The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1907-10-30

Two POSITIONS. VINO SURRENDERED sal
AIRY several times greater than the one
he accepted when he became commits
sioncr of labor and whose services as
secretary of the ST. Louis exposition
commission were So valuable that, he
sides giving the state II finer display
than it had ever had before on any
similar occasion for similar outlay Of
money. Instead of having. as has been
customary. II deficit. had actually beer
successful in saving enough money
from the appropriation TO secure the
removal of the state building to Sea
Girt without cost To the state, where
II now stands the pride of every patri
otic IerSeymau
Much the same may be said with ref
ercnce to the committees report re-
garding lis Investigation of the work
of the curator of The state museum
and his SOIL. Here again the facts
were that seldom in the history of the
state has there been more unselilsh
service than has been given by State
Curator Morse. Through almost his
own unalded efforts, ut least for the
first ten years of its existence. Is the
state indebted for It's splendid public
museum He not only gave his time
during most of these years without
compensation. but contributed of his
private means in securing a proper ex.
hibit. His son who is holding posi-
ton In the educational department,
was during the second year of his in
cuinbcncy In that position responsible
for II saving TO the state of over $40
600 through his diligence in the pur
suit of the school census padding ras.
calls of Hudson and other counties,
and his efforts in this line brought
about the abolition of the school cen
suS and the distribution of the school
moneys on II more honest and equi.
table scale Such is the work of two
more of the men whom the Backes
committee has officially attempted to
hold up 10 public criticism.
The next thing considered In this re.
port Is the bald statement that the
work of the department of motor We
hicles belongs properly to the state road
mended that this department be trans
ferred TO that department. thereby eff
fectlng Il saving of Si,5O0 In the sal.
nry of the chief aud possibly resulting
IN more efficient service" The facts
are that no absolute testimony along
this line was taken. The assumption
that the department properly belongs
gratuitous and cannot only he sue.
cessfully challenged. but ii can he eff.
fectually shown that it not only does
not belong there. but that its assoca.
tion with that department would re
suit in II considerable outlay of money
In addition to the alleged $3.50 saving.
The motor vehicle department Is now
attached 10 the department of state
The department of state Is properly n
record keeping department. The prin.
cipnl work ri the motor vehicle lie.
pnrtmcnt is the keeping of records.
The road department is essentially and
only Il road construction department.
Its chief has no authority over any of
the roads except those that are built
10y state aid. and his authority over
the,h ceases with their construction
and repair. The function of the secre
tary of state is To keep the records.
The sccrct,'ry of state is the record
Keeping. licensing and commission
granting Official of the state The pres
ent motor vehicle law did not create a
new department of motor vehicles, hut
established IL rs one of the divisions
of the state department. The road
commissioners time is fully occupied
with his present duties and he would
he compellr Ia employ undoubtedly
nj n much higher rate than that fixed
by the statute Il person To perform the
duties NOW undertaken by the commits
sioncr of motor vehicles This much
for the 81 called economy sought to be
brought about lay the proposed change.
The report advised also the CONSOLE
dation Of the state board of assessors
with the state board of equalization of
taxes. Here a sain the functions Of the
two boards a'c as different us light
and darkness having no relationship
with each OF ,er whatever. and the
time Of the II emhers Of the board is
fully occupied.
The report further says that since
the first year OF the assessment OF
main stem rsilroad property by the
board the valuations have Increased a
little more than per cent
Here again the report contains state
ments for which there was absolutely
no warrant in the testimony, but in
which the testimony was Numerically
opposed to the statement made. not
withstandins that the examiner en-
deavored to put the words in the
mouth Of the testifyins witness.
The facts were that when State As
scissor Meeker WAS ON the stand he
was asked II II We're not true that
there had been only per cent in
crease. to which he stated that ii was
not true and then proceeded to read
against the objections of the eNamin
ing attorney. but upon the direction OF
committeeman Barber. q statement OF
figures FROM which il appeared that
the Increase IN the valuations of main
stem property during these years ap
proNimatcd - per cent. We then have
the fact tltat. Notwithstanding the ef
fort of the examining counsel to put
the words :, per cent in the witness
moath. notN Outstanding his effort tC
prcNent the wi,ne> from testifying t.
the lrue Amount OF increase. notWith