New-York tribune., 1900-01-02
NEW JERSEY NEWS.

The National Guard Commission recently ap-
pointed by Governor Voorhees, is not so much
concerned with plans for the reorganization Of
the State soIdiery as it is with the codihcation
Of the laws relating TO The National Guard,
These statutes passed at various times 10 meet
particular emergencies form motley coIlec-
tion, including acts which are inharmonious II
not absolutely contradictory. and containing
many provisions which DO not fit the present
requirements Of the National Guard So far as
the reorga aization CT the military force of the
State is concerned. that has been effected and
the present Commission will recommend no
changes of any moment in the plan adopted by
the previous Commission and pu5 into opera
ton by the Governor as Commando in Chief
Of the State forces The National Guard viii
consist ar now Of two briEades each made MP
Of TWO regiments Of infantry. d cavalry troop,
a gun detachment and a battalion Of Naval Re
serves. The idea OF consolidating the whole
force into one brigade Is an impossible one
The Major General is constitutional officer,
and he cannot be dispensed with except hy
an amendment 70 the State Constitution, or by
the Governor falling to appoint such officer
in case the place is vacant The Major Cen
eralship is now so well filled by General Sewell
that it adds to the practical efficiency and ef-
fectiveness Of the National Guard. and his mill
tary experience and executive capacity are Of
such value 10 the service that II necessarily
follows that any reorganization which. would
abolish the Major Generalship would not be
seriously considered, even If it could be legally
effected. The new National Guard act there
fore, will provide proper command for
major general. such as now exists and VIII
provide for its organization and equipment on
Regular Army lines, so far as these can be FOL
lowed in a military organization which being
side and what
termed gold lace" to attract members and make
them willing to perform the sterner duties of a
soldier The main features Of The proposed codl-
fcation have been agreed upon and the report
and bill will be ready for submission to the
Governor early in the session of the Legis-
lature.
It is expected that the Court Of Errors and
Appeals will soon hand down its decision on the
appeal Of Paterson from the injunction granted
bv Chancellor McGill to prevent Paterson from
increasing the quantity Of sewage which II
empties into the Passaic River, and from the
order of the Court Of Chancery that all pollu-
ton Of the river by sewage must cease within
five years from the date OF the order. 1t is con-
fdentIy expected. by good lawyers as we'll as by
those who are anxious to see the nuisance
abated that the Court Of Errors and Appeals
will uphold the ChancelIor's decision, and thus
decision will be rendered soon, as upon 1t de-
pends the course of the Legislature upon this
vexed and momentous problem of rescuing the
Passaic River from its present filthy condition,
and saving the Passaic Valley from depopula-
tion. If the Court of Errors and Appeals affirms
the Chanceors decision the Legislature will
doubtless give to tn, State Sewerage Commits
sion the power which 1t originally intended
to vest in that body-power to compel offending
municipalities TO begin at once TO abate the
nuisances which they are committing in using
the Passaic River as an open sewer. AS mat
ter Of course appropriation will be made
TO enable the Commission to employ experts, in
order that they may pass upon the plans of
sewage disposal proposed by the municipalities
or suggest feasible schemes When the courts
settle beyond dispute that cities and towns are
committing a nuisance in the eyes of the law
in pOl!uting streams, and when the State Sew
erage Commission is empowered to enforce the
law thus interpreted, the Passaic Valley will
obtain relief.