The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-10
Democratic Minority in
Finance Report Has
Deficit Remedy.
WOULD ELIMINATE
MANY COMMISSIONS
Numerous investigations, In
Guiding Excise, Are Declared
to Be Worthless.
WANT RAILROADS TO
PAY HIGHER TAXES
Drastic Recommendations Are
Made by Gebhardt, Silzer
and Sullivan.
rrrom . STAIR corre.nond.nt,1 !


the Democratic minority, ignoring the
actions of Senators Hinchliffe and Cor
nish and Asseinblyman olwen, the
Democratic members of the special
finance committee, who signed the re-
port of the Republican majority, this
morning introduced into both houses a
dissenting report, and recommends =
tions for meeting the State deficit. The
report was drawn by the executive
committee of the caucus, consisting OF
Senators Gebhart and Silzer and AS
senblyman Sullivan The report fol-
lows:
BY special message, dated January
49, 1909, his excellency the Governor
communicated to the Legislature of the
State of New Jersey the present condi-
ton of the finances of the State. He
called attention to the fact that at the
end Of thte present year there would be
a State deficit of not less than three
quarters OF q million dollars, and rec-
omrnended that there should either be
q State tax or q diversion OF the schoo,
money. The people OF New Jersey want
neither d state tax nor d diversion OF
their school money, and we cannot
agree with the Governors suggestion
when there are other methods open.
We must first see what the condition
of the State is. The disbursements OF
she State for several years are given
fot comparison, and are as follows:
1893, s$1,s57,952; 1903, $4,310, $50; 1907, So
36S,S12; 1908, fS.47S.134. The growing
tendency to spend more money and ta
exceed the receipts has frequently been
called to the attention of tho legisla-
tures by the messages of Governors.
but no effort to spend the tide of ex-
travagance was either made by the Leg
islatures or those Governors.
state Growing Fast.
with an overfiowing treasury and
no check upon expenditures, it is but
natural that the State should find It.
salt in its present condition, required to
meet a deficit and to provide for addi-
tional. revenue in ttlle future to prevent
a State tax and the Gripping of the
school system.
THE natural growth of the State has
required much expenditure Of money.
Penal and charitable institutions had
to be erected and maintained, the State
and other departments increased to
meet the growing demands The enor-
nous increase, however, in expendi-
lures has not been a result of natural
growth alone but the result of ex-
travagance in the administration Of the
State, due to the existence of surplus
in the treasury. Offices and commits
IAe sA1 nJs,x. tn
creased and extravagant sums paid for
the erection of State institutions and
buildings and for the purchase of sup
plies few of the useless commits
sions might be mentfoned: Voting
Machine Commission. which expended
up to 1906 5000 SOFAS tthese machines
were rejected in almost every case
when submitted to popular vote): COM
mission to investigate life Insurance.,
St7, ,2ss 64; investigation of riparian
o o0d .Cs0e and that there are mao
lands, $7,7s0.51 Senate investigating
COMMITTEES, 1907, s5.27S.61; commission
to revise corporation laws. s2.229; State
excise commission '(still unpaid), SIS
so9.s5; State Board OF Arbitration, $74,-
ooo;, total, 22.s70.59. Numerous other
commissions besides those mentioned
have from time to time been appointed,
and have been the cause of much use
less expenditure of money. Attention
might be called to the fact that during
the last year $342.9 was paid to a COM
mission to ascertain whether capital
punishment should be abolished.
salaries Too High.
During the last few years salaries
. e..l Fax re rrfbi i1H