The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-06-11
ABOLISH FEE SYSTEM.
Senator Days Minority Report
on the Investigation Com
mittee's Work.
Specia1 to the Jersen Cstu Neprs.

VS.
Special to the Jersen City Netrs.
TRENTON, June II, 1s95.-At the OPEN
ing of the Senate last evening Senator
DAILY submitted his report as the mi
nority CT the Voorhees, Investigating
Committee, as follows:-
'.To the Senate of New jersey
Under resolution of February 10, 1895,
a committee was appointed to examine
into the charges of extravaganza in
furnishing State House, legislative n
other supplies, and u other matters
as might be brought to their attention
in reference to the conduct of public
officers.
your committee, of which I am the
minority member. entered into their ex-
animation on March 4, 1895, and from
that time until the reconyening of the
Legislature spent much of their time i'll
investigating into alleged abuses and
making recommendations to remedy the
evils found, in an addenda to the ma
jority report. I state, i agree in the main
with the conclusion and recommended
tions of the majority I have not chang
ed my opinion. The fact is a spirit OF
reckless extravaganza has existed in the
purchase of supplies for the State House
and other departments, blu such ex-
~travagance, in the main, has not result
ed from a criminal intent to defraud.
but rather from a negligent performance
of duty and a lack of scrutiny and care
in the exercise of Office.
CAUSE OF ExTRAvAGANCE.
"This system is not the creature of a
few years, but, it is apparent, it has ex-
listed for a long time. Too much re-
lance upon the word of man and not
enough of investigation upon the part
of those charged with the duty of pay
ing bills, have in the majority of in
stances led to the sQuander of public
monies.
1.-THE law fixed the responsibility Upon
certain State officers to examine and
approve bills before paying them. and
from a spirit of over-confidence in those
with whom they had dealings. they were
often led to the commission of acts
which the exercise of better discretion
would have avoided.
While I agree in the main with my
fellow members in their conclusion
reached. I cannot refrain from saying We
should not be too severe or unjust IN our
reflections. We must remember our COM
m.ttee heard, in most instances, but enc
side, and that too from competitive in
terests and witnesses who were preju-.
to t5'1 their If tN " 0a a'de that fforsooth they
might injure business rivals.
NO RULES OF EVIDENCE.
"You must also remember that we. We're
not governed by any rules Of evidence;
character, and the witnesses were not
protected by the presence of counsel
learned n the law, and they were often.
TO- L., - ,,p trt Z 4 N o1r F1tcn6 yVhara1 G IL
counsel were present to aid and assist
them, they might have relieved the. Wit
nesses of their embarrassment by giving
plantations. and thus an entirely different
phase would have been placed upon their
II am not foreably impressed. with this
one-sided Investigation. | look upon It
with fear and dread, for / am led to be-
lieve that many have been smirehed by
ed an opportunity to be fully heard
might i.gh t easily ts preye IT fh ex=c, ferroaeni let us be
fair and just, and give vent TO no utter
ance merely to create false public sent
ment,. or to advance personal and indi-
When the. INJURY is done we cannot
recall It, and In our calm and cool mo-
ments, many pangs Of conscience VIII
PRAISE FOR THE COURTS
81 cannot concur in the scathing, and,
as I believe. unwarranted attack upon
the Court of Pardons.
"Our courts have always been held
in the highest esteem by the citizens
of this State, and his criticism cannot
| but injnre their usefulness and detrart
from their dignity. 1t was not within
the scope of the inquiry to attack a
| coordinate branch of our Government.
any more than it would lie in their
mouths to criticize legislative action.
1ssThere is nothing in the testimony to
| warrant the least reflection. upon them.
| They act judicia1ly inspecting petitions
| prasented; they are importuned on ev-
ery hand by those wishing ~cleInency ex-
\ tended, they listen to the appeals of
sympathetic friends, and all those infu-
| encns tend more or less to formulate
their judgment; and If 1t be a mistaken
| Judgment they exercise, 1t is prompted
mercy.
st is net within our province to critl-
| cize them In a legislative document. They
| are vested, under the constitution, with
the power they exercise. viz; May remit
fines and grant pardons after convic-
| TONS and / question the right OF the
| Legislature to regulate this power In any
Zion Of the Trainers Of the constitution
| 10 leave them free n untrammeled In
the performance of their duty.
1T is not my intention, nor would I
place my parEy in q position to be crjti-
4 cized by attempting to shield any per-
Eson or persons from the sevefest con-
domination for violation of public trusts;
my party Is not responsible for the mis-
| deeds Of any of Its members. more than
members. X men violate their duty they
HaEREHDtME-E