Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-01-10


drawn and appear TO permit the forma-
ton Of every variety of such associa-
ton, with few restrictions Of any value.
As result concerns Of doubtful utility
and possessing but few Of the charac-
teristics of the genuine building and loan
associations have been organized for the
sole purpose Of enriching their promoters
at the expense of the unfortunate share
holders.
These abuses should be remedied at
once and the proyident and thrifty of our
state protected The present statutes
should be repealed and in their stead a
new law enacted which will insure safe,
equitable and economical conduct of
business and make impossible the abuses
above complained of.
Public Library Commission.
The last legislature passed an act to
promote the establishment and efficiency
of free public libraries in accordance
with the provisions of which DR.. Ernest
G. Richardson, William G. Kimball, NJ.
Taylor Pyne, Dr. Everett I. Tomlin-
son and Frank p Hill were appointed
members of the New Jersey public Ii
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
stationery and printing, and the COM
mission are unable TO make such 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 a
population exceeding $50, that are with
out a 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 81, 800 year and be
extended over number of years will
make the expense so small as scarcely to
NC lett anu IL lllC NOHlllllSolOH Silfli 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, a 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
ther needs.
The school Law and Apportionment
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 i'll many districts, and for
this reason its provisions in this respect
have not had trial in all of the districts
Of the state. There seems to be a di-
versity of opinion as to the operation and
correct Interpretation of the sections re-
lating to the selection of members OF
boards of education in municipalities di-
yided into wards The law should be so
amended as to make its language mora
explicit. The state superintendent re-
ports that wherever the law has beeii
duly executed in its entirety it has work.
ed smoothly and is giving complete sat-
isfaetion.
The present method of apportioning tbs
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
cy 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 considsra
ton.
state Home For Girls.
Present accommodations at this home
for school purposes make impossible a
division into classes such as that adopted
in the public schools Of the state. Such
q 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 for
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 Reformatory.
In 1899 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 insti-.
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. If
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 jul
venile and first offenders will be put off
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 a 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