The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-01-24

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/ think, be made. The action of last
year will doubtless be repeated this
year, but l think other uses of the sur
| plus can wisely be made. Too large q
/ surplus should not be allowed to ac-
cumulatc. 1t is larger now than a
safe and conservative regard for the
interests of the state require 1t be-
longs to the people of this generation
and should not be held for the benefit
Of the next. The people are entitled
10 receive the benefit Of it now, and .
reasonable portion of it may be used
9ithor in the reduction of school taxes.
| the repair and enlargement of the in
stitutions of the state where such are
| needed, the substantial increase in the
| appropriation for public roads, which
I cannot too highly commend o. you,
or in such ether manner as the legis-
latlue may in its wisdom decide upon.
1t may be remarked, and with jus
| tice, that the largest source Of receipts
| that from miscellaneous corporations
and which last year amounted to the
large sum of S1.G30, 574 IBIS uncer
rain ana is likely TO vary from year to
| gear with the general condition of
business throughout the country. That
is true, but | am not speaking of in
come, but of surplus, of money in
hand. 1t is hardly to be expected that
the income Of the state, even in times
Of business depression, will not be suf-
| ficient for the necessary expenses of
the state, and the extraordinary ex-
penses may be adjusted from year to
year, according to the condition of the
treasury, without bringing hardship
to the taxpayer.
The National Guard.
The national guard now consists of
forty-eight companies Of infantry, or
ganized into four regiments; two bat
teries of artillery, and two troops of
cavalry, composing two brigades and
one division. The present infantry
force should be enlarged. / think if
wise that it be increased to five regi-
ments of infantry, of twelve companies
each, and that the artillery and cav
airy remain as they now are, and that
the headquarters of these regiments be
located in Newark, Jersey City, Pat
erson, Trenton and Camden.
In each of these cities commodious
armories have been built by the state
at large expense, and too much money
has been expended upon these build
ings to permit them to be useless or to
be damaged by neglect. That, however,
is the smallest of reasons for urging
! their use.
The Importance of a national guard
of reasonable size cannot be disputed.
We are people given to ways of
peace. The nation does not maintain
large standing army. The chief reli-
ance of the people in times of war as
well, in necessity, as in times of peace
in upholding the supremacy of the law
and in protecting public and private
property is in a thoroughly organized
and perfectly disciplined national
guard. The yalor of the sons of New
Jersey, their patriotism and their sac
rifice have never failed either the state
or the nation. regard it as of high i'm
portance that the militia of the state
should be maintained in reasonable
numbers and at the highest point of
efficiency.
Hospital For Consumptive Poor.
am inclined to bring to your atten-
ton the subject of providing state
hospital for the consumptive poor. If
have had any doubts of the wisdom of
doing so, 1t is not because there is any
| question in my mind of the good such
| an institution would be to those af-
fiicted with this disease, but for eco
nomic and other reasons. The dread
fitness of this disease (do / character
ize it too stronglyD is not appreciated
by the average layman. 1t is not so
loathsome as smallpox, people do not
| fear it as they do scarlet or typhoid
fever or diphtheria, and yet the statis-
tics show that in the last twenty-five
years In the state of New Jersey the
deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis
have been more than from diphtheria,
Group, typhoid fever, scarlet fever,
whooping cough, malarial fevers,
measles and smallpox combined. If
one has any of these diseases, he has
chance for his life, but If the grip of
the white soourge" ever takes hold of
him. however gentle may be it's first
touch, it strengthens its hold month by
month, never relaxing, never weaken
ing, until the final end.
At least this is so with the poor. The
rich, with their cleaner general habits
of life, the better air they breathe, the
better food they eat, stand fighting
chance, and If they take the disease in
time and submit themselves to skilled
treatment they may recover, but with
the poor the bullet of the rifle pointed
at the heart is hardly more certain. 1t
is swifter, but not more sure.
1t has been demonstrated that with
proper treatment the disease is pre-
ventable and in its early stages durable
isolation, fresh air, proper food. But
these are impossible to the poor.
That 1t is contagious is now as fully
recognized as that under most condi-
tons it is fatal. 1t is proper subject
for legislative investigation and ac-
ton, and am of the opinion you would
be doing a lasting service to the state
if you were to make reasonable APP
preparation lar the establishment of
hospital for this purpose.
Gentlemen of the legislature, you in
your province, in mine, are intrusted
with high responsibility by the state
we love- The history of New Jersey,