Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-01-11

ed the attention OF neighboring states
This question, though difficult of solution,
is one of great Importance. and while Il
cannot be settled hastily both progress
and reform demand that 1t be considered.
Railway Reformatory.
The reformatory at Railway has been IN
operation more than four years. 1t was
the subject of no little controversy at lis
inception, and the legislature did not
realize the magnitude Of the undertakina
when the project was authorized. The IN
stitution suffered in popularity on that ac-
count. The state has spent on it to date
81, 04S, $50, and the reports of the institu-
ton show that 100000 worth of construc-
ton has been accomplished by the in
mates. The reformatory is doing excel
lent work The inmates by training IL
the useful trades in school work, In mill
| tary drill and by the constant employ
ment of their time acquire habits of self
control and self dependence which ht
them to go out into the world again. Sew
en- hundred and fifty men have been re-
ceived since the institution was opened,
40 of whom have been released on parole
and provided with employment OF these
n per cent have remained law abiding cit
liens.
The present capacity of the institution
affords space for $50. The present number
of inmates amounts TO 401, so that no less
than $50 are now without cells and are
sleeping on cots in the corridors. The
preservation of order under these condl-
tons is difficult, and the fact that no out.
break has occurred speaks well for the
discipline maintained. It should be re-
membered that offenders are committed
to this reformatory by the courts, and
the management has no control over the
number it shall receive. This conflict be-
tween the courts orders and the capacity
of the institution should be adjusted.
Either the law should be amended or adj
ditional capacity provided
Tenement House Department.
The work Of the state board of tene-
ment house supervision, whose annual re-
port has been submitted to you, com
nnends itself. This department has been
in existence for about one year and
half. 1t exercises a certain supervision
over all the tenement houses in the state.
OF these there are about 5000 old or ex-
listing houses The work OF the depart
ment is divided between improving the
old houses and seeing that the new ones
are erected in accordance with the law.
The board has an inspecting force or
ten men, eight of whom are employed on
new building work, but are not able 10
cover the entire field. This leaves two
men to devote their attention to the 35,-
900 existing tenements located in all parts
of the state. Many violations of the law
have been remedied in the case of old
tenement houses by the mere sending out
of notices to the agents or owners, but the
board requires considerably larger force
for personal inspection work.
The report Of the board shows that
much has been accomplished toward re-
moving tenement evils. and the law it.
self is a guarantee that they can never
become more extensive. The official ap-
proyal of the board is necessary to the
erection of any new tenement house. This
being the case, New Jersey should IN
few years become a state of model tene-
ments During the year ending Oct 81,
1906, plans for new tenements estimated
to cost more than 100000 were approved
by the board This shows that the law
is practicable and does not halt invest
rnent in this class Of property. The work
is most essential to the health, morals
and happiness of a large number of peo-
Die. and the board should be provided with
the necessary force of men to carry it on.
Riparian Lands and Fisheries.
In my inaugural / called the attention
of the legislature to what deemed to be
the unfortunate policy of the state IN
parting permanently with its riparian
lands I renew my recommendation OF
last year that the legislature provide in
some practical way that these lands may
not be disposed of in the future in fee
simple but shall be leased on rentals
which at proper periods may be read1ust-
ed on a fair basis of increased value.
No little complaint has been made and
no little indignation expressed at the ac-
ton of the so called menhaden fishermen
in the taking of fish along our coast II
is claimed that large quantities OF fisn
are taken through these agencies. and
impaired. These are important not only
to our people who take fish for food, but
to our entire line of seacoast resorts, one
of whose attractions is the bay and sea-
coast fishing. AT the present time there
are about thirty steamers and twenty sail
ing vessels holding licenses for such fish
ing. Your consideration of the repeal Of
the licensing act would be approved by a
large number of the citizens of our state.
Automobiles.
No little attention was given by the leg
islature last year to the regulation of aus
tomobiles on the highways The repre-
sentatfves Of the various interests agreed
upon measure which the legislature
adopted Public safety, however, is still
rnenaced by these motor vehicles. For
this two reasons may be assigned-failure
to execute the law and reckless driving.
Every legislative provision should be
made to remedy any just ground OF COM
plant in connection with the use of au-
tomobiles upon our highways. The dam
age done through the use Of these ma
chimes to the surface of our macadam
and gravel roads should be compensated
for and means to prevent reckless driv-
ing provided. A license fee in proportion
to the speed Of the car should be charged
and devoted to the repair of our damaged
roadways Locomotive engineers who run
upon a defined track are required to serve
several years of apprenticeship before
they are permitted to take charge of an
engine An automobile capable OF run
ming from fifty to seventy-fiv miles an
hour is granted the right Of way upon our
streets and highways and is driven in some
cases by amateurs who have had little or
no experience in the handling and man
agement of such powerful machines,
whose eyesight is defective and who for
other reasons may be entirely incapable
of approaching the responsibility they
have assumed. It would seem that the
drivers of automobiles or chauffeurs
should be provided with a license after
proper examination, and this license
should be revoked upon the violation Of