New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-06
AFFAIRS IN NEW.JERSEY.
WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH THE DlREOl
TAX MONEY!
FINANCES OF THE sTATE-ABBETT AND AB

FINANCES OF THE STATE-ABBETT AND Nd
BErTIsM-pELIGHTs FOR THE TRAVELLER
Trenton N j. April 5-Thc return Of the DireoV
Tax money 10 the State was accomplished WITHOUT eN
pense I'm the way Of commissions ana Sje@'ooO anu
como odd dollars will be available for such uses as
the financial authorities may determine Ihe Legs
lature made no provision for the disposition OF inc
fund after II had been received and II counts therefore
simply as part Of the current receipts There was
sugoestion that Il should be used In roadmakng for
the country districts, but this was not considered
feasible and the more the condition OF State finances
was examined the greater the need OF paying ola
debts with this wndfal appeared. There are ap-
propriations enough unpaid TO use 1t up ana some
thing more The State prison extension, which VIII
cost 100000 at least, will be one OF the purposes
Tho nrIson has been overcrowded for long While,
much TO the physical moral and mental degeneration
OF the convicts Some relief Is necessary, ana "he
the intelligent observers Of the state prison system
hoped that the needed relief would be found IN an
Intermediary prison, other views nave peVaileo' anu
the present abnormal structure IS 10 DC iT1er OK
tended New-Jersey has always had large NUMBER
~ convics in proportion to its population account
of It's big nelghboTs A large number OF cltzens OF
New York and Philadelphia are maintained at state
expense in Trenton and the county tas, their ventures
on this side Of the Hudson and Delaware having oeeh
such as to entitle them to this accommodation.
The windfall for such the Direct Tax refund Is re-
rared viii save the financial authorities Of the State
good deal Of trouble The best opinion OF the STATE
has begun to acknowledge that tho system OF STATE
taxation in New-Jersey is mistake, although IL mas
many comfortable ard convenient FEATURES. Inc
state taxes its railroads and other corporations lor
state purposes absorbing the entire revenue Tor inc
state government. The total amount thus received
annually runs ND toward s20O0,000. The actually
necessary expenses would probably be about
a year. and the balance is the opportunity Oh inc
legislative schemcr lie gets in his work Win great
regularity and every year, and the etale "ii
a clear income in excess Of its needs and no direct
taxation upon the people, is always little oeni.u'
This would be bad however, II 1t were not lor
other effects No state tax being levied, the LeGis-
atIre's extravaganza provOkes only the most langud
Of reproaces. Nobody's tax bill is Increased, and
why should anybody carei There being no popular
surveillance the Legislature on account Oh haces
other actions Of that body also neglected. ana inc
tendency OF the voters for the last seven years mas
been to neglect legislative elections, excepting ior
purposes OF strict partlsanship. There has been
consequent decay in the standard. Last session tere
was slight reaction, and the Assembly was cleaner
body than usual. II due almost entirely TO tIle
influence Of three or four men, who were backed and
supported with much vigor by the Speaker. They
the younger OF the House, too, ana had some
youthful enthusiasm about it. One OF them, MI
Campbell, of Monmouth died last week. and it was a
sorrow TO many who only knew him TO the extent
that he had been faithful servant Of the public.
But the general tendency Of the Legislature taking
the last seven years, has not been upward, and ii
can be traced simply TO this absence OF responsibility
for finances, the question which alone seems capable
Of really arouslng the public to action.
There is u mild curiosity 20 what will become OF
the feudal system OF government whch governor
Albeit has established when the Governor retes ana
gives place some man who Is less OF DICTATOR
The system is expected TO work 10 the advantage Oh
Abbettsm and OF lc Governors branch OF the Demo
but win not The great barOns OF patronage ana lords
nj excbeouer who now control the several Provinces
under the Governors direction quarrel among them
Tie succession, and VIII the successor DC
able 10 play them on ut each Otherl The elevation OF
Mr. Albeit 10 the United safes senate Is expected to
him out Of the stOte arena but as the election mas
nos been heid yet, ana as ne may conclude no. 70
Tor NorIy among the baTOns as 10 what he VIII
do alter his term as Governor expires ana VIVA small
menI which prevailed among his opponents niue
While ago, that 1t would be good iaea to get ma OF
Albeit by letting him have his ambition 10 DC Sehator
The continued struggle of Ncw,York and Pennsyl-
failed I'm month agoto make new and acceptable TAX
aws-Occupies Jersey attention to a much greater
They want TO see where other folks will come out when
they start a pilgrimage which in New-JcTsey's case
resulted in a complete collapse.
The bill 10 connne the trial Of indictments found by
the Grand Jury TO judges Of the Common Pleas ana
Quarter sessions thus deprvlng Circuit judges OF the
ngbt, mas caused dIscussloi' us m III
questioned, and IS believed the supreme Court would
consent u inc prOPCscu VI IL
which are constitutional. The object Of the act Is
said have been to take the trial OF the e-track
cases ont the hands OF tho supreme Conrt judges,
who have been severe In these tess but TINS hardy
seems possible. Moreover, it would work both ways
If the Common Pleas judges in some counties might be
easier with the bcul1Gakers than the Circuit judges,
the would be reversed In one county at St that
Of Hudson. 80,
The spring weather is preparing many for one OF the
pleaSaEtest vacations OF the year. The drives through
the northern part OF the state especially attractive
during The months Of May and June, and they may be
arranged to occupy from Two days TO two weeks most
charm ingy. The country hotels are good and some
OF them are excellent, and the roads are not bad
though rhey might be better In some directions 1t Is
easy to map q route that will make the journey
agrceabb varied going and coming and there are
objects Of Interest to be visited. The last two weeks
In May are usually selected for driving tours by the
most experienced, and the country is never so delight
fu In New Jersey as at that time The flowers and
plants we seen then disappear later and give place to
tanker and less attractive growths. The charges
made at the country hotels are moderate and the toll
gate is thing Of the past.