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

eraI years in the purchase of coal, fur
niture and other supplies. This same
extravaganza has existed in the ercc-
ton of State institutions. The AS
sembly investigating committee OF lSos
has already called attention to the
method of awarding contracts to raw
ored bidders, whose books were SUBJ
seauently burned. 1t also appeared
that contracts for plumbing, gas fitting
and the like were awarded to n man
at exorbitant prices. The rejection OF
the lowest bid and the installation OF
the heating system in States prison at
and advance of 81, 225; the $1,000 bath
room in the executive chamber, the pay
ments to the State architects and In
spector, the extras in the contracts
of the Senate Chamber and east wing
of the State House; the cost of RAN
way Reformatory and its 800. 900 gilded
dome and similar extravagances are
still fresh in the public min
1.-THE present financial condition OF
the State is also due to the exemption
of railroads from proper taxation.
Until the year 1906, the railroads es-
caped the payment of taxes, since held
by our highest courts to have been
| lawful. 1t has beer estimated that by
reason of this failure to enact a proper
| revenue-raising statute, the State has
lost fifty million ollar If TINS $aV,-
| 0OO. 900 was now in the State treasury.
as It should be. there would be no state
deficit. If 1t was right to enact TINS
law in 1906, it vas also right to have
| enacted 1t before. A due regard to the
| rights of the state would hav pre-,
vented the loss of this vast sum oil
money.
''There was no sound reason for per-
hitting the railroad rate to remain al
SIS per 1000. when other property was
having Ave times as much, and even
last year the average rate was $l6.sl
at forced valuations arising from tine
Hillery tax act, and the county boafos
Of taxation. We would suggest the
| abolition of useless offices. and the con
so1idation of others. Official absentee
ism should also be stopped, as 1t tend'
TO increase the cost of administration
Irseless boards and commissions shouic
not be created; there Mould be a re
duction in salaries. and in III numDel
of officials. :.
"In line with this policy we woult
recommend the abolition of the follow
INN boards and ofices. or reduction O.
salaries, which would make n savins
10 the state of the amount set oppo'
site 10 the same and amounting In al
TO S2s2,7Is.21 per annumi COUNTY
hoard. Of taxation (abolished), SOL,
7ss.aI, inspectors of state prison (abol'
isbed), S3,OOO, health Ofhccr and as
sistant st Perth Amboy tsbcIishcd)
st.25o, inland Water Inspection tre'
duction in salary $1,000, Motor We
htclc Commissioners (aboIish salary
$500, state Water supply Commissfoi
and clerk production of salaries of 500
eacb,, $4,000; state Hoard Of Taxatiol
reduced to three abe and abOlisl
assistant clerk, $500, Department .
Labor, which pays S26,218.56 sslar!
out of an expenditure OF s32.S24.20
could be consolidated with the Tene
ment House Commission. with a saw
Ing OF s15,OOOy Bureau of Shell Fish
cries, Oyster and she'll Commission. tn
Oyster Commissions Of AtIantic county
Ocean county and Delaware hay, an
Fish and Game Commission consolida
ted under one head Mt = saving Of 425,
900; Commission of Inland Water Way
taboIlshed), and discontinue approprl
tion OF &75,O0O made available last yeaI
This would bring about n Yearly ~
Ing Of e1eo,7ls.31.
Further investigation in the stat
department, State oflces. Nations
| NTNNE .A