, 1905-01-18

increased valuation. Here the state muSt
come to the rescue. If a maximum rat
for every taxing district in the state ,vas
fixed by Legislative enactment the rate ~
taxation would be insured, and under tbia
aegis of protection property investors
would seek New Jersey as a safe asvlum
The legislature OF the state can very
properly consider the wisdom of snoS
legislation. The comptroller of the lar.
gest city in the country says that a rate
of 81. so a hundred is sufficient to meet M
needs of any progressive municipality. II
the maximum rate for every municinalitv
in this state were fixed, at the outside az
81. 20 on the hundred or lower, If possible
the difficulties of the burdensome tau rat
and municipal expenditure would be large.
ly solved. Every small property owner
would be assured of the contribution no 10
to make yearly to the common good
Property would come out of hiding. Tn.
taxpayers and investors in municinal co
curities would all be interested in en-.
forcing economy in municipal expendi.
lures. The public mind on the question
of individual taxation would be changed
from a state in which it now winks at the
dishonest evasion of taxes to one in
which it would insist upon their honest
payment. The gain in public morality in
this connection cannot be overestimated.
MisappIication of States Surplus.
L u 81 CNCh liz LID InlS. In
1898 the legislature passed an act provid.
ing that the surplus money in the state
treasury might be appropriated for the
purpose of reducing the burdens of local
taxation. For the first year or PERTAINS
the first two years the distribution of
this sum reduced the tax rate and light.
ened accordingly the burden of the tax
payer. At the present time the $4,000
distributed from the state treasury for
this purpose is used by municipal author
tiles for increased expenditures, while
the taxpayer is called upon to contribute
as much If not more than before. / would
amend this act and would provide that
this distribution be limited to those tax.
ing districts where it was used not as a
means for increasing expenditures, but as
a means for reducing the tax rate pro-
p~ortionately to the amount of the con-
tribution from the state. In this way
economy in state expenditures, the in
crease in state revenue and the growth
of the state surplus could be made to
lessen the taxes of the property holders
of New Jersey and attract home builders
to our commonwealth.
Dependents.
The work of the state in the care of its
dependents grows in magnitude as it
grows in Importance. 1t is a duty which
the government cannot neglect with JUS
tice or safety. Involved In this problem
are questions of health, morals and
finance. Detectives are objects of pity
inc sympathy; they are helpless and must
have care. They are also dangerous to
society, and their increase must be pre-
vented if possible.
This work entails upon the state a vast
expense, amounting each year to 80 per
cent of the states disbursements. Ten
years ago the expenditures for this pur-
pose amounted to only IS per cent of the
total AUnAr1itt,rnc Tn 1909 fhn nynancac
for this purpose were $424, 377.6 SO; last year,
$S75, 127. SO, an increase of more than 100 per
cent. This does not include the growing
expense of our prisons and reformatories.
The state is now caring for 1859 insane
patients, 377 feeble minded, 1888 blind-a
total of S,099. In twenty years the num-
Der of insane has increased more than 10
per cent, while the population of the state
has increased only 66 per cent. Our Hos
pital For the Insane at Norris Plains has
today a population of more than LOGO, the
limit of it's capacity. In four years more,
at the present rate of increase, it will have
more thar 1000 patients. The hospital at
Trenton has a population of 1,249, and the
limit of its capacity is $40. These condi-
tons prevail, 1t must be remembered, not
withstanding the fact that we are building
county asylums for the relief of our state
institutions.
The situation confronting us in connec-
llOIl Will ILLS pIODitii Ii dPPaiAiiiS' liz
work must be continued in the interest of
humanity and for the safety of the state,
but some system should be devised by
which present results can be more eco
nomically obtained or the burden will soon
overtax the capacity of the state.
Individuals as well as the common
wealth ave a duty in this connection.
The relatives of the unfortunate members
of society should, SO far as their means
permit, assist in their maintenance and
care. The tendency of the age is 10
shift this burden upon the state A sig
nal illustration of this condition may De
found in the fact that of the 1000 children
brought to the attention of the STATE
board of children's guardians nearly SV
of them were returned to the care VI
their parents. These otherwise would
have been charges upon society. 1t Is NOT
unfair to assume that an equally large
supported by the state and the counties
could be cared for at the expense OF theh
relatives, who owe a moral duty to the
unfortunate members of the family that
they cannot honorably shift. Certainly
the least the relatives of dependents can
do is to contribute toward their support
rs much as it would cost to MAINTAIN
them at home.
Under the present law the state cares
for those unfortunates who have no
established domicile. This number OF eA-
clusively state dependents is growing 81
rapidly, amounting now to 4UO' tnat i"
would seem as though a more careful IN
yestigation should be made to dlscoNe'
Continued on Pu4e1