The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-01-21
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
TcoNr1SUrD FROM FOURTH PAGE.


purchased.
Abolition and Consolidation Of Boards
~ The board of arbitration as ex-
listing in our state should be abolished
1t is impossible to conceive how any
defense for it's retention can be made
The drawing of salaries by public Off
cials who do absolutely nothing and
can do nothing under existing condi-
tons makes the payment of this mon
ey out of the state treasury a crime
against public morality. A suggestion
of their further continuance is intol-
cradle.
81 The present board of riparian
commissioners should be abolished. 1t
has four members, costing the state
for salaries $4,000. A single commits
sione- at one-half this expense, who
should devote himself to this work
and whose acts should be subject to
the approval of the governor and the
attorney general would answer every
purpose and assure much better results
than those now attained
80 The state board of health and the
state sewerage commission, which cost
the state over 500, 900 last year, should
be united
The sewerage commission should be
abolished and the board Of health re-
organized. with medical secretary in
charge, with president and five mem
bers to be appointed, who should be
reasonably compensated for their serv-
Ices.
The cost of This need not exceed the
salaries now paid to the sewerage COM
missioners alone.
This action would insure a better re-
suit to the state and promote simplicity
and efficiency in the public service.
"a The potable water and the Pas
I sale river food district commissions
should both be abolished and a single
headed department established to be
known as the department of water,
with all the powers now conferred
upon these commissions vested in such
department.
% There are three oyster commits
sions, with bureau of shell fisheries,
costing the state for the salaries of the
commissioners and other expenses
about 1900 per year. There are ten
commissioners and one chief of bu-
reau, all salaried There seems no
business reason why they should
not all be grouped together under the
title of the oyster and shellfish depart
ment, with single commissioner to
direct the whole work at greatly re-
duced cost to the state
There are other commissions needing
modification or abolition, concerning
which may speak later.
The Excise Question.
At the late election the people of the
state, as / interpret the result, de-
clared for the enforcement of the act
of 1906 known as the bishops bill.
The issue was fairly made, and the
answer cannot be misunderstood.
In New Jersey by statute since our
emerging from a colony it has been
unlawful to sell Intoxicating liquors
npon the first day Of the week. COM
monty called Sunday. The making of
such sales crime is therefore as old
as the state. 1t was the policy of our
fathers, and by the vote of our people
at the last election it is their policy
The duty of the executive and of the
courts and of every prosecutor, mayor
and magistrate is to enforce the clos.
ing of all places where intoxicants
) are sold on Sunday and to see that any
one violating the law in this regard is
punished More than that, no legisla-
ton modifying this is demanded by
the people.
During my term l shall regard it as
an obligation cast upon me by the peo-
pie to veto any measure suggesting any
modification of existing law on the
question of the sales of liquor on Sun
day.
The excise laws can never be proper
ly enforced until the local officials do
their duty. To accomplish this they
must be held to strict accountability
for the nonenforcement of the law.
To this end, therefore, several acts Of
legislation are essential:
First-A more simple and effective
provision for the revocation of a IL
cense by the granting power in case of
the violation of the excise laws in any
respect.
Second.-An act making a revocation
of license result upon conviction
of the violation of the excise laws or
upon a plea of guilty or non vult.
Third-An act comforting upon the
governor the power to remove any
mayor who fails to take measures to
enforce excise laws within his mu-
nicipality such removal, Of course,
to be only after notice requiring such
enforcement and after charges, trial
and hearing.
Further excise legislation should be
enacted in the following respects:
a. A general statute should be pass
ed which will increase the present min
imum license fee in all places for the
sale Of intoxicants; and
(2) In cities of the first class the min
imum should be at least 5000. One
thousand would be better, and in lesser
cities and towns in proportion.
81 The number of saloons should be
limited on some basis of population.
"a No more than one or two saloons
ait most should be allowed to be locat-
ed upon any city block.
(5) Fix closing hour for saloons and
bars for each night, say at 1890 a. M,
after which no bar can be open until,
a a.