Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-01-11

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
eluded, 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-
tion 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 $157. 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-
mendations of the quartermaster general
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 21. 1899, / appointed
Miss Elizabeth r. 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 law creating a permanent Palisade
commission for the state, the members
whereof shall serve without compensa-
ton Such a 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 for
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
whereon 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-
tions can be urged than against those
heretofore proposed, and it does not nee
essarily involve the state in a large ap-
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 were admitted
to the hospital at Morris Plains 272 pa
tients, and 206 were discharged Two
hundred and sixty-seyen were sent to the
hospital at Trenton and 216 discharged
therefrom The total number under
treatment during the year was 1.508 in
the former and 1856 in the latter At
the close of the hospital year there were
/ 1902 inmates at Morris Plains and l, ,170
at Trenton, an increase of G6i in the for
mer over the previous year and of 81 in
the latter. There are accommodations
for about 1000 only at 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 on the new buildings has pro-
gressed as rapidly as possible Some de-
lay has resulted from the impossibility Of
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
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
l1Sitlb. lutlB pau OuI VI tttt Sldtt
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 these counties where there
are no asylums and tends to encourage
the erection of local asyluns where suffi-
cient facilities for the proper care and
treatment of the insane cannot in the na
ture of things be furnished. The burden
imposed upon the state is no inconsider-
able one, for the reports submitted show
that 1913 patients were in the various
county hospitals on the 31st day of Oc-
tober last
Another clement of injustice is found in
the fact that i'll some eases 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. III the hope that
something may be done to reduce the
large annual expenditure for the support
If the insaneabout 16 per cent of the
ordinary expenses of the state-your at
tention is once more invited to the sub
jeet.
Either state aid should be withdrawn
or the weekly payments re-
duced to 81 per week, the sum now con-
tributed by the state toward support in
the state hospitals.
State Sewerage Commission.
The public agitation which resulted in
the enactment of the law of the last ses-
sion authorizing the appointment of a
state sewerage commission is of too re
cent occurrence to require more than
passing reference. Considerations for the
health and safety Of districts of the state
already thickly settled, the future vel
fare of a population constantly and rap
idly increasing, differing methods arising
from want of uniformity of laws and the
lack of some central authority, alike de-
manded the immediate creation of a body
invested with powers of general supervi-
sion over our sewerage systems. The prop
er disposal of the waste of crowded mu-
is problem the wise solution
of which is most intimately connected
with their future welfare and prosperity.
There was needed some properly consti-
tuted commission with large general
The legislature accordingly
created such a body, and the following
named gentlemen we're appointed cons
William T. Hunt, president;
John Hincheliffe. treasurer; Charles A.
Fuller, Charles T. Harrington and David
T.. Wallace From motives of caution
the legislature clothed these gentlemen
with only veto power upon new sewer