Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-01-09
LEGISLATURE MEETS
IN 10th SESSION.
Continued from Page A.

Continued from Page A.
fne1t of their time acquire habits OF self
control and self dependence which fit
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 lave remained law abiding cit.
>nizens.
resent capacity of the institution
space for $50. The present number
INMATES mounts to 40l, so that no less
n $50 are now without cells and are
yeeping on cots in the corridors. The
reservation of order under these condi-
ms is difficult, and the fact that no out.
freak has occurred speaks well for the
discipline maintained. 1t should be re-
nembered that offenders are committed
y this reformatory by the courts. and
fhe management has no control over the
number 1t 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 ad-
ditional capacity provided.
Tenement House Department.
The work of the state board of tene-
ment house supervision, whose annual re-
PQrt has been submitted to you, COM
meRds itself. This department has been
in axistence for about one year and a
halfA 1t exercises a certain supervision
overEfll the tenement houses in the state.
OF thkse there are about $1,000 old or *
listing Muses. The work of the depart
ment is divided between improving the
old houses and seeing hat the new ones
are erected in accordance with the law.
The board has an inspecting force Of
ten men, eight of whom are employed on
new building work, but are not able to
cover the entire field. This leaves two
men to devote their attention to the 35,-
600 existing 7tenements 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 a 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-
prevail of the board Is necessary to the
erection of any new tenement house. This
being the case. New Jersey should in a
few years become a state of model tene-
ments. During the year ending Oct. 81.
1905, plans for new tenements estimated
to cost more han $1,000, 900 were approved
by the board. This shows that the law
is practicable and does not halt invest
ment in this class of property. The work
is most Essential to the health, morals
and happiness of a large number of peo-
pie, and the board should be provided with
the necessary force of men to carry it on.
Riparian Lands and Fisheries.
In my inaugural I called the attention
OF the legislature to what 1 deemed to be
H. IL ~ fhn fnf in
parting permanently with it's riparian
lands. 1 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 readjust-
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. 1t
is claimed that large quantities of fish
are taken through these agencies, and
our fishing interests are thereby seriously
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 au-
tomobiles on the highways. The repre-
sentatives Of the various interests agreed
upon a measure which the legislature
adopted. Public safety, however. is still
menaced 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-five 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 Ill the TdHullTB anu mdH-
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. 1t would seem that the
drivers of automobiles or chauffeurs
should be provided will a license after
proper examination, II this license
should be revoked upon the violation of
it's provisions under proper rules and reg
ulations. The revocation of a license will
go far toward hating reckless driving, as
it would deprive the chauffeur of his
means of livelihood and the pleasure driv-
err of his means of recreation. It might
be provided that reckless driving, result
ing in injury to person or property, shoul
be punished by Imprisonment.
The fee system in state offices as COM
pensation for public officials has already
been abolished. 1 recommend that it be
extended throughout the state, that the
Offices of sheriff, county clerk, surrogate
and register of deeds be made salaried
instead of fee offices. i
Jury Reform.
50 long as juries form a part of our ju-
dicial system, their character and MEM