The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-01-11

| it seemed to be one largely local in in
terest and purpose. Since then, however,
a progress has been made such as to jus
| tify its friends in the belief that the ex-
position will equal and in many respects
surpass all those previously held.
The enterprise is purely American in
purpose and scope and has received sub
stantial aid and encouragement from the
governments Of the United States and
other countries of the western continent.
| Several states have signifed their inten
ton to take part therein.
The advantages to our own state in
| having a suitable exhibition of its re-
sources and products are manifest, and
| to defray the expenses thereof suitable
appropriation is recommended.
Revision of the Statutes.
| A recommendation for the revision Of
the general statutes, which is so neces-
sary, has heretofore been withheld be-
cause the codifcation of laws relating to
| various subjects was in progress. Many
| of these have been prepared and enacted
| into laws by preceding legislatures.
| The gentlemen comprising the several
commissions have done excellent work
| They have harmonized conflicting stat
utes, caused needless or obsolete laws to
be repealed and combined similar acts
with slightly differing provisions. They
have secured clearness and directness
| in style of expression which is highly
commendable.
These condensed and tersely stated
acts have been prepared and put into
| the form Of laws since the volumes con-
| tanning the general statutes were pub
| lished. Much contained in those vol
umes is now useless or misleading, and
| the time has come when a new revision
of the laws should be made.
Judging by the work already done, it
| ls believed that the three volumes, on the
| 8, 700 pages of which are to be found
many laws now obsolete, repealed, con-
| ficting or declared unconstitutional,
could be reduced to a single book. The
republication would afford accuracy and
convenience.
| 1t is therefore respectfully recommend
| ed that a commission be appointed with
full power to do this work and that a
suitable compensation be authorized.
1t would be well to start on the TWEEN
tieth century with a creditable digest of
the laws of New Jersey.
Judiciary Amendments.
| Repeated efforts have been made DUR
| ing the last few years to adopt amend
ments to the constitution providing for
the reorganization of the higher courts.
These attempts have, unfortunately, fail
ed, because of differences of opinion as
| to the manner in which the reorganiza-
ton should be accomplished. Proposed
amendments, intended to bring about
this result, will be laid before you.
| The need of reorganization is generally
admitted. 1t is not intended to suggest
what form the amendments should take,
but it is important that the changes
should be made without lessening the
dignity and influence of the courts. At
the same time the proposed system
should insure methods less cumbersome
and more expeditions than those now
prevailing. 1t is earnestly hoped that
amendments in some form, and embody-
ing in the main these features, will be
adopted.
Distribution of Surplus.
Your attention has already been called
| to the condition of the state treasury
| and the balance therein at the close OF
the fiscal year. 1t is difficult to tell
! exactly how much of this may be strictly
| tHIutu u SuEpiuSy us IL Is SuUJeCt 10 Tue
charges for appropriations made by the
legislature for expenses of the state
government. After deducting these ap
preparations, however, there is still q
balance left in the treasury. Opinions
| differ as to the best way of disposing OF
this surplus.
Under chapter 90 of the laws of 1897
we are distributing to the municipalities
|
| received from railroad taxation, which
| used to form part of the states income.
| Under chapter 1875 Of the laws of 1900
| we shall this year begin to remit between
| $150,000 and 100000 of the revenues
| formerly received from the tax on fran
| chises of quasi-public corporations. The
annual amount appropriated for school
| purposes has been increased 100000.
1t is doubtful, however. if any of these
| methods have relieved the burdens OF
local taxation This result, it is be
lieved, can be best accomplished by dis
tributing the surplus in the treasury il
accordance with the provisions of section
| 100 Of the act establishing a system Of
| public instruction passed last year. I'm
| der ii the legislature may appropriate
| from year to year, any sum not less thar
1
states school tax. Whatever amount i
may thus appropriate will he actual.
deducted from the tax bill of every in
dividual taxpayer. He. will receive al
immediate and direct benefit therefore,
When it is considered that in some of thu
| rural districts the state school ia;
amounts to one-third of the actual tax
alton, the wisdom of reducing this iten
is at once apparent.
You are therefore respectfully urged Il
make as large an approximation for thi
purpose as you may think the condition
of the treasury will warrant.
Within the past few years the atten
ton of the legislature has been called t
this subject frequently. The condition
of the rivers and streams in severa
localities demands attention. Especial,
is this true of the valley of the Passaic
The citizens and property owners in tina
valley have become alarmed at the fou
and polluted condition of the waters o
the river. These ar, vaw the receptacle
and conduit of eli Of he sewage of til,
cities, towns and villages in the terri
tory which II drains, and of all of TIL
refuse Of fie numerous factories an,
manufactpii9s establishments along it
banks
The valley teens with population an,
by far the most important manufactur
ing district within the state. The fin
condition of the river affects the valu
of property md threatens the publ
health. Alarmed by existing conditions