The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-10

Guard and State institutions, if thor
oughly made, should result in an an
nual saving Of 800. 900 more. This is
plainly evident from the abnormal In
crease in our State expenditures from
81, 1857, sS2 in 1893 to 49, AIS, 1874 in 1908. The
of the Motor Vehicle Depart
ment have increased from $4,997.39 IN
1906 to $29, 1857. 81 in 1908.
''This, too, in view of the fact that
most of the fees are paid directly TO
the department of the peace and con-
stables and enforcement Of the law out
side of the motor department not en-
tirely satisfactorily to the people. An
appropriation of SPAS, SIG. SO for National
Guard, etc, could undoubtedly be prop
erly reduced without injury to the en-
listed men or to the National Guard.
The expense of the Tenement House
Commission has increased $2S, 482.S1 in
four years, n would we'll bear In
vestigation.
Every one conversant with State
affairs knows there is much absentee
ism on the part of State officers and
employees. which leads to the necessity
of employment of more help.
This was clearly demonstrated under
path in the case of the clerk of the
Supreme Court, receiving a salary of
IS, 900 per year and in attendance upon
his duties not longer than four hours a
week at times. Economy should begin
at home. and the yearly disbursements
by the Legislature of $104, 1870 for leg
islative expenses is too large, an, out
lay. There should be an application OF
business principles n an adherence
to chapter 40 of the law of 1895, limit
Ing 1.-THE number of legislative Offices and
their salaries. BY the creation of a
board of control to nave charge of the
purchase of all supplies for the various
State departments and institutions
which should include all State and leg
~islative printing and stationary. the
State could save a large amount of
money. All expenditures for voting
machines should cease and the useless
machines be sold. The law relating to
State deposits should be amended so
that the State may receive at least 2
| per cent instead of not more than
per cent
Railroads Must Pay.
1.-The remedy suggested would be per-
manet. We have charitable and penal
institutions which must be maintained.
Some should TO- be enlarged, and 9TH
ers must be in the future. There are
many permanent State institutions any
many arms Of State government to be
| supported. On these there can be nc
backward step. Retrenchment alone is
not sufficient, additional revenue is
necessary. Constructive legislation,
therefore, should be suggested. In the
present emergency we must tax either
the people or the railroads.
"rhe railroads have esapecd the pay
ment OF about Atty millions dollars. Fol
years they paid at the rate Of ave dol
lars per one thousand dollars ON the
main atem, while the rate today II
a1s.s1. During the period that all other
crensed l2o per cent, railroad value,
for taxation purposes were increased by
the state Board OF Assessors about II
per cent. III then, II can be legally ani
honestly done. the railroads should heal
the burden.
ut is certain that individual prop
erty Is taxed at full value. There
should be an immediate valuation b,
the State Board of Assessors and tive
experts thereto. whose report should b
laid before the people. In making THU
~revaluation. main stem, franchises. sec
ond class and personal property should
be each valued separately.
There should be no bulkins to hid
the facts. Last year the Approximate
value of the railroads of this Stat
was $3.50. 900. 00t. The State Board o
Assessors' valuation was $27s,e 7e,6 st
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