The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-01-09

At these conferences are discussed ,ques-
lions Affecting the management Of our in
stitutions and the welfare Of their iil-
mates New Jersey is Unique among the
states in this particular feature, which
would seem to provida all the advantages
OF a state board of cchtrol without any Of
it's weaknesses.
number Of the penal institutions Of
the country are not only self supporting,
but add to the revenues Of the state. The
commissioner of charities and corrections,
at my request, made a report upon the
cost of maintenance of our penal institu-
tions, which will be found In his annual
report. commend it to your considera'
tfon. The commissioner has had several
conferences with the associated labor or
ganizations of the state with a view to
devising some means by which better re-
turns can be obtained from the labor of
our prisoners without competing with the
honest labor Of the state. It is not an
easy problem. His suggestion that some
Of the proceeds of the labor OF the pris-
eners be devoted to the support of their
unfortunate families has met with all
most universal approval and has attract
ed the attention Of neighboring states.
This question, though difficult of solution,
is one of great importance, and while 1t
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 its
inception, and the legislature did not
realize the magnitude of the undertaking
when the project was authorized The I'M
stitution suffered in popularity on that ac-
count. The state has spent on 1t to date
$104S, $50, and the reports of the institu-
tion 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 In
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 fit
them to go out into the world again. Sew
en- hundred and fifty men have been re-
ceived since the institution was opened.
420 Of whom have been released on parole
and provided with employment OF these
" 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. Tho
preservation of order under these condi-
tions Is difficult, and the fact that no out
break has occurred speaks well for the
discipline maintained. 1t 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
mends itself. This department has been
in existence for about one year and a
half. 1t exercises a certain supervision
over all the tenement houses in the state.
OF these there are about IS, 900 old or ex-
listing housesJ The work of the depart
nlent 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 of
ten men, eight Of whom are employed on
new building work, but are not able Ia
cover the entire field. This leaves two
men to devote their attention to the 3d.
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
DOarQ requires a cOnSlQerdDly larger lOrce
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 guarantee that they can never
become more extensive. The official ap,
proval 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-
r%r.k
1905. plans for new tenements estimated
to cost more than S6000,000 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 I deemed to be
the unfortunate policy of the state in
parting permanently with its riparian
lands / 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
Simply but shall be leased on rentals
which at proper periods may be read1ust-
ed on fair basis Of increased value.
No little complaint has been made and
no little indignation expressed at the ac-
tion of the SO called menhaden fishermen
in the taking Of fish along our coast. It
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 takeldsh for food, but
to our entire lire 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 cora
plant in connection with the use Of au-
tofnobiles 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 qriv-
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 rum
ming from fifty to seyenty-tive miles an
hour is granted the right Of way upon our