Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-01-10

and the like, and return, as it should
some revenue to the State. The system
here suggested would also abolish the
fayoritism now so evidently prevalent
The present system Is not for the bene
fit of the State.
THE economical way would be tc
abolish the present fish and game com
mission and the commissioner of shell
fisheries, and all existing oyster com
missions, and put them all under a e
title of oyster, Fish and Game Depart
ment,' with a well-salaried commits
sioner at its head. with full power, with
the approval of the Governor, to ap-
point all assistants necessary to con-
duct the department and enforce the
law.
The revenue from gunners' licenses,
oyster leases, fines n the like would
amount, ever at the present rate of
charges, to not less than $780, 900 per
year, and this would amply provide for
all the cost of the department.
with this arrangement would come
greater economy In administration, as
the assistants would be busy all the
year, in the different branches of the
service, in their respective seasons.
There are no branches of the State
| Service WHICH HGGu SySISIldl lLlil6 lilOtC
than those relating to oyster, fish and
game.
The Riparian Lands.
1.-THE work of the Riparian Commits
sion for the past year is worthy Of
high praise. 1t has increased the price
of riparian lands and leases very great
ly. During the past three years over
5000, 900 has beer turned into the perma-
nent school fund of the State. This is
! equal to one-ifth of all revenue derived
from this source since 1874. 1t is a
splendid showing. The present governor
notified the commissioners to Increase
the price of all State lands, and this
has been done. In some cases the raise
has equaled several hundred per cent.
of the old sale price. Even at this
price the demands have been great.
There is but a limited supply OF these
lands in the harbor of New York and
its vicinity, and their value is very
great. The prices fixed have in no cas-
retarded great industries from COM
ing to us, nor will they hereafter. The
present Riparian Commission and the
governor have worked in perfect har-
mony, with splendid results to the
State. By proper management, and by
securing fair prices for the remaining
riparian lands, the permanent school
fund of the State can easily be in
creased in a few years to at least $780,
600, 900, thus assuring a very large in
crease in the interest accoun for free
public school purposes.
R~evaIuation of Railroad Property.
by joint resolution No. 3, laws of
1909. h Legislature authorized the
beginning of a systematic ~revaluation
of railroad property for the purpose
of State taxation. BY chapter 307 Of
the laws of 1910, that work was direct
ed to be continued and to be COM
pleted by April ~, 1911. The work has
been done and will be fully completed
n reported upon. So far as SURF
face indications can determine, 1t APP
pears to have been we'll done. It has
had the most competent appraisers
that the governor was able to secure.
THE act of 1909 directed the ap-
pointment of three commissioners and
named September l of the same year
as the date for completing the work.
OF course, 1t soon became apparent
that it would take more than a year
to do the work rightly. The appro-
priation OF 1909 was exhausted by Sep
TENDER !, 1909, and the commission
ers were in the midst of important
work, to make necessary the very in
telligent preliminary report which they
made to the Legislature of 1910. At
the suggestion of the governor they
continued on with their work during
the months of September and October,
1909, without receiving pay therefor.
1t was expected to pay them for this
service out of the appropriation in the
supplemental bill of 1910, but it vas
ound to be sc worded that the gov
ernor and comptroller did not feel JUS
titled in SO doing, with the result that
over twelve thousand dollars of the
appropriation for this work lapsed on
October 81, 1910. The amount due the
three commissioners for the two
months devoted to the State was, UNI
der the terms of their employment, two
thousand dollars each, being six thou
sond dollars in all half the lapsed
sum above stated. and 1 recommend
that this money, so earned, be ap-
propriated at the present session that
they may be paid.
with the completion of this ~revalua-
ton let us hope that the railway taxa
ton question, and the fairness of rail-
way valuation, for the purpose of
taxation, will be eliminated from flu
ture discussion in political controver-
sizes.
Detective Licenses.
THE governor is constantly asked
for commissions for State detectives.
BY Chapter 2SS of the laws of 1906. the
comptroller is authorized to issue such
a commission on the payment of one
hundred dollars. There are also some
private detective associations which
still have h power to appoint, at
their W fee, and the governor must
commission. All these private detec-
tive agencies with power to appoint
detectives should be abolished. The
present fee required to be paid to the
comptroller is excessive. / recommend
that the governor, upon such condi-
lions as he may prescribe to protect
against imposition, be authorized to
appoint State detectives, in his discre-
ton, with the full power of constables,
for a term of five years, in the same
manner as he does ~notaries public, for
a fee of SIS. with power In the gov
ernor. at any time, to revoke any
such commission for any cause which
he may deem TO be UNSUITABLE.
The National Guard.