Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-05-17
ELECTION COST
UNDER NEW LAW
ABOUT 100000
Many Doubtful if Results JUS
tify the Enormous FL
nancial Burden.
ESSEX COUNTY MUST
BEAR FULLY SIz5,OOO
Entire State Redistricted Ac-
c0rding to Mandates of
Wilson-Record Party.

Whether the expenditure of a half
million of dollars, Which is unavoid-
able under the Geran election law-the
Nilson-Record mcasure-is j%ustifable
and whether it will bring the desired
results, is the question that is today
agitating the minds of those citizens
that have the welfare of the State at
heart. The work of redistricting the
State is completed. Every munich
patty has gone through the formality
as prescribed by law, and the only
development looked for now is the ex-
penditure of a large sum Of money and
the working out of one of the most
intricate election laws devised by hu-
man hands.
Although the exact figures of expense
cannot at this time be estimated, it Is
believed that $500. 900 for the State and
about $125,000 for the county is the
sum to be extracted from Jersey tax
payers. Is the expenditure of this large
amount a matter of economy, or is it
largely a waste? That is the query put
by men Of affairs.
Governor Wilson, and his chief ally,
George /. Record, and a few of the
inner circle pitiless publicity advisors,
nave said it is. Proof, however, is as
yet not forthcoming, and will not be
until the elections arrive.
Dedistricting Is Complete.
Kedistrioting has entailed a great
deal of work and has added twenty
seven districts to the las now in the
city. At the last election there were
IA, but in December was added in
the Ninth Ward.
The county will have 2S1 districts this
Year as against 230 in 1910. This means
money, and the advancement in the
fees 10 be given the election officers
is another large item. All this money
will have to come from the taxpayers,
end those making up the city budgets
are wondering how the thing will work
out and how the citizens will take
the Increased cost. The additional ex-
pense Will be taxed. on the assessed
valuation of property taxable on
May 26.
The vaStness Of the project will be
Sealized whe~ ii is understood thai in
stead of 1853 districts in III. State, ac-
cording TO last years figures, there will
be about 1,S00 this year. More than
400 have been added in the State.
$4,000 Expense Results.
1t is estimated that the redistricting
entailed an expense of about $4,000, as
far IS election officers are concerned,
and the Increased cost for the officers,
as provided by the Wilson-Record law,
y i'll mean about 100000 more, making
a total of 5000, 900 for election officers
alone.
Under the old law the compensation
of election officers at ordinary elections
ranged from SIS to $50 a year. The
Geran law provides a compensation
ranging from $40 to $50 for each cleo
ton officer, or from $50 to 5000 a district
for an ordinary year, SIS additional
every Presidential year for each officer
and $40 for'each special election, which
means that each election officer in
Newark next year would receive at
least $50, and much more il special
elections were held.
Civil Service Examinations.
AS a result of the increase in compen-
sation for the election offices the Civil
Service Commission is doing a land
office business. 1t is expected that
about 10000 applications for the posi-
lions will be filed with the commission
In accordance with the law, the county
chairman of each of the two parties
casting the largest number of votes at
the last general election may nominate
two or more members of their parties
for election officers. In former years
the county chairman had the right to
nominate the officers direct, but now
that candidates must pass an eXamina-
tion it is believed hat the chairmen
will double the number to be selected
1t is probable, therefore, that in Essex
county four regular Republicans and as
many Democrats from each of the PSI
districts will be nominated b.. the chair
mems This would make the number OF
men nominated more than two thou
sand.
The Progressive : Republicans. the
woodrow Wilson League and the vii
liam H%arrigan Association will. I'M