The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-01-11
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Continued from Fourth Page,

Continued from Fourth Page,
son and Frank p Hill were appointed
members Of the New Jersey public IL
brary commission. The first report of
the commission has been received and
will be transmitted to you.
The legislature failed to provide funds
to meet even the incidental expenses for
mission are unable to make such a re-
port Of results accomplished as should
be possible in view of the field that is
before them and condition of public Ii
brary affairs in New Jersey" In the
cities of the state great interest has re-
Gently been shown in the subject of pub
lie libraries. The work projected by the
commission lies within the smaller towns,
of which New Jersey has 129, with
population exceeding $50, that are with
out public library of any kind. The
financial aid to be extended under the
act Of 1900 is by no means the most inn
portant. The commission will give adj
vice as to the organization of public Ii
braries, the selection and purchase of
books and to library administration gen
orally.
The suggestion of the report that the
financial aid to be given to the towns
may be limited to $1,000 year and be
extended over a number of years will
make the expense so small as scarcely TO
be felt, and il the commission shall sue
coed in approaching the record made by
Massachusetts and New Hampshire the
benefits to the state cannot fail to be
great If it is to be continued, small
appropriation is recommended for Incl
dental expenses to enable it to begin
work during the present fiscal year, and
consideration should be given to its fur
Their needs.
The school Law and Apportfonment
of School Moneys.
The revised school law has proved
generally satisfactory. Unfortunately,
however, it was passed after the appro-
priations for the then coming year had
been made in many districts, and for
this reason it's provisions in this respect
have not had trial in all of the districts
Of the state. There seems to be a di-
yersity of opinion as to the operation and
correct Interpretation of the sections re-
ating to the selection Of members of
boards of education in municipalities di-
yided into wards. The law should be sc
amended as to make it's language more
explicit. The state superintendent re-
ports that wherever the law has been
luly executed in it's entirety it has work
ed smoothly and is giving complete sat
isfaction.
The present method of apportioning the
state school moneys is unsatisfactory
The commission on revision of the school
law, in its report presented to the legis-
lature at its last session, recommended
that the taking of the annual school
census be abandoned and that the por-
ton of state school moneys now appor-
toned among the districts on the basis
Of school census be apportioned on the
basis of actual days attendance Of the
pupils enrolled in the public schools.
The school census is expensive and I'M
reliable and is not an equitable basis of
apportionment. That proposed by the
commission is inexpensive and reliable
and would give to each district the mon
ey to which it was justly entitled for
work performed. A most important rea-
son for apportioning the school moneys
on the basis of actual days attendance is
that it would prove the best compulsory
attendance law that can be devised. The
recommendation of the commission is
commended to your favorable considera-
ton.
State Home For Girls.
Present accommodations at this home
for school purposes make impossible
division into classes such as that adopted
in the public schools of the state. Such
graduation is necessary in order to OBJ
tain good results. Inmates are now as
sembled for instruction in two rooms
only.
The erection of the school building fol
which the trustees ask ought to be au-
thorized 1t would enable those in charge
of the home to establish grades and per
nit the promotion of the inmates as
progress in their studies warranted.
The report of the board of managers
discloses the fact that good work is be-
ing done at this school and that the con-
ditions now prevailing. there are most
excellent. The course pursued by the
management and those in authority in
withstanding the unreasonable and I'M
reasoning clamor of year ago has been
| fully indicated.
| Railway RSformatOry.
| In 1890 the legislature appropriated
sum sufficient to make the reformatory
at Railway available for the reception
and care Of not less than 240 inmates.
The commissioners report that this has
practically been done and that the instr
tuition is now ready for occupancy.
Provision must be made by your hon.
orable bodies for the employment of nee
essary officers If the buildings are. to be
used before the close Of the year. Ii
nothing be done at this session, the open
ing will be delayed for at least IS
months, and the beginning Of the new
method here to be tried in treating ju-
venile and first offenders win be put of
for the same length of time The pro
posed plan has been in operation else.
where and has shown results most sur
prising in the work of reformation
The law under which the commission
has acted has been sufficient for its pur-
poses, but it needs revision in order to
insure practical scheme. 1t is crudely
drawn, lacks the necessary provisions
and is obscure and conflicting in details
A new and more comprehensive act
should be substituted.
Palisades interstate Park.
| Grateful acknowledgement is due to the
| gentlemen who have acted as commits
| sioners of the Palisades Interstate park"
for the very sensible and efficient dis
| charge of their duties
Those APPOINTED on behalf Of the state
Of New York were Nathan r. Barrett.
| George Walbridge Perkins. ID. AIaNee-
ly StaVffer, Ralph Trautman and j. nu-
\ Pratt White, and those on behalf Of this
state We're Abram DeRonde. AbSam $.
Hewitt, Franklin w Hopkins, William
| A. Linn and Edwin A. Stevens. They