnecessary clerks to committees Of
the House-S2, 100. Increasing the sal
aries of the Mayors of Newark and Jer-
sey City from $1,000 to $4,000 year
$4,000. Increasing the salaries of county
superintendent an average of 5000 each
"a, 200. Increasing pay of Law Judges,
$4,000 year. These foot up $53, 1924,
showing that large sum added to the
yearly burdens of the people, all for the
benefit of the Ring spoilsmen. There
were a number of other acts passed at
that session increasing the salaries of
Ring officeholders that cannot be exactly
estimated. Among these are the acts fix
ing certain salaries In Newark and Jer-
sey City at s., 200 each per annum; fixing
the pay of Freeholders in Essex and Hud-
son counties at 81, 200 each authorizing
the appointment OF County Superinten.
dents of Public Works. &c.
The people had rest from this pling
up OF new loads on their backs in 1890
because the Republicans controlled the
Senate. But the Ring Legislature of last
Winter eLtered upon the work of spoila-
ton, invigorated and ravenous from n
years fasting. Here is the record of the
session: Creating the new department of
Banking and Insurance, to do work for
mery well done by the Secretary of
State-about $4,000 year Creating
the useless office of State policeman, al
$4,000 a year. authorizing the appoint
ment Of assistant prosecutors, $l5,0 00 a
year; establishing three police courts In
Newark and Jersey city, at salary OF
50, 800 each justice, and other expenses at
least doubling this, making a total ad-
dition 10 The public burdens OF $50, 900 a
year. Creating the useless State Board
of Taxation, with three members, at
81, 800 each, with clerk hire and other ex-
penses to an equal amount, total in
crease of $40, 900 year in the drains up.
on the resources of the taxpayer. Con-
stituting boards of street and water com
missioners for Newark and Jersey City,
five OF each board, at $4,000 year each
The office, clerical and other expenses
will doubtless amount to MS much more,
making total increase of tho public bur
dens OF $50, 1000 year. Increasing the
salary of the Democratic Mayor or Ho-
boken from 81 900 to $4,000 a year, ST.
600 salaries Of $3.50 each to two new and
unnecessary officers OF the Senate, $3.50
These new burdens piled on the people
Of New. Jersey by the Ring Legislature Of
last Winter, for the benefit of the hungry
horde OF Ring retainers, foots up the
amazing total of $780, 50 year. Ad-
ded TO the yearly increased burdens Gre
ated by the Ring Legislature of 1889, it
shows the stupendous aggregate OF $243,
DAT, added by these two Democratic
Legislatures TO the load of taxation the
people OF New Jersey are yearly COMPEL
ed TO stagger under. .Thesenew expenses,
mind you, are not for the years In which
they were incurred alone, but for every
year until the acts are repealed. They
are permanent additions to the fixed
yearly sums to be squeezed out of the
people for the support Of their State and
local governments. The other temporary
expenses would foot up fully as much
more.
The exhibit is alarming. The tendency
towards increasing the cost of govern.
ment in New Jersey, by enarging it,
functions, creating new departments, and
making places for hordes OF importunatC
and hungry spoilsmen, has been plain to
the people, exciting their apprehension
and misgiving for some years past. But
nothing like this has ever before been seen
This is the boldest and most tremendous
leap towards extravaganza that has evel
been made. II the people are wise they
will shake off this rapacions political oc.
topus, as the State Committee terms IT,
that is gorging itself upon their substance
State Gazette.