Bridgeton pioneer., 1909-01-28
FINANCES THE
LEADING QUESTION.

WdlSH 0ofeluOI TOII pI6ulCLS buoT0
will be deficit of $3.50, 900 at the close
of the present fiscal year, again alb
sorbed the attention to-day of both
branches of the Legislature.
In the Senate, a resolution offered by
Senator Hillery, of Morris county, pro-
viding for the appointment of a COM
mittee to consider therpresent condition
of the finances of the State and recon-
mend remedial legislation, was adopted.
This committee, which is to report by
February Is, will hold it's first meeting
next Monday.
President Robbins named on the
committee Messrs. Hillery, Bradley, of
Camden; Frelinghuysen, of Somerset;
Hinchcliffe, of Passaic, and Cornish,
of Warren.
The House adopted a resolution in
troduced by Mr.. Pierce, of Union, re-
questing the State Comptroller to fur
nish a statement showing the financial
condition Of the State.
Governor Fort, in discussing the
financial crisis to-day, said he hoped
the Legislature would pass the bill
providing for a board to purchase
stable supplies for all State institu-
tions, charitable and penal, which he
advocated in his annual message. He
had received a letter from Governor
Hughes. of New York. and documents
showing that such board in the EN-.
pire State had effected saving of $780,
900 year. Governor Fort was conf
dent that New Jersey could save>S1OO,
900 annually.
II believe the State should be run on
strict business Methods the Chief
Executive continued. .'Soon after I
became a member of the State House
Commission I found that the body was
buying coal for the Capitol without
competitive bidding. At my sugges-
tion, advertisements for proposals for
coal were inserted in the newspapers,
and as a result we are paying So less
a ton for coal, saving $140O year on
the 700 tons that are burned in the
State House.
Last year the Legislature appropri-
ated $25, 900 for alterations and i'm
provements in the Senate chamber.
The State House Commission had the
work done for less than $4,000, and the
balance of $22, 900 was left in the State
treasury.
Another thing that discovered was
that the commission was paying So
apiece for the rolling-top desk used in
the various departments of the State
House. At my suggestion communica-
tions were, sent to five of the most ex-
tensive furniture houses in the State
asking for proposals for supplying the
desks. The result is we are paying $46
for the same desk which formerly cost
$S6.''
The State House Commission is COM
posed of the Governor, State Treasurer
and State Comptroller.
In the House there was long and
spirited debate over Assemblyman
Martins proposed amendment to the
rules. 1t provided that upon the de-
mand of five members record of the
proceedings of any committee, with
respect to any bill before such commit
tee, including the votes of members,
could be made part of the records of
the House.
Democrats and New Idea'' Repub-
licans who supported the amendment
declared that it would prevent the
smothering of bills in committees and
afford the people an opportunity of
seeing how their representatives voted
in committee upon impoI tant mea-
sures.
Assemblymen Martin and Blauvelt,
New Idea member, and Mr.. Sullivan,
the Democratic floor leader, supported
the amendment, which was opposed by
Assemblyman Lewis, of Burlington,
and Messrs. Young. Ginnelly and Nc
Keag, regular" Republicans, spoke
against the innovation.
The amendment was defeated, 90 to
49, Fourteen Democrats voted for the
change. The six Republicans who
voted with them were Messrs. Blauvelt,
of Passaic; Crosby, of Ocean; Ford,
Hines and Martin, of Essex, and Mich
OILS, of Cumberland.
As q balm for the memhers who
favored the new rule, Mr.. Clarke, of
Essex, gave notice of proposed amend
ment providing that when original bills
or joint resolutions were lost in COM
mittee, the measures could be reported
by submitting printed copy thereof.
IF You Are q Trif1e Sensitive
About the size Of your shoes, It's