New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-27
REFORMS FOR NEW-JERSE \
GOOD RESULTS THAT WILL ACCRUE FROM
THE SENATE INVESTIGATION

THE SENATE INVESTIGATORS
REMEDIAL LEGISLATION TO BE PROPOSED TO HE
,rc,s1.AT1,RE WITH VIEW TO PREVENT
FURTHER r'rNDER OF THE STATE.
fpv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNE.l
r-er+on. MAY os-Senators VOORHEES,. Skirm Her
,o. Ketcham and DAILY comprising the Senate IN
vestigating Committee. with W. II. Corp'h. It's
o,nss, vii, hold a private conference at the state
House tomorrow, at which the testimony taken AZ
the fifteen meetings OF the comInittee anu 'he '','
under contemplation for recoinnenua'o" u .','
Iune session OF the Legislature making imposs'pie
a rendition Of the corrupt practices exposed VIII
y. discussed and the report to be made of the WORK
done outlined to the Legislature. Ihat measures
making radical changes In the laws governing III.
expenditure OF public moneys VIII be recommends
nv the committee Is freely admitted by 'he i"''-
vidual members The system OF appropriating sp'c'-
nc sums for the maintenance OF each department
o,r IN vogue in many other States will be recon-
rnended by the Senate Committee for New-Jersey'
and by such system the Senator'S hope 10 dispense
With the vicious incidental account" Of the vari-
Gus State departments. under the CLOAK OF "hich
the State has been so wofully plundered
After the June session Secretary Kelsey VIII not
have at his disposal the many thousands OF the
States money with which to MI his private co'ie'S
while the State goes a-borrowing for the commit
tee will report a bill making II clear to the grasp
ing
the gold TO turn into the State Treasury instead
of retaining It for risky speculative purposes Tor
one wear Nor will he longer be allowed AVo per
aunum out OF which he may. as In the past. give
his favorite clerk presents OF $500 OF the state
funds and his prerogative court fees amounting
IN several thousands OF dollars yearly. which the
Legislature thought had been regularly turned over
az part of the States revenue since the liking OF
his salary at 5000 several years ago VIII no long
er be one Of his perquisi;es. All clerks and other
employees will be paid directly by the States check
instead Of BY heads of departments after the June
| session.
The BOARD OF Tax Commissioners and the Rail
| road Assessors will be consolidated and four use
less offices be dispensed with The Dairy Corninis-
sioner will in future work within a reasonable APP
| Precipitation. The State reports Of the numerous de-
| partments Of late have been padded to such pro-
norions with nonsensica and useless stuff that the
| printing bills originally about $1,000. have been
swollen to sl25 900. Henceforth these reports VIII
come under the blue pencil or an editor before
going to the printer. and an appropriation OF about
S25 900 will be expected to cover the cost OF printing
| them all The sum OF sl25.CcD will no longer he
spent In printing the laws in tn. cross roads coun-
try weekles but their promu cation Will be under An
entirely new system TO be perfected by the commit
tee tomorrow. The Governors salary and all other
exorbitant salaries Will be reduced from % TO 80 l-3
per cent, and State officials will be required TO be
| at their Offices a given number Of hours day ana
nersonally attend to the business OF the State in
stead OF trusting the work to underpaid clerks
The salaries Of Adjutant General Stryker and Quar-
termastei Donney would be Increased for the ask
ing. but these officials declare they are satisfied
with 81. POD per annum.
The most difficult problem which the Committee
will have to is that relating to the fee ofces
: of Allan McDerrnott and y. +. Lee. These cannot
be changed during the incumbency OF the present
officials and the abolition Of the fee system In these
offices will affect all lawyers In the State for they
now receive large share Of the taxed bill OF
costs which their clients have TO pay when In
dulging In litigation.
/ The spectacle OF pages and doorkeepers falling
over each other in House and Senate Will be a
thing OF the past after the June session, II the Sem
ate Investigating Committees recommendations are
acted upon. for a law Will be proposed limiting the
number Of doorkeepers and the pages 10 a haii-
dozen instead Of one TO each member.
The reforms so far practically agreed upon for
recommendation expected to save the state be-
tween sl75,Vo and $4,000 annually.
When the Mercer County Grand Jury adjourned
for the week Thursday last. the rumor was
freely discussed in the cafes that all the petty
county business had been disposed OF and that the
jury would on converting tomorrow bring its In
vestigation into the State House robberes and con.
Whh n ba WIN Of Colonel john
Cleef who confessed TO having swlndled the state
n 'nf a of S, n snpppns
receive prompt attention There are some queer
the tremendous influences which said to be al
work TO save certain State criminals from indct-
ment but the personnel of the present jury is such
that men are loa IN believe that Establishments OF
politicians will have any weight. Whether or not
there will be any articles OF Impeachment pre-
sented the Assembly at the session OF the I.egis
lature which opens on Tuesday OF next week Is yet
/ uncertain. Leading members OF the Assembly who
have attended sessions OF the Voorhees, Commit tee
have declared that In the event OF the miscarrag e
OF Justice In the Grand Jury room Of Mercer County
they will present articles OF Impeachment against
any who have been shown TO have been guilty OF
malfeasance In ONCE and Will press for their adop
ton. There is strong sentiment In favor or the
articles OF impeachment being presented in the case
of the Secretary of State H. c. Kelsey. and should
he fail OF Indictment IT is doubtful II certain mem
bers he restrained In their determination 10 see
justice done.
The foolish talk INDUCED In by Senator DAILY as
/ TO the powers Of the Investigating Committee &c
continue the work Of unearthing the fraud and cor
ruption throughout the State without further legis
, lative authority could easily be explained The
committee has ample authority. and " the presence
OF the Individual members II not required at higf
court OF Impeachment after the June session. tb'
good work will 20 without delay So far ths
total expenses of the investigating committee VII
not exceed 5000 The June sessions OF the Legisat
ure will probably last two weeks.