The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-10-22
DEMOCRATIC
FAKE POLITICS
IooNTINUED FROM FIRST PAeE.l

removal of the state building to Sea
Girt without cost to the state, where
1t now stands, the pride of every patri
otto Jerseyman
Much the same may be said with ref
erence to the committees report re-
garding its Investigation of the work
of the curator of the state museum
and his son. Here again the facts
were that seldom in the history of the
state has there been more unselfish
service than has been given by State
Curator Morse. Through almost his
own unaided efforts, at 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
.cumbency in that position responsible
for a saving to the state of over $40,-
COO through his diligence in the pur-
suit of the school census padding ras-
Gals 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 a 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 to 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
department, and the committee recon-
mended that this department be trans
ferred to that department, thereby eff
fecting Saving Of $1,000 in the sal
airy Of the chief and 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
to the state road department is purely
gratuitous and cannot only be sue
cessfully challenged, but it can be eff
fectually shown that it not only does
not belong there, but that it's associa-
ton with that department would re-
suit in a considerable outlay of money
in addition to the alleged $1,000 saving.
The motor vehicle department is now
attached to the department of state.
The department of state is properly a
record keeping department. The prin-
cipal work of the motor vehicle de-
partment is the keeping of records
The road department is essentially and
only road construction department.
It's chief has no authority over any of
the roads except those that are built
by state aid, and his authority over
them ceases with their construction
and repair. The function of the secre
tary of state is to keep the records
The secretary of state is the record
keeping, licensing and commission
granting official of the state The pres
ent motor vehicle law did MOI create a
new department of motor vehicles, but
established it as one of the divisions
of the state department The road
time is fully occupied
with his present duties, and he would
be compelled to employ undoubtedly
at much higher rate than that fixed
by the statute person to perform the
duties now undertaken by the commits
sionef of motor vehicles. This much
for the SO called economy sought to be
br ii ght about by the proposed change.
i sa report advised also the consoli.
da IN of the state board of assessors
wi i the state board of equalization of
tai as. Here again the functions of the
two boards are as different as light
ana darkness, having no relationship
with each other whatever, and the
time of the members of the board is
fully occupied.
The report further says that ~slnce
the first year of the assessment Of
main stem railroad 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 dramatically
opposed to the statement made, not
that the examiner en-
deavored to put the words in the
mouth of the testifyins witness.
The facts We're that when State AS
SCISSOR Meeker was on the stand he
was asked if it were not true that
there had been only per cent in
crease, to which he stated that it was
not true and then proceeded to read,
against the objections of the examin-
ing attorney, but upon the direction of
Barber, a statement Of
figures from which it appeared that
stem property during these years APP
proximated25 per cent. We then have
the fact that, notwithstanding the eff
fort of the examining counsel. to put
the words ~ per cent" in the witness
mouth, notwithstanding his effort to
prevent the witness from testifying to
the true amount of increase, notwith-
standing the fact that one of the menu
bers OF the committee insisted that the
witness should be allowed to testify,
the COMMITTEES, through it's counsel, re-
ported to the legislature this deliberate
faIsehood..
The report, after the most searching
investigation, failed to reveal the least
semblance of wrongdoing on the part
of State Architect Poole and could not
prove the charge of collision or mall
feasance In office, This was notwith-
standing the fact that one of the most