Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-02-22
THf LEGISLATURE.
MORE APPOINTMENTS MAD


revising the laws of the state with re
spect to our system of public instruc.
ton. This commission presented bill
last winter, but there was not time to
give it the necessary attention, and the
commission was continued. 1t may be
remembered that premature an
nouncement as to the commissions in
tentions for this winter stirred up
some agitation a couple of months ago,
the statement being made that the new
bill would favor such a plan as would
deprive school districts of the govern
ment of their own schools. But the
bill now offered does nothing of the
kind. 1t leaves matters in the hands
of the local school boards and provides
for the election of these boards by the
people.
The commission considered several
methods of constituting the boards
one by appointment of the mayor, one
by election by the people and third
method which has been tried in the
west with some success-namely, the
election by the voters of an intermedi-
ate board which should name the school
trustees. There are arguments in favor
of each plan, but the commission final
ly determined to place the selection OF
the trustees directly In the hands OF
the people. The bill further provides
that all questions, including appoint
ments. shall be determined by major
ity vote of the school board. Each
board may make its own rules relative
to the employment, tenure of office,
salary, promotion and discharge of
teachers A superintendent for each
county is provided for, his salary to be
paid out of the state funds. The state
board of examiners, now consisting OF
the state superintendent of public in
struction and the principal of the State
Normal school, is increased by an adj
ditional member, to be appointed by
the state board of education. Provi-
sion is made for the issuing of teach
ers' certificates. The bill abolishes the
school census as now taken, which
costs over $4,000 annually, and the
school tax is hereafter to be based on
the amount of taxable property of the
districts. The state moneys shall be
apportioned to the districts on the ba-
sis of the attendance of pupils. Every
child between and u years must at
tend school unless legitimately excused.
No child under Is shall be employed
unless within the preceding II months
he has attended school at least II
weeks. Provision is made for truant
officers and the arrest of truants.
Truant schools may be established.
Penalties are prescribed for failure of
parents to send children to school.
More Appointments.
The contests over the appointment of
circuit court judges have at last been
settled. Francis ]. Swayze. to succeed
Francis Child, was appointed last week
by Governor Voorhees,, as mentioned
in last weeks letter, and this week the
governor sent to the senate the second
appointment, that of James II. Nixon
of Cumberland county, to succeed
Judge R. ]. Miller of Camden. Both
Judges Swayze and Nixon We're con-
firmed by the senate Monday night.
Judge Swayze was born in Sussex
county, but has been practicing for
some years in Newark. He is 80 years
old, and is a graduate of Harvard.
Judge Nixon was born in Cumberland
| county, where he still resides. He is
90 years old, and is a graduate of
Princeton. He served terms in the
senate and assembly and was for
time assistant attorney general in the
federal courts. He is at present a
special judge in the court of errors and
appeals.
Both the retiring judges were Demo
Gratis. Their successors are Republic
ans The term of office is seven years
and the salary $500 year
Governor Voorhees, also sent to the
senate this week the following:
For members of the state board of
assessors, Robert S. Green Dem.) and
Stephen j. Meeker Dem.). both reap
pointments-
For commissioners of pilotage, John
G. Dewar, Henry w. Miller, Henry C.
Gulick, Daniel C. Chase, John C.
Weaver and Mark Townsend, all reap
pointments.
Ex-senator Chase was confirmed
and the others were referred.
Governor Voorhees, has now pretty
nearly cleared his desk Of appoint
ments for the winter.
The senate INDUCED in a partisan de.
bate yesterday over assembly bill No.
8, which provides for the redistricting
of certain wards in the city of New
| Brunswick. 1t appears that year ago
a somewhat similar bill was passed,
but it directed the common council to
make the necessary changes. Council
has done nothing in the matter, and a
litigation has been in progress for
some time to force action. 1t was
finally determined, however, that a
| quicker solution of the difficulty would
be the enactment of a new law taking
the power from common council and
yeSting it in a commission to be ap-
| pointed by the mayor. Senator Van
Cleef DEM of Middlesex assailed
the pending bill as viciously partisan,
and peanut politics at that, as only a
| few constables and petty officials
would be gained by the Republicans
He said the only reason council did not
act was because the law provided no
method of meeting the expenses incl
dent to the change. He also pointed
out that the proposed commission
would consist of two Republicans and
one Democrat, the New Brunswick
mayor being Republican.
Mr.. Pitney, for the Republicans, dis
claimed any partisan purpose. He said
the last legislature, which was Repub-
lican, vested the power of redistricting
in the Democratic common council and
gave the Democrats every opportunity
to gain what advantage there might
be- The condition of New Brunswick
demanded relief, and good men of both
parties asked for a more even distribu-
ton of the population.
Mr.. Braun (Dem.) said he would IA
vor the bill, as there was Democratic
mayor in his city, Paterson.