Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-03-29

4(SH4HGATA

The Essex grand jury has. made q
long and patient investigation of the
affairs of the County Hospital for the
Insane, and a presentment, with indiet-
ments. will probably be handed TO the
court next Saturday. What has be-
come of the conclusions OF the Board
of Freeholders' investigation nobody
knows. That investigation, SO laborious
and we'll intended, has dropped out Of
sight. But the really important one.
and the one the public are interested
in. is the grand jury inquiry which
promises to have decided results, in
which it is likely some freeholders will
be involved. In the cold-storage inves-
tigation in Hudson the county proseeu-
tor was the principal factor. In the
Essex investigation the prosecutor has
not been in evidence.
There are no Civil VA veterans in
the present Legislature. a fact that
seems TO explain the utter indifference
Of the legislators 10 the New Jersey
| Civil War battle-hags that lie neglected
in the cellar of the State House. right
under the feet OF these legislators.
Next summer many of these legislators
and State officers will make themselves
| conspicuous at the national encamp-
| lnent of the Grand Army at Atlantic
! City. and will be full Of cheap holiday
| patriotic ardor and eloquent about the
| "boys In blue" and they will never give
a thought TO the battle-flags left to the
lust and mould and rats in the State
| House cellar.
Senator Alderman was the conve-
nient medium for the introduction in
the Legislature Of the bill to relieve
! railroad companies of a large part OF
the cost OF abolishing their grade cross
ings. Under the present State law the
obligation is upon the companies to pay
all the cost. Newark very kindly, and
| ignorantly, divided the expense OF track
| elevation with the companies at a tre-
mendous cost to the taxpayers, but
! that blindly done act is not a fair prece-
lent for other municipalities. Senator
Alderman knew what the bill provided,
and he did not spare the municipalities
in the county he represents in the Leg
isiature.
Out of s44 bills introduced in the
Legislature up to Monday 158 were
credited to Essex and 1871 to Hudson.
Passaic came next with SIS, and Union
fourth with SO. Gloucester's 5 were the
smallest number. 1t is fair to say Of
the 1877 Hudson bills, that nearly all will
| have died @ bornin'" when the Legis-
lature adjourns.
Since 1903 no less than $50 men have
been killed on American battleships
and as many more injured by accidents
with explosives. 1t is a gruesome record.
But the handling Of high explosives
on shipboard is necessarily attended by
danger, and the best safeguards cam
not always avail TO avert disaster.
Italy's volcanoes are a great attrac-
ton for tourists, who spend a great deal
Of money in the country, but no doubt
Italy would be willing enough to sell
both Etna. and Nesuvius TO some
American rnulti-millionaire at bargain
prices and see them shipped to America.
Every water bill introduced t this
stage of legislation should be regarded
with suspicion, for the water-snake at
torneys are sitting up nights inventing
'jolSers,' and snakes are hidden in all
the water pipes at the State House.
Between 1874 and 1892 the Democrats
elected majorfties in eight Houses of
Representatives. In 1880 the Demo
cratic majority was a big one. Unless
all signs fail there will be a bigger one
In the next House.
Roosevelt should enjoy to the full the
ov4tions and adulation OF Europe. for
lie is sure to come in for hostile criti-
cism after he lands Oh American soil