The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-02-19
PAUPERS
STARVED, SENATE
COMMITTEE TOLD
HObOken POOrmaster Barck
Leads Fight Against
Colby Bill.
LEGISLATIVE SNARL OVER
ALMSHOUSE REFORM LIKELY
StOkes's Commission Has Lively
Hearing on Proposed Codi-
flying of Poor Laws.

TRENTON, Feb. 19.-That ~several
needy ~almshouse inmates have starved
to death in this State while poormas-
tiers have been quarreling over their
respective jurisdictions, was the scnsa-
tional charge made at the Senate 1u-
dietary hearing yesterday on Senator
Everett Colby's bill codifying and
amending the poor laws, which was in
troduced in the Senate at the request
of the Poor Law Commission appointed
by Governor Stokes in 1906.
A fight is expected before the Judi
ciary committee, of which Senator
Samuel X. Robbins, of Burlington, Is
chairman. The opposition is headed by
Poormaster Harry L. Barck, jr., of
Hoboken.
The commission only learned OF 1t
yesterday. There was a meeting at che
State House of the Poor Law Commis-
sioners. Judge Algernon T. Sweeney,
of Newark; Thomas A. Davis, oil
Orange; Clerk in Chancery Vivian
Lewis, of Paterson; Arthur w. Nc
Dougall, secretary of the Bureau of
Associated Charities. of Newark, and
Mrs. Emily E.. Williamson, of the State
Board of Children's Guardians and the
State Charities Aid Association.
wouldn't Give Time. &
The commissioners had hoped to be
able to discuss the merits of the bill,
which was the result of three years in
vestigation by them, and contained the
recommendations of poormasters from
all parts of the State, with Senator
Robbins's committee. Ma. McDougall
asked Senator Robbins if he could give
the commission time to explain the bill.
II can't give you five minutes" said
Robbins. II have arranged for a hear
ing next Monday at the request of Mr..
Barck.'
This was the first intimation that the
commission which drew the law had
of the hearing or of any decided oppo-
sition to the bill. There had been a.
suggestion that some slight changes,
which did not materially affect the
measure, would be made, and it had
been agreed to have Senator Colby in-
troduce the amendment. y
Mr.. McDougall found that one of the
sections of the bill which meets with
the greatest opposition is that which
provides for the election of a county
supervisor of the poor, whose duty is
to, be to adjust differences between
poormasters in the same county and
IotlcTinliS QucSliOuS OIL JuTlSulCllOHs AlIl3
commission discussed the advisabtity
of having such a county supervisor ap-
pointed by a judge of the Court of
Common Pleas instead of being elected,
but it reached no decision.
Barck is said to be spokesman for an
organization of poormasters. The poor
masters do not like the idea of having
anyone dictate to them how they shall
conduct their offices, and will fight the
supervisor clause.
Conflict of OhlciaIs.
The commission explained that the
idea of a supervisor grew from the tes-
timony of poormasters in many of the
counties, who complained of constant
conflict between neighboring officials
over their respective jurisdiction.
Numerous cases were cited at the hear
ings where needy persons had suffered.
and in some Instances, starved to death,
while two poormasters were squabbling
as to which township was properly re-
sponsible for their care.