Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-01-10


sion of American character and prin-
ciples. 1t is important that they should
be promptly brought in touch with our
highest Ideals and standards.
This can be done through schools in
which they may be taught in their own
language as soon as possible the obi.
cations and duties of citizenship.
Whether this important work should
be carried on by the state board of ed
ucation. whether 1t should be under
the direction of a specially authorized
commission without salary, whether the
state should pay the whole expense or
whether the various municipalities
should share therein are matters of
detail for legislative consideration. |
earnestly recommend that this matter
be carefully considered.
Riparian Grants.
The riparian lands Of the state have
been twice the subject of recommends
ton at my hands. The legislative in
vestigation so admirably conducted will
he followed by a report of the investi-
eating committee. with recommends
tons that will form the basis of con-
sideration on your part. The time has
come for more clearly defined state
policy on this subject.
If our riparian lands should all be
severed from state control and vested
in individual ownership Chinese wall
of private interests would then inclose
the docks and landing places of our
harbors and rivers Of commerce.
Whatever policy therefore is adopted
as to the remaining riparian lands of
the state care should be exercised that
either the state or its municipalities
should retain control over some of it's
water fronts.
Insurance Laws.
The report of the committee to inves-
tigate the condition of life insurance
companies will be laid before you at
this session.
Master and Servant.
The report of the commission on mas
ter and servant will be presented to
you at this session. The law on this
subject is largely judge-made and has
become mass of legal subtleties more
fruitful of controversy and litigation
than capable of doing justice. This
condition of affairs requires careful
legislative treatment.
Uniform Divorce Laws.
One of the most formidable perils
which menace the social order of our
country today is the prevalence of easy
divorce. In order to combat most eff
fectually this enemy to society an in
terstate conference was called in Feb
ruary last to consider the ACCESSIBILITY
of uniform divorce laws among the
several states New Jersey was ably
represented. The conference passed
resolutions recommending uniformity
of legislation concerning divorce
throughout the entire Union, and
have requested the New Jersey dele
cation 10 draft an act along the lines
suggested. Upon the completion of
their work. already begun, will at
once submit the act thus prepared to
the legislature with a special message
thereon.
Delaware River Fisheries.
The fisheries OF the Delaware river
require immediate action. Shad and
sturgeon are diminishing with alarm
ing rapidly. Fewer fish We're caught
7......o. 49, o,,+;ro s,ooeor, IF 1000 than
were caught few years ago in a sin
gle day. The United States bureau of
fisheries, our own fish and game COM
mission and the commissioner of fish
cries of Pennsylvania. all concur in the
recommendation for uniform legisla-
ton for the protection of the shad fish
cries, else they think that this great
and valuable food fish will become ex-
tinct.
judiciary Amendments.
At the session of 1905 an act was
passed providing for the appointment
of a commission to take into consider
alton and report to the legislature pro-
posed amendments to the constitution
relative to the courts of New Jersey.
This commission, consisting of ex-Gov-
ernor Griggs, former Justice Van
Syckel, Charles L. Corbin, John r.
Hardin and Ex-Governor Murphy rep
resenting the lay element, after max
ing a thorough examination and care
full study of the constitutional provi-
sions and the statutes governing our
judicial system, submitted its report
to the legislature of 1905 for consider
alton. The recommendations of the
commission were subsequently embod-
led in the form of a joint resolution
providing for the adoption of the pro-
posed amendments, and bill was pre-
pared for the subsequent adaptation of
the structure and practice of the courts
to revised judicial methods. Owing to
constitutional inhibition against the
submission of any amendment or
amendments to vote of the people
<,f+oror than onan i'm FIVE wears no ac-