The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-06-05
JUNE 5. 1895.
This paper Is Democratic an principles
and is independent IN its vis.0s on oil local
questions.
The VOORHEES, Riils.

The VOORHEES, Bills.
The summaries of the VoorheesCom-
m.ttee bills printed in the Trenton
morning papers and furnished to NThe
News" by the Legislative manifolders
are so meagre and stupid-as usual
that It would be rash and unfair TO base
editorial criticism upon them. Suh some
OF the measures seem to be so simple IN
structure and plain in purpose. that
there can hardly be any mistake about
them. A majority of these are excellent
measures, and should be passed without
hesitation.
There is the appropriation bill for in
stance. This strikes at the root OF all
the corruption and abuse in the State
Government. 1t places the responsible
tty for the expenditure of the pubic
money where it belongs-in the Legis-
lature. It prevents extravaganza and
iooseness of all descriptions. 1t leaves
State officers no loophole through
which they can pour money from the
Treasury into the laps of favored follow
ers. Bill No. S42 is the necessary supple
nent of this one.
The bill providing that the printing
for the Legislature shall be done by con-
tract after due competition IS also excel
lent. So As the main idea of that which
fixes the numbe of employees. OF the
Legislature and their compensation;
whether this bill is as good as it looks
cannot be told from the summary, for
the number of officers and their pay are
not stated.
Three of the bills are distinctly bad.
FIRST of these is the measure which de-
priyes the Governor of the thirty days
now allowed after the adjournment of
the Legislature in which to examine
and pass upon bills left IN his hands.
It is assumed by the committee that
this would limit his time to five days
on these bills as ON all others. the
terms of the Constitution are very OBJ
scure, but they hardly warrant this as
sumption. Many lawyers hin it would
leave the bills in the Governors hands
indefinitely. he being. privileged to sign
them at any time Town to the assem-
bling of the next Legislature. If, now
ever, it really did limit the time to five
days, 1t would be a very unwise enact
ment. In the last few days of the Legis-
lature. an enormous number of meas
urss are passed. and It is plainly an i'm
possibility for the Governor to do his
duty co-nscient.ously in examining them
fn five days. We annot see where any
evil has resulted from the thirty day
system.
Another bad bill is thus outlined in
the summary
No. s4s. provides that vacancies in
Beard of Aldermen or Common Council
in Jersey City or Newark, however arlss
said cities.
This is mere peanut politics.
Finally there is the following
No. s4s, repeats the act Of lss5 pro,
shan be shf furn ssRst0fS with ano Stationery aiesiaD and
other necessary supplies.
Unless there is some substitute in the
appropriation bill, this is absurd. 1t is
reform in excess. The member should
be allowed all necessary supplies. Only
extravaganza in tina respect is condem-
nabIe.
There are. besides the above, some
I'VE or six bills of minor Importance,
n then there are two exceedingly
Important ones-those which deal with
the printing of the laws and other pub
lie documents. These are so unintelli-
gently and unintelligibly presented in the
summaries tina it would be foolish to
attempt to discuss their provisions. So
far as we can guess, they seem to be
products Of reform gone crazy For in
stance, we gather that public proclama-
lions are to be privately printed and
stored In the State House for issue ito
every citizen who may apply for them"
This may not, indeed, be the purport Of
the measure. but If it is, 1t is certainly
as funny as anything in Gilbert and
suilivan's operas. However. we shall
know more about this when the printed
bills are procurable. Perhaps they are
better han they appear to be.
FE