The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-01-10

be taken IN tie framing Of any remedial
legislation. that the requirements Of the
constitution are observed The Difficult
ties heretofore experienced III enaeting
laws 70 tax railroad property that wiN
square with constitutional mandates viii,
am sure make you alive 70 this fca-
ture Of the subject
APARTMENT OF LABOR.
The last Legislature gave much CON
sideration TO the revision Of the law gov
erning fhe Department Of Labor. The
age at which children 90 70 work was
raised to fourteen years, and many pro-
visions were made providing for the ef-
ficienes Of factory inspection, 50 far as
regards sanitation FIRE escapes, aud
everywhere be provided. Especial at
tention was given to that feature Of the
law concerning child labor. 50 that its
provisions might be enforced. / was for
tunate in securing the services of the
present head of the department, and the
results of his administration under the
new law are such that the inspectors un-
der him report fully as to their work
that the general factory conditions
throughout the State, so far as they af-
feet the operatives, have been greatly
improved; that what is technically known
as child labor has practically disappeared
and to such an extent am told in some
sections of the State night schools have
been abolished. The children who for
merly attended them now go to day
school, because the law does not permit
them to work. 1t may be that further
experience will show where the law can
be improved. Doubtless that will be so,
and higher standard viii be made pos
sible as improvements continue, but the
present law, as it is, is a credit to the
State. and it gives a relief and benefit
70 the working classes that is most graft
flying
TENEMENT HOUSE COMMISSION.
Hardly second in Importance to any
law that has been recently passed is that
providing for Tenement House Com
mission, with power to regulate the con-
struetion Of new tenement houses. and to
require tllat those existing at present
shall he modified. so as lat le:lst to
come within certain reasonable require
naents rs to light and air commend
to the LEGISLATURE the formal report Of
this commission, in their preliminary
work Of investigation as disclosing a
oiFSrlffslf 81 fIySYffg TiISs w0alr fsr alaiSe=-
lieyable, II Ii were nor vouched for by
reliable men Families huilled together
il 4 few small rooms. in some cases
without light, and in may cases without
ventilation, and in still larger number
Of cases without proper sanitary con
ditfons- All this is being done away
WITH and from This time on no tenement
house will be constructed in the State Of
New Jersey that does NOT provide a rea
sonahle quantity Of fresh air for every
inlnate. and where families may i've
their lives under wholesome conditions.
| hope the members of the Legislature,
every one of Them. will read the report,
which gives in detail the story of this
excellent work.
DIVERSION OF WATERS.
I recommend that measures be taken
to prevent the diversion of waters of
this State to other States for domesic
supply would suggest, also, that
limit should be placed upon the rights Of
both private and municipal corporations
to exhaust the flow of rivers. Ny atten-
tion has been called to the subject by the
condition of the Passaic river. From the
headquarters of the Passaic, on the
Pequann0cls river, the City of Newark
has authority to draw at least sixty-five
million gallons each day. Contractors
AFT Jersey Citv have lust completed