The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-06-04
m. voorhees, Committees Report.

We give SO much space to the Voor-
hees Committee report today, that we
have little to spare for comment upon
it or anything else. 1t is the news OF
the day. Everyone Is anxious to read
II. and therefore we give every word OF
it. in pursuance of our usual policy OF
printing the news first. last and all the
time.
casual reading. as a disappointing docu-
ment. It is not a judicial summin UP
of the results of the Committees lapors.
1t Is rather a partisan marshalling of
facts and fancies calculated to hurt the
Democratic party. with certain sugges-
lions of reform, wise and otherwise. IN
e.dentaily embodied. 1t seems to US that
the main purpose of the authors may be
defeated in no small degree by the trans
pareney of their purpose. Voters are not
so foolish that they canno discriminate
between public policy and party poll
tics. When they find totally irrelevant
matter dragged in-such as the rhetorical
outburst about the ballot-box suffers,
they VIII be more than apt to wag their
heads n confess that the Democratic
theory of the whole performance was the
true one. viz, that the was
appointed to work up a campaign senti-
ment through which the Republican can
didate for Governor might be made
secure of election this fall.
Having said so much concerning the
flesh and skin Of the repert-the ex-
ternai and ornamental part of tive are
glad to be able to speak more favor
ably of its dry bones--the practical re-
Communications as to legislation by which
abuses may be checked in the future.
These, with one or two injudic.ous ex-
ceptions, are Of great value and I'M
portance, and should be seriously con-
sidered and substantially endorsed by
the Legislature.
! Concerning all of the suggestions, we
shall have much to say in the future.
II W lkdl we say We SAA0 ~ R~
~fasanship aside and endeavor to aid the
Committee in beneitting the State. We
are pleased to think that with the excep-
lion Of at most two or three items we
shall probably be able to advise the
Democrats in the Legislature to vote
afirmatiyely on all the proposals made.
The most important recommendation
Is that which deals with the system of
~appropriating money. In this matter,
we are In accord with the Committee
enthusiastically. We believe every
reasonable man In the State will support
them in the position they nave taken.
AT present. our State expenditures are
made on the most absurd go-as-you-
please system that the mind of man
can conceive. 1t would be a miracle II
robbery and jobbery had not resulted.
The Constitution, as the report justly
points out. plainly contemplated a plan
such as prevails In other States or in
the Federal government. by which the
Legislature should place every depart
ment OF the government upon an allow
ance carefully estimated from year to
year according to its prospective needs.
Necessary deficiencies involve no sncon-
venience. They are easily provided for
when ascertained to be honest.
Under such a system as this. no job
berry or. abuse can be attempted without
instant exposure on the floors of both
Houses, and none can be carried out
without the corruption. in one way or
another, of q majority of each branch
Of the Legislature. This is true reform,
and there should not be one days delay
in putting it in operation. A statute-if
one is necessary-should be passed to in
augurate the system, and the very first
appropriation bill should be drafted to-
cover the expenses of the balance of this
fiscal year, and the opening of the next,
until the next Legislature meets.
rnrrn NV h,o pTuAT