The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-01-12

been engaged. excepting the civil war,
record of which has already been printed
He has gathered together much valuable
historical material and is rapidly prepaI-
ing the same for publication. The print
ing of the compilation has been ordered
and is proceeding as rapidly as a careful
supervision will allow The commission
to whom the matter was intrusted decid-
ed that the records of the soldiers of the
Spanish-American war should also be in
Guided, and the volumes when completed
will contain the military history of the
state complete from 1740 until the pres
ent time.
The quartermaster general has in addi-
ton to the usual duties of his Office paid
to the regularly accredited volunteers in
the Spanish-American war the additional
compensation allowed to them by the act
of the last legislature. The amount so
paid is S157, 1865. Some payments are
yet to be made to those who have thus
far failed to present their claims. Such
failure is due to the fact that many re.
enlisted in the volunteer army and the
navy and are now serving with their
commands in the Philippines. Cuba, Por-
to Rico. Hawaii and elsewhere
Your favorable action upon the recon-
iueuudtlollS VI lue SeutFdl
relative to needed and desirable improve
ments and additions to the state camp
grounds is respectively urged.
The Palisades.
Pursuant to joint resolution of the
legislature passed at the last session and
approved March p, 1899, l appointed
Miss Elizabeth h. Vermilye Mrs. Cecilia
Gaines Holland, Franklin w. Hopkins,
William A. Linn and s. Wood McClave
as a commission to report upon the pres
ent condition of the Palisades and to
suggest some remedy or remedies to pre-
serve them from DETACHMENT and depre
dation.
AS rsult of their deliberations and
Investigations. the commissioners APP
pointed for New Jersey recommend as
the first step to be taken the enactment
of a law creating a permanent Palisade
commission for the state, the members
whereof shall serve without compensa
ton. Such commission should be in
vested with power to acquire by gift
devise purchase, condemnation or other
wise the land necessary to prevent fur
ther DETACHMENT. 1t should be authorized
to receive and expend for that purpose
any sums of money that might be given
to it or appropriated for its use. Power
should be given to it to acquire lands fol
park purposes and boulevards or drive
ways in the immediate vicinity. 1t is
represented that such commission, per
manent in its character and invested
with these powers, might be able in time
to secure not only all of the land be-
tween the edge of the cliffs and low
water or AT least so much thereof as
would be necessary for these purposes;
but, in addition thereto, it might acquire
title to portions of the upper plateau
wherein to establish parks and drive
ways whereby the public could gain ac-
cess to the cliffs and be enabled to en-
joy therefrOm the scenic beauties for
which this locality is famous. Against
the plan thus recommended fewer objec-.
tons can be urged than against those
heretofore proposed, and it does not nee
essaiily involve the state in large APP
preparation of money at this time. A
measure embodying the recommendations
of the commission will be laid before you
during the session.
The Hospitals For Insane.
During the year there We're admitted
to the hospital at Morris Plains PIP pa
tents, and BOG were discharged. Two
hundred and sixty seven were sent to the
hospital at Trenton and PIG discharged
therefrom. The total number under
treatment during the year was 1,50S in
the former and 1856 in the latter. At
the close of the hospital year there were
1,302 inmates at Morris Plains and 1,170
at Trenton, an increase of 66 in the for
mer over the previous year and of 81 in
the latter. There are accommodations
for about 1000 only ut Morris Plains, and
at Trenton there are 272 more than the
buildings are designed to accommodate.
To meet the crowded condition in the
first mentioned hospital the legislature
has already made liberal appropriations,
and work or the new buildings has pro-
crossed as rapidly us possible. Some de-
lay has resulted from the impossibility of
obtaining the necessary building ma
terials, but early completion of the new
structures is assured.
Your attention is called to what is said
by the managers with reference to the
county asylums. INDECENT patients are
supported in the state hospitals at the ex-
pense of the county from which they are
committed. The maximum price paid for
such support is fixed at the sum of So
weekly for each patient In addition
thereto, there is paid out of the state
treasury on their account the sum of 81
each week for each patient. But under
existing laws the sum of 50 weekly is
given TO each county for the care of each
insane patient supported in its own asy-
lum, This is manifestly unfair to the
taxpayers of those counties where there
are no asylums and tends to encourage
the erection of local asylums where suffi-
cient facilities for the proper care and
treatment of the insane cannot in the ma
ture of things be furnished The burden
imposed upon the state is no inconsider-
able one, for the reports submitted show
that 1,54S patients were in the various
county hospitals on the 31st day of Oc-
tober last
Another element of injustice is found in
the fact that in some cases the cost of
maintenance is less than the sum received
by the counties.
The attention of different legislatures
has been called to this matter in the past
and the wish expressed that the practice
should be changed In the hope that
something may be done to reduce the
large annual expenditure for the support
of the insane about 16 per cent of the
ordinary expenses of the state-your Al
tention is once more invited to the sub
ject.
Either state aid should be withdrawn
altogether or the weekly payments re-
luced to 81 per week, the sum now con.
sributed by the state toward support in
The state hospitals.
State Sewerage Commission.
The public agitation which resulted in
he enactment of the law of the last ses-
sion authorizing the appointment of Il