Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-06-05
REFORM IN NEW JERSEY
State Senate Takes Prompt Ac-
 ton on the Bills.
THE INVESTIGATION REPORT IN.

 ing the charges of Cxtrava ssnce and other misconduct of public officers since its appointment, Feb. 13 last, Eade a lengthy report to the senate.
 Tho investigation has been conducted with great difficulty, it says, because tho wrongdOerS had industriously covered their tracks, and persons who were aware of the facts testified unwillingly. The re- port reCitoS that previous to 1889 tho care and furnishing of tho state house was pro vided for by joint resolution placing the property in chargo of the treasuror. In 1889 Il superintendent was appointed, and in 1894 the expenses had grown to S7I, GOO, which by no means covered all tho OK ponses for repairs, maintenance and fur nishings
 The report relates in detail the quoS- tionable furniture transactions, tho irregu- larities apparent in the buying of coal and other supplies, tho fact shat fI ,3dO was paid for n polo and flag for the S;Hto house, the evidences of gross ovurvhHrE,s for painting; the rebuilding Cl tac q. ;. 2! bly chamber at n cost of F-:.- 'ti '.. par ently without plans and wiIh 5!o t,s"l omission of any vcntilAtiug El l'l:!ius Subsequently put in at a ccst O: ,.~'-l. and many other irregular UT Gr ,sa!y uN pensivc transactions.
 State Expenses Greatly Increased.
 Tho report continues: Tho ordinary expenses of the government excluding public debt, woro about $500, OU0 in lo75 and in 1881 they had reached only Sl. 0u0 GOO. ThcnCeforth, until 1894, the increase was rapid, the total in the latter year be- ing $l, Goa, U0O. Tho increase is largely due to the multiplication of state officers and stato boards. Tho expenses of the legislature increased from $i3, 5IS in 1875 to Sl25.349 in lS95. In 1891 tho expense fell off to $lOS. 79l.
 It is difficult to sec why thcs1 expenses should thus incroaso. Tho number of members of tho legislature has not chang ed since 1H44. Tho volume of laws now passed is much smaller than 1t was 70 years ago and there seems to be no change requiring materially iucrCascd expenses. Tho growth seems to havo arisen chiefly from tho multiplying of officers to attend upon tho legislature and from tho rCck- less extravaganza in tho purchase of logis- lative supplies. We recommend the pass ago of law prescribing tho number of officers for each house and the salaries for each, and wo report herewith a bill for that purpose.
 "The costs of the courts has increased from $65,6 9 in 1875 to $l7l, S26 in 1891. Tho increase has been gradual and un- Ceasing. It Is duo to the increase in tho number ot judges, the increase of salaries and the ahulishin.; uf thc fec system in coml"nSatinG judEra This expense can nut with I.rrp9!cty b. cugtailpI. Tie state publishes tlr laws by a twOfuld method first. hy printing s,"00 copies in book form at q cost of Shuut $3. coo annually, and sucuId, hy publishing thom in 20 newspapers ti5 Democratic and i5 Ropub- licanD Gt n cost Whi-E this year will bo probably Sl&I, 0uu \ ma uTity of the newspapers do lot set up and print the laws as they do other adv Crtiso- munts. nor dn they yield any of their advor- Using space tu thr stIto. TE" laws arc set up at $umcrillo ard in New York and r'-ovhcrc, and lar. ,ri.tiuns arc s'ruc}, ,H in supplement l"s'n, which are sold tu !l." uowS. .nperS for a small price, Tor rN ,',.iu, this year each newspaper is paid ht tho stato $l,YOO for publishing tue laws thus flr given cut for publica- tion, Tho publisher ot tho pal UT buys for about $luO from tho Now York printer a sufficient numhlr Of copies. folds them into his regular edition and CirculatOs thom.
 Some Proposed Remedies.
 In New Jersey practically all laws arc published oyerywLo.n, No states afford any hguros Ut all comparable with tho reckless NaSto of New .IUrsuy except Now
 York and Pennsylvania Notwithstand ing tEe great Crst. our laws aro not promptly published
 NC recommend that a bill be passed providing that the secretary of state shall. as fast as the acts are fl cd in his office.
 forthwith supply c"i,irs thereof to the pub lie printer. who shall print tho samo from day to day his plan will Gnablo any parEln II n LnVD Npnv If the laws without charge"
 The Republican sountor5 wcrn in con
 ferOnce for several hours discussing the recommendations of the scnnto invostigat ing committed It was decided after con siderable NppnSitiun, which was lod hy | Senators Stmkos. TluTman and Thompson, | to pass hills carrying out all tho rccum- mendatinnS uf the committee with the OK ccptiun of those favnring tho consolidation of the state luard ui a'So>sOrS and the stato hoard uf taxation, ahu!:SiinE the hu Teau uf lalur Tta! istiCS and placing the ri parian commissioners on tho nunsalary | list.
 The scnaiJ investigating committee held
 d long conference with the Republican | members ut the house with reference to passing the bills which tho Republican | senators had agreed upon. The house | members consented to act upon tho bills, and the indications are that they will pass | them ls they como from the sonato. The house thon convened and adjourned until Thursday.
 Prompt Action Taken. Tho senate mot last Cv eniny, whom Sen ator Nuorhccs. chairmah of tho invcsti-
 gating committee. introduced number of bills on behalf of tho committee. They
 were as follows:
 Making governor, comptroller and treas
 urer commission to award bids for print ing the laws in pamphlet form in accord
 Rnce with tho recommendation of tho COu
 mitteo; Apprupriating specific amount for each department of tho state govern
 mont for the fiscal year beginning Nov. l. 1895; providing that all current printing
 and stationery for the legislature shall be done by contract; reducing the number of officers of the senate and house and fixing
 their compensation. All these bills with the exception of the appropriation bill,
 were passed to second reading. Tho latter was referred to tho commit
 te9 on appropriations Among the other
 bills introduced wcro those repeating tho statute giving tho governor 30 days to con sider bills after adjournment and limiting
 him to tho constitutional flvc days; giv- ing tho mayor of Now Brunswick a vote in common council which is deadlocked. The senate thCn adjourned.
 Nicaragua Regrets Gresham's De eath. MANAGUA, Nicaragua, June 5,-The
 Nicaraguan flag was half masted hero on | all public buildings when the ncws reach | cd this capital Of the death of Mr. Waltor Q. Gresham, the late secretary of state of | tho United States. Tho Information was
 made public hero in an official notice is hp nf hR ipa | rotary of state, and much sympathy was expressed in official circles at the untimo- ly end of the American statesman. Freight Train Wrecked. Hr4ncnS Moes