New-York tribune., 1903-01-26
NEW-JERSEY NEWS.
TWO CHILD L12OR BILLS
THE Legislature VII Probabhy Pass
Ihem-GOUern0r Interested.

Trenton. Jan. o (SpeciaD.-What are known -
the Child Labor bills. introduced by AssembIyrna1
William A Lord. OF Essex County are sure to a.
tract great attention in the present legislature
Mr. Lord has of late been giving much attention ~
the present statutes, and both Of his bills are s1p
Elementary thereto. 10 Is believed that tbess
amendments will meet with popular approval ana
that the bills will pass. The first o. these sun
plements fixes the minimum age at which children
may be set at work at fifteen years. This Is A
compromise between Governor Murphy's sugges-
ton of fourteen years and the limit OF sixteen
wears which was named By the representatives OF
organized labor.
The second supplement is regarded as being NJ
much greater Importance than the first inasnuch
as without It the other probably would be inopera-
tive The second bill provides that the Governor
shall appoint the State factory and workshop IN
spectors and that they shall be answerabIs 70 hin
for the faithful discharge OF their duties. T.
further provides that the Governor may sun
mariIy suspend them for neglect or failure to per
form their duties and that he may dismiss these
officers on conviction after hearing
Those who have read Governor Murphy's message
will remember that one of the most important
features of it the reference 20 child labor
thew must be aware that this matter has assumed
nroportions Of Vital moral and political interest
tbrouebout the State It, is well known also that
tbe conduct OF the chief inspector and his as
socfates has not been such as to meet with public
annrovaL On the contrary, there has been the
their alleged misconduct or incompeteney. OF both
II was this criticism which probably led the Gov
ernor to make a careful investigation OF labor
ditions in the State. Nor is there any doubt that
the result OF this investiga tion prompted him 70
remark with decided emphasis. The Inspector
and his assistants are responsible to the legislature
only IF the power of removal was lodged In the
Governor a more vigorous enforcement OF the law
si o6ieef of The second bill introduced b. Nj
T9rd 10 lodge the mower Of removal in the Gov
er7nr md
people generally many who are N a position u
| know say there can be no doubt; .-
to speak the child labor question IN this CITY
to-ady without the ability and the responslbllty
of enforcing the law being peremptorily axed The
law itself IS OF little 'I s sF( 6r
vided for dealing with the shortcomings OF the
body knows. or ought to know. the provisions Of
the present law have been hagranty violated UNI
the fact has become notorious. The rlSnt place o.
Goverrorp Of TIE STATE Oniv the Impending pro
i{ ToxT5ii9F f ] 0I 11.s ,.sI Which nafuraIly would
duty by the chief Inspector and his assistants.
PAssAIC RIVER POLLUTION.
While the pu1ihcation Of the Passaic River was
under discussion here to-day it was said by Re
publican who is in an eminentIy good position
TO correctly describe the situation that II any
State aid should be awarded 10 perfect tne trunN
sewer system which PROBABLY viii be the plan rec
commended b. the State Sewerage Commission, Il
naturally and almost certainly would be extended
on the principle Of the present system OF assess
ments of benefits and charges on the state riparian
lands lying within the district directly aHect7'
and 10 be benefited by the publication or the Pas
saic In no other way could ne see how me desIFe1
State aid could be extended He thought tadI S1th
4 a Tlan would meet with much favor, ana thaI il
ultimately might be the one adopted =, -
A concurrent resolution and a Dill now ~ SIl-
mfttee In the Senate not likely 70 cause an
Trouble or to proIong the legislative session The
concurrent resolution proposes TO change tne se-
atorisI representation in +he state, and was intro
duced bv AssembIyman Lord. of Essex COUNTY
However lust Or unjust such a measure may oT
regarded from different and local points OF We"
the experfence of previous efforts on this Hns OF
hesitation directly TO the prooaolity Iild
rHa Senators and ASsemblymsn or the Sr1aIISi
Counties OF the State will still cling as tenaclosiS
to the present representation in the senate as th
have always done and as they are IN ne rnaJorsS.
the Concurrent resolution has no possible proSpec[
of ratification by the legislature :,
Senator Cfebhardt, Of Hunterdon County; mas n
troduced a bill which doubtless was intended 10 o.
p gallery play in politics. II provides that no
corIorfior shall permitted to obtain cerCncate
in NaU-Iersey If il shall be capitalized at more
than S1O6 OG The bill has been described as an
attack on the trusts. whereas, as leading Denlo-
crat in this city said to-day 1T IS n Tact CeIss-
oF the trusts of less than S00000OO capital and an
st+ac on legitimate terprises Of that size. since
the limit of capital set by Mr.. CIeohardE may use
that caDitaI H. the absorption OF similar and com
oerng enterprises and in the forming or practlca
mono1nIv TO such corporations the Senator's ol
makes no objection and practically gives WarTaI.l
Tor slIch action" Senator Cfebhardt is DemOcra'
a1d he doubtless will appreciate the force OF TINS
well disposed criticism from a fellow partisan