The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-04-05
[From a STAFF Correspondent

TRENTON, April Sin less than
two weeks the Legislature will have
adjourned. 1t has been a session of
backing and filing, of lightning changes
of front and consistent Inconsistency
on the part of the majority, and a
steady fight for beneficial legislation
on the part Of the minority. Little has
resulted as yet but talk and the prom
ises mad at the beginning of the leg
islatiye year are as nebulous today as
they were when the lawmakers first
convened.
subterfuge and hypocrisy are rather
harsh words to use, but ecourse to
them mtst be had in writing a history
of ths present session. To the ac-
compartment of many fair promises
the session was ushered in. A full or.
chestra of noise and tumult attended
its earlier efforts, and, to slow music,
the features of its vacillating g. policy are
now becoming apparent. In the in
terval, to allay public clamor and to
postpone or prevent the righting of a
wrong, subterfuge has beer helpful.
But that is not all. Cleverness in a
shifting Of attitude, INDUCED in by peo-
pie in high places, has succeeded in
misleading judgment for a time, but at
last a rent in the veil of sincerity Is
disclosing a face not unlike hypocrisy.
False Pledges.
Can anything be more g%laringly false
to public and private pledges than the
attitude of the Governor on the Rad
cliffe bill? He vas not openly opposed
to 1t in the House, where it was GER
tain of passage. He was publicly in
favor of it in the Senate, where he
helped to kill it with the Leavitt bill.
Truly, one may be pardoned a little
~bewilderment at these Kaleidoscope
changes, and some uneasiness also lest
he be the subject of publicly expressed
executive favor.
Why is it necessary to assume so
many opposing attitudes? With some
people the tendency so to act is tenn
peramental. In this case it Is not un-
fair to assert that this ceaseless shift
ing of pose is provoked by one of two
causes-opposition to the maintenance
Of our school system or dislike of a
public avowal that the administration
has been so e~xtravagant as to be In
need of funds, the property of others.
If the former be the real cause, a pub
lie admission Of the fact would be at
least ~ourageo and the battle might
then be carried on in the open. If the
latter supposition be correct, why not
be frank about it and stop these eva
sions, Why so much throwing of dust,
with a view to clouding the public
view. when a plain statement of fact
would bring a quick solution? If tie
states extravaganza in the past mas
been such as to bring it to present en-
barrassment, at least be honest enough
to make the admission, and business
like enough to gauge expenses by the
amount of income.
Inquiry into Motives.
These matters are beginning to oc-
cnpv the minds of most thinking peo-
pie, and through the gloom n OBJ
scurity of the legislative atmosphere
other views are also taking shape.
Some fearless people are becoming bold
enough to inquire as to the motive OF
the Governor in Withholding from the
senate. to his late day, the various
appointments at his disposal. In some
cases vacancies exist; in othe.s they
are impending. Judge q. Amber Arm
strong resigned some time ago from tins
Eoualjzation Tax Board. Samuel w
Kirkbride's term as supervisor OF tns
states prison Is at an end. David 0
watkius's term as banking and insur'
ance commissioner has expired. Middle
sex County is awaiting the Governors
pleasure as to the appointment OF 8
prosecutor of the pleas. Adjutant'
Caneral Brietnalls position in the Ma
tJonal Guard is without a holder. There
has been no one appointed to Genera
Conedon's place on the State Hailroae
Commission, and it seems to be tn
general impression that the Governor
has not yet announced the name OF
successor to David Baird.
An opportunity is now presented !.
the Governor to confound his enemies
Let him make his appointments a
once. BY so doing he will put an emf
to much adverse criticism and COM
again within reach of public favor. |
he permits the opportunity to pass n
will have added to his many mistake
ard perhaps aroused an awakenin'
Senate to a sepce of its rights. Tn
Governor can be guided by no bette
advice than t. follow the admonition
80 1t now"