The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1907-10-30
katzenbach Speaks
Without knowledge.
Democratic Candidate Ought to
Study the Laws of
the State.

Ii Candidate kutZcnbaeh possesses
no greater knowledge of the affairs of
state generally than he dacs of the
structure of the secretary of states
Office and of the meter vehicle depart
ment. he will have much To learn be
fore he would ever become fit to all
minister the affairs OF governor. In
his campaign speeches he makes one
of his principal issues that ot abolish
Ind dual ofiiccholding. as he Is pleased
10 call ii, and cites Ms the rincipal eN-
ample of such otliceholdIug that of AS
sistant secretary of state. who is also
commissioner of motor vehicles.
For his Information he might be told.
what probably - per cent of the citl-
zens of the state who have any inter
est in the subject already know, that
the assistant secretary of state Is no
more II dual otieeholdcr than is the
governor, who is ex otlieio member of
several boards; the chancellor, who Is
OK oilicio ordinary or surrogate gen
eral: the secretary of state, who is cN
oilcio clerk of the court of errors and
appeals. register of the prcrogatlVe
court. clerk of the court of pardonS
and many other boards. the treasurer,
comptroller and attorney general, all
of whom are trustees of the state
school fund, and scores of other public
officers who Ivy statute are charged
with the performance of the duties of
Two or more offices.
Under the statute the assistant seere-
tary of state cannot help being Il dual
oilcehodcr any more than can the
other public officials mentioned help
being dual otliccluders. and II is To
he regretted that candidate of one
of the principal parties for governor
fails 10 comprehend the difference lie
tween actually holding Two offices and
complying With the statutory require
mentS which compel him 10 perform
the functions of two offices.
So far as the suggestions of the gu
beruaterial candidate 10 consolidate
the motor vehicle department With the
road department Is concerned his IN
formation Is as limited AZ is his knoWl
edge ef the obligations of cN eilieio of
heeholdcrs The meter vehicle depart.
mert. which Is already consolidated
With the department of state. Is AT
present located III not oHly Its logical
place. hut III the place where II can be
administered with the least degree of
expense Ia the public. Tie department
of state Is the largest, with one cXcep
tion. in 1hc state government II al
ready employs II large corps of clerks
Its business IL heaviest during the win
ter months in the corporation and mis-
cellnneous divisions The business "
the motor vehicle department il heav
lest during the summer months, ant
the clerks employed IN the department
can he shifted according 10 the worl
of the respective divisions in such
manner MS To obtain n maximum de
gree of service for the compensation
paid.
But, more than this. the secretary %
states department is essentially The
record keeping and license granting
department of the state government
The road department Is the depart
mcnt for the construction of the hard
roads of the state. 1t has no worI,
connected with any other class OF
roads or with any other work. II has
nothing 10 do with city streets or other
roads or even with the roads built with
state aid after they have been con
structed except So far ms questions of
repair are concerned The motor vchi
Gle department Is essentially Il record
keeping and licensing department aud
ms such property belongs In the state
department
The legislature has also added Ger
tain judicial functions. and 10 that END
II became necessary 10 designate =
certain official To- perform these func
lions. II designated the assistant soc
rotary of state Ia hold the position
but did not vest him with any of the
powers of appointment or charge him
as such commissioner of motor vehi
cles with any of the duties attendant
upon the keeping Of the records of the
department or the performance of iii,
clerical duties connected herewith and
his sole connection and authority IN
the performance of these duties vests
With him rs assistant secretary 81
state and moi as commissioner Of mo
tor vehicles
SO much for one Of Candidate KATY
enbaclfs principal campaign argu