Connecticut western news., 1895-06-06
FOUND CORRUPTION.
TRENTON INVESTIGATING COMMIT
 TEE MAKES ITS REPORT.
A Review of the Long story ot Bribery and BoodIeism Given to the Senate by the Committee and Measures For Reform at Oncc Set In Motion.

BoodIeism Given to the Senate by the
 Committee and Measures For Reform at
 Oncc Set In Motion.
 TRENTON, Juno 5-New Jerseys son. ate committee, which has boon investlgat ing tho charges of extravaganza and other reported misconduct of public officers since its appointment, Fob. IS last made a lengthy report to the sonata
 The investigation has been conducted with great difficulty. 1t says, hocauss the wrongdoets Ind industriously covered their tracks and persons who were aware of the facts testified unwillingly. The re. port reoitos that previous to 1889 tho care and furnishing of tho state house was pro vidcd for by joint resolution placing the property in charge of the treasurer. In lSSJ a superintendent was appointed, and In 1894 tho expenses had grown to s7l, 0u0 which by no means covered all ths OK penses for repairs, maintenance and fur nishings.
 The report relates In detail the quos- tionable furniture transactions the irrogu- larities apparent in tho buying of coal and other supplies, tho fact that $l $50 was paid for Q pole a-i flag for the state house, the evidences of Rrnss overchnr ges for painting; the rebuilding of tho asscm- biy chamber at cost of sag 000, appar. entity without plans and with the total omission of any ventilating apparatus tsubsoquontly put in at cost of s25. S96), and many other Irregular or grossly ex- pensive transactions.
 State Expenses Greatly Increased.
 The report continues: "The ordinary expenses of the government excluding public doIt. were about $500, 900 in 1873, and in 1881 they had reached only Sl, GOO, 900. Thenceforth. until 1894, the increase was rapid, the total in the latter yoas be- ing Sl, 653, 00O. The increase is largely duo to tho multiplication of state officers and state boards. The expenses of the legislature increased from s53 57s in 1875 to sl25. ai9 in 1895 In 1894 the expense fell off to sioS. 79l.
 Ut Is difficult to sec why those expenses should thus Increase. The number of monitors of tho legislature has not chang cd since 1914. The volume of laws now passed is much smaller than 1t was 20 years ago. and thero seems to be no change requiring materially increased expenses. The growth seoms to havo arisun ohiolly from tho multiplying of officers to attend upon tbe legislature and from tho rock less oxtravaganoe in tho purchase of logis- lative supplies. We recommend tho pass. age of a law prescribing the number of officers for each house and the salarios Tor ouch, and we report herewith a bill for that purpose
 "The posts of the courts has increased from S65,6 9 in 1895 to $l7l, S26 in lS9i. Tho increase has been gradual and un. ceasing. It Is due to the incrense in the number of judges, the increase of salaries and the abolishing of tho fee system in compensating judges. This expense cnn- not with propriety be ourtailed. The stato publishes the laws by twofold method first, by printing 5000 oopios in book form at cost of nbout S2, 0oQ annually, and second, by publishing them in aO newspapers (45 Democratic and 45 Repub. lican) at a cost which this year will be probably s135, 900. A majority of the newspapers do not set up and print the laws as they do other advertise ments. nor do they yiold any of thoir advor- Using space to the state. The laws arc set up at Somerille and in New York and elsewhere and large editions are struck of in supplement form, which arc sold to tho newspapers for a small price. For example this year each newspaper is paid by the state S1. 300 for publishing the laws thus far given out for publica- tion. The publisher of the paper buys tor about Slo0 from the Now York printer a sufficient number of copies. folds tbom into his regular edition and oiroulatos them.
 Some Proposed Remedies.
 "In Now Jersey practically all laws are published everywhere No states afford any figures at all comparable with tho reckless waste of Now Jcrsey except New York and Pennsylvania Notwithstand. ing the great cost. our laws are not promptly published.
 We recommend that bill be passed providing that the secretary of state shall. as fast as tho acts are flied in his uflloo. forthwith supply copies thereof to the pub lic printer. who shall print tho samo from dny to day. This plan will enable any person interested to have copy of the laws without charge"
 Prompt Action Taken.
 The senate mot last evening, whom Sen- ator Noorhces. chairiaan of tho investi gating committed. i'm reduced number oi bills on behalf of the committoe. Thoy were as follOws:
 Making governor, comptroller and treas. urer a commission to award bids for print Ing the laws in pamphlet form in aocord anco with tho recommendation of tho cunl. mitteo; apprupriating a specific nmouni for each department of the state govern ment for tho fiscal year beginning Nov. l. lSG5; providing that all current prlntin: and stationery for the legislature shali be done by contract; reducing tho number oI | officers nf tho senate and house and fixing their compensation. All.these bills, with the exception of tho appropriation bill, wore passed to second reading.